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 811-03833
MAINSTAY VP FUNDS TRUST
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)
51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
J. Kevin Gao, Esq.
30 Hudson Street
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 576-7000
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2021
FORM N-CSR
Item 1. | Reports to Stockholders. |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
(formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio)
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
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Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1, 2 | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio3 |
Initial Class Shares | 1/23/1984 | 28.78% | 16.78% | 15.80% | 0.58% |
Service Class Shares | 6/5/2003 | 28.46 | 16.49 | 15.51 | 0.83 |
1. | Effective January 1, 2018, due to an organizational restructuring, all investment personnel of Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings LLC, the former subadvisor, transitioned to MacKay Shields LLC, a former subadvisor. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
2. | Effective May 1, 2021, the Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment strategies. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio's prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
3. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
S&P 500® Index1 | 28.71% | 18.47% | 16.55% |
Morningstar Large Blend Category Average2 | 25.37 | 15.96 | 14.27 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. “S&P 500®” is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Large Blend Category Average is representative of funds that represent the overall U.S. stock market in size, growth rates and price. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap. The blend style is assigned to portfolios where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. These portfolios tend to invest across the spectrum of U.S. industries, and owing to their broad exposure, the portfolios' returns are often similar to those of the S&P 500® Index. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,107.70 | $3.08 | $1,022.28 | $2.96 | 0.58% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,106.30 | $4.41 | $1,021.02 | $4.23 | 0.83% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Software | 9.8% |
Interactive Media & Services | 8.3 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 7.2 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 5.7 |
Banks | 4.3 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 3.9 |
Capital Markets | 3.7 |
IT Services | 3.5 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 3.4 |
Entertainment | 3.0 |
Household Products | 3.0 |
Pharmaceuticals | 2.8 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 2.8 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 2.8 |
Machinery | 2.6 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 2.4 |
Beverages | 2.4 |
Chemicals | 2.3 |
Biotechnology | 2.2 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 2.2 |
Automobiles | 1.9% |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts | 1.6 |
Insurance | 1.6 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 1.6 |
Specialty Retail | 1.6 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 1.5 |
Professional Services | 1.5 |
Electric Utilities | 1.5 |
Consumer Finance | 1.4 |
Aerospace & Defense | 1.1 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 1.1 |
Air Freight & Logistics | 1.0 |
Building Products | 1.0 |
Electrical Equipment | 1.0 |
Communications Equipment | 0.9 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 0.6 |
Short–Term Investment | 0.8 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –0.0‡ |
| 100.0% |
‡ | Less than one–tenth of a percent. |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Microsoft Corp. |
2. | Alphabet, Inc. |
3. | Apple, Inc. |
4. | Amazon.com, Inc. |
5. | Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A |
6. | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. |
7. | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
8. | Bank of America Corp. |
9. | Procter & Gamble Co. (The) |
10. | TJX Cos., Inc. (The) |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Migene Kim, CFA, and Mona Patni of MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields”), the Portfolio’s former Subadvisor, and Mammen Chally, CFA, Douglas W. McLane, CFA, and David A. Siegle, CFA, of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington”), the Portfolio’s current Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021.
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio returned 28.78% for Initial Class shares and 28.46% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, Initial Class shares outperformed, and Service Class shares underperformed, the 28.71% return of the S&P 500® Index (the “Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the 25.37% return of the Morningstar Large Blend Category Average.1
Were there any changes to the Portfolio during the reporting period?
At meetings held on January 21, January 25 and February 3, 2021, the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust considered and approved, among other related proposals: (i) appointing Wellington as the Portfolio’s subadvisor, and the related subadvisory agreement; (ii) changing the Portfolio’s name and modifying its non-fundamental “names rule” investment policy; and (iii) modifying the Portfolio’s principal investment strategies and investment process. These changes became effective on May 1, 2021. For more information on these and other changes refer to the supplement dated February 5, 2021.
In the process of implementing the new principal investment strategies and investment process, the Portfolio may have experienced a high level of portfolio turnover. Also, during this transition period, the Portfolio may not have been pursuing its investment objective or may not have been managed consistent with its investment strategies as stated in the Prospectus. This may have impacted the Portfolio’s performance.
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio outperformed the Index, helped by strong stock selection, most notably among financials, industrials and information technology stocks. Sector allocation effect mildly detracted from relative returns due to underweight exposure to the strong-performing energy and financials sectors. In terms of stock-selection model efficacy, the combination of signals used by the Portfolio’s quantitative stock selection model was rewarded primarily by valuation measures.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio underperformed the Index, primarily due to security selection.
Sector attribution, a result of Wellington's bottom-up stock selection process, also detracted from relative performance during the reporting period.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index were the industrials, financials and information technology sectors. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) During the same period, the most significant detractors from benchmark-relative performance were the real estate, energy and materials sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, security selection in the health care, communication services and financials sectors contributed positively to performance relative to the Index, while security selection in the information technology, consumer discretionary and utilities sectors detracted. From an allocation perspective, the Portfolio’s overweight allocation to communication services weighed on results but was marginally offset by the positive impact of an underweight exposure to materials.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
MacKay Shields
The stocks providing the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio included systems software developer Microsoft and Internet content and information services provider Alphabet, the parent company of Google. During the same period, the most significant detractors from absolute performance were consumer technology company Apple, wireless communications technology firm Qualcomm and interactive home entertainment developer Take-Two Interactive Software.
Wellington
The strongest contributors to absolute performance during the time Wellington managed the Portfolio were holdings in enterprise software company Microsoft, consumer electronics maker Apple and technology holdings company Alphabet. Microsoft reported strong overall year-over-year growth in July 2021 and again delivered strong results in October, with balanced performance across the product set and good margin expansion in all three reporting segments. Shares of Apple rose throughout the reporting
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
period on strong sales and earnings, gaining further ground after the company was granted a stay from a U.S. appeals court in December which prevented the company from being forced to allow payments outside of Apple’s app store, a change ordered by a federal judge as part of the company's antitrust battle with Epic Games. Shares of Alphabet, the parent company of Internet advertising giant Google, rose during the reporting period following company reported results in July that far exceeded consensus revenue and earnings-per-share estimates. The strong results were driven by a surge in advertising from retail marketers eager to encourage consumer spending via e-commerce, as well as consumers physically returning to stores. In October, the company reported results that beat expectations again.
The most significant detractors from the Portfolio’s absolute performance were holdings in financial technology company Global Payments, entertainment provider The Walt Disney Company and financial technology company Fidelity National Information Services. Shares of Global Payments lost ground despite posting first- and third-quarter 2021 earnings that exceeded consensus estimates. Rather than reward this positive news, market participants appeared more focused on increasing competition in the electronic payments space, and also reacted skeptically to two acquisitions announced by the company. Shares of Disney fell after the company reported second- and third-quarter revenue below expectations on revenue, total subscribers and segment operating income. Shares of Fidelity National Information fell after the company lowered profit projections for the year.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
The Portfolio’s largest initial purchase during the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio was in diversified banking firm Citigroup, while the largest increase in position size was in conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. The Portfolio's largest full sale was its position in freight and logistics company FedEx Corporation, while its most significantly decreased position size was in Apple.
Wellington
The largest purchases during the time Wellington managed the Portfolio were in shares of agricultural machinery manufacturer Deere & Company, and power and natural gas company Duke Energy. We believe Deere is well positioned for continued margin improvement and view the company’s top-line growth as well supported by the expansion of its precision agriculture business. We believe Duke Energy is likely to benefit from the energy
transition toward renewables and see the company as trading at an attractive valuation.
The largest sales were positions in clothing company PVH and bank holding company PNC Financial Services. We eliminated the Portfolio’s position in PVH in favor of more attractive investment opportunities in the consumer sector. We eliminated the Portfolio’s position in PNC Financial as the stock had performed well and the valuation appeared less attractive.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the largest increases in benchmark-relative sector exposures were in the financials and communication services sectors. Conversely, the Portfolio's largest decreases in benchmark-relative sector exposures were in the industrials and information technology sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, there were no significant changes to sector weights.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio’s largest overweight positions relative to the Index were in the communication services and industrials sectors. As of the same date, the Portfolio held its most significantly underweight positions in energy and real estate sectors.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 99.2% |
Aerospace & Defense 1.1% |
Raytheon Technologies Corp. | 132,231 | $ 11,379,800 |
Air Freight & Logistics 1.0% |
FedEx Corp. | 41,875 | 10,830,550 |
Automobiles 1.9% |
Ford Motor Co. | 413,268 | 8,583,576 |
Tesla, Inc. (a) | 10,370 | 10,958,809 |
| | 19,542,385 |
Banks 4.3% |
Bank of America Corp. | 481,423 | 21,418,509 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 144,820 | 22,932,247 |
| | 44,350,756 |
Beverages 2.4% |
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A | 53,696 | 13,476,085 |
Monster Beverage Corp. (a) | 114,918 | 11,036,725 |
| | 24,512,810 |
Biotechnology 2.2% |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 15,480 | 9,775,929 |
Seagen, Inc. (a) | 39,803 | 6,153,544 |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 33,458 | 7,347,377 |
| | 23,276,850 |
Building Products 1.0% |
Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. | 100,045 | 10,694,810 |
Capital Markets 3.7% |
BlackRock, Inc. | 13,376 | 12,246,531 |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | 126,813 | 10,664,973 |
Morgan Stanley | 163,749 | 16,073,602 |
| | 38,985,106 |
Chemicals 2.3% |
PPG Industries, Inc. | 67,957 | 11,718,505 |
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) | 36,128 | 12,722,837 |
| | 24,441,342 |
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.6% |
Copart, Inc. (a) | 38,011 | 5,763,228 |
Communications Equipment 0.9% |
F5, Inc. (a) | 38,889 | 9,516,527 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Consumer Finance 1.4% |
American Express Co. | 92,215 | $ 15,086,374 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.1% |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 211,633 | 10,996,451 |
Electric Utilities 1.5% |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | 62,104 | 5,525,393 |
Duke Energy Corp. | 92,010 | 9,651,849 |
| | 15,177,242 |
Electrical Equipment 1.0% |
AMETEK, Inc. | 67,838 | 9,974,899 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.6% |
CDW Corp. | 46,825 | 9,588,823 |
Corning, Inc. | 189,381 | 7,050,655 |
| | 16,639,478 |
Entertainment 3.0% |
Netflix, Inc. (a) | 26,194 | 15,780,314 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) (a) | 102,716 | 15,909,681 |
| | 31,689,995 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.6% |
American Tower Corp. | 35,582 | 10,407,735 |
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. | 137,855 | 6,708,024 |
| | 17,115,759 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.4% |
Abbott Laboratories | 68,470 | 9,636,468 |
Baxter International, Inc. | 117,104 | 10,052,207 |
Becton Dickinson and Co. | 32,535 | 8,181,902 |
Hologic, Inc. (a) | 97,715 | 7,481,060 |
| | 35,351,637 |
Health Care Providers & Services 2.4% |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 49,118 | 24,664,112 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.8% |
Airbnb, Inc., Class A (a) | 45,599 | 7,591,777 |
Booking Holdings, Inc. (a) | 4,311 | 10,343,081 |
McDonald's Corp. | 43,175 | 11,573,922 |
| | 29,508,780 |
Household Products 3.0% |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | 124,733 | 10,644,714 |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | 127,482 | 20,853,506 |
| | 31,498,220 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Insurance 1.6% |
Chubb Ltd. | 50,115 | $ 9,687,731 |
Progressive Corp. (The) | 70,037 | 7,189,298 |
| | 16,877,029 |
Interactive Media & Services 8.3% |
Alphabet, Inc. (a) | | |
Class A | 16,296 | 47,210,164 |
Class C | 4,733 | 13,695,362 |
|
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A (a) | 73,847 | 24,838,438 |
| | 85,743,964 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 3.9% |
Amazon.com, Inc. (a) | 12,153 | 40,522,234 |
IT Services 3.5% |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | 70,632 | 7,709,483 |
Global Payments, Inc. | 46,198 | 6,245,045 |
GoDaddy, Inc., Class A (a) | 85,328 | 7,240,934 |
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 41,300 | 14,839,916 |
| | 36,035,378 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 2.8% |
Danaher Corp. | 39,357 | 12,948,846 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 23,532 | 15,701,492 |
| | 28,650,338 |
Machinery 2.6% |
Deere & Co. | 28,285 | 9,698,644 |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | 34,516 | 8,518,549 |
Nordson Corp. | 33,509 | 8,553,842 |
| | 26,771,035 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.5% |
EOG Resources, Inc. | 89,048 | 7,910,134 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | 40,701 | 7,402,698 |
| | 15,312,832 |
Pharmaceuticals 2.8% |
Eli Lilly and Co. | 54,586 | 15,077,745 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 189,356 | 14,512,244 |
| | 29,589,989 |
Professional Services 1.5% |
Equifax, Inc. | 33,811 | 9,899,522 |
Leidos Holdings, Inc. | 60,412 | 5,370,627 |
| | 15,270,149 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 7.2% |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a) | 93,880 | | $ 13,509,332 |
KLA Corp. | 30,714 | | 13,210,399 |
Marvell Technology, Inc. | 153,605 | | 13,438,902 |
NVIDIA Corp. | 19,621 | | 5,770,732 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 77,162 | | 14,110,615 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 76,756 | | 14,466,203 |
| | | 74,506,183 |
Software 9.8% |
Microsoft Corp. | 206,460 | | 69,436,627 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (a) | 13,553 | | 7,545,768 |
salesforce.com, Inc. (a) | 59,159 | | 15,034,077 |
Workday, Inc., Class A (a) | 34,721 | | 9,485,083 |
| | | 101,501,555 |
Specialty Retail 1.6% |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | 215,150 | | 16,334,188 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 5.7% |
Apple, Inc. | 276,694 | | 49,132,554 |
NetApp, Inc. | 110,788 | | 10,191,388 |
| | | 59,323,942 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 2.2% |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | 75,566 | | 12,594,585 |
VF Corp. | 141,196 | | 10,338,371 |
| | | 22,932,956 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $807,537,977) | | | 1,030,368,883 |
Short-Term Investment 0.8% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.8% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (b) | 8,211,113 | | 8,211,113 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $8,211,113) | | | 8,211,113 |
Total Investments (Cost $815,749,090) | 100.0% | | 1,038,579,996 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (0.0)‡ | | (144,566) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 1,038,435,430 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 1,030,368,883 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,030,368,883 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 8,211,113 | | — | | — | | 8,211,113 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 1,038,579,996 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,038,579,996 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $807,537,977) | $1,030,368,883 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $8,211,113) | 8,211,113 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 414,661 |
Portfolio shares sold | 187,064 |
Other assets | 3,679 |
Total assets | 1,039,185,400 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 464,270 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 147,198 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 64,566 |
Professional fees | 36,761 |
Shareholder communication | 21,627 |
Custodian | 6,682 |
Trustees | 788 |
Securities lending | 54 |
Accrued expenses | 8,024 |
Total liabilities | 749,970 |
Net assets | $1,038,435,430 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 30,335 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 640,501,137 |
| 640,531,472 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 397,903,958 |
Net assets | $1,038,435,430 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $732,244,691 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 21,289,429 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 34.39 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $306,190,739 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 9,045,884 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 33.85 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated | $ 11,011,781 |
Securities lending | 4,102 |
Dividends-affiliated | 809 |
Total income | 11,016,692 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 4,834,876 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 726,249 |
Professional fees | 146,980 |
Shareholder communication | 112,220 |
Custodian | 25,151 |
Trustees | 17,911 |
Miscellaneous | 38,183 |
Total expenses | 5,901,570 |
Net investment income (loss) | 5,115,122 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments | 172,354,933 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments | 46,742,537 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 219,097,470 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $224,212,592 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 5,115,122 | $ 7,124,852 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 172,354,933 | 44,306,392 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 46,742,537 | 43,345,069 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 224,212,592 | 94,776,313 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (35,636,214) | (40,145,517) |
Service Class | (15,848,167) | (22,213,114) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (51,484,381) | (62,358,631) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 193,654,667 | 95,611,235 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 51,484,381 | 62,358,631 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (147,245,808) | (234,921,020) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 97,893,240 | (76,951,154) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 270,621,451 | (44,533,472) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 767,813,979 | 812,347,451 |
End of year | $1,038,435,430 | $ 767,813,979 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 28.28 | | $ 26.83 | | $ 25.23 | | $ 29.75 | | $ 25.60 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.21 | | 0.28 | | 0.38 | | 0.42 | | 0.43 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 7.77 | | 3.68 | | 5.74 | | (1.69) | | 5.30 |
Total from investment operations | 7.98 | | 3.96 | | 6.12 | | (1.27) | | 5.73 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.29) | | (0.43) | | (0.43) | | (0.49) | | (0.39) |
From net realized gain on investments | (1.58) | | (2.08) | | (4.09) | | (2.76) | | (1.19) |
Total distributions | (1.87) | | (2.51) | | (4.52) | | (3.25) | | (1.58) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 34.39 | | $ 28.28 | | $ 26.83 | | $ 25.23 | | $ 29.75 |
Total investment return (b) | 28.78% | | 15.55% | | 26.21% | | (5.84)% | | 22.83% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.65% | | 1.09% | | 1.37% | | 1.40% | | 1.53% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.58% | | 0.58% | | 0.58% | | 0.57% | | 0.57% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 26% | | 143% | | 119% | | 125% | | 98% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 732,245 | | $ 497,644 | | $ 543,355 | | $ 454,804 | | $ 639,120 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 27.87 | | $ 26.47 | | $ 24.94 | | $ 29.45 | | $ 25.37 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.13 | | 0.21 | | 0.31 | | 0.35 | | 0.35 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 7.65 | | 3.62 | | 5.67 | | (1.68) | | 5.26 |
Total from investment operations | 7.78 | | 3.83 | | 5.98 | | (1.33) | | 5.61 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.22) | | (0.35) | | (0.36) | | (0.42) | | (0.34) |
From net realized gain on investments | (1.58) | | (2.08) | | (4.09) | | (2.76) | | (1.19) |
Total distributions | (1.80) | | (2.43) | | (4.45) | | (3.18) | | (1.53) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 33.85 | | $ 27.87 | | $ 26.47 | | $ 24.94 | | $ 29.45 |
Total investment return (b) | 28.46% | | 15.26% | | 25.89% | | (6.08)% | | 22.52% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.40% | | 0.83% | | 1.12% | | 1.17% | | 1.28% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.83% | | 0.83% | | 0.83% | | 0.82% | | 0.82% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 26% | | 143% | | 119% | | 125% | | 98% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 306,191 | | $ 270,170 | | $ 268,992 | | $ 237,094 | | $ 268,526 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio) (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | January 23, 1984 |
Service Class | June 5, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to
calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter
18 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") and mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in ETFs and mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of ETFs and mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any portfolio securities on loan.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(H) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. The Portfolio’s subadvisor changed effective May 1, 2021, due to the replacement of MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields") as the Portfolio’s subadvisor and the appointment of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington” or the “Subadvisor”) as the Portfolio’s subadvisor. Wellington, a registered investment adviser, is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and Wellington, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.55% up to $500 million; 0.525% from $500 million to $1 billion; and 0.50% in excess of $1 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.54%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $4,834,876 and paid MacKay Shields and Wellington fees of $726,612 and $1,471,764, respectively.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 2,314 | $ 168,337 | $ (162,440) | $ — | $ — | $ 8,211 | $ 1 | $ — | 8,211 |
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Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $816,336,627 | $236,788,263 | $(14,544,894) | $222,243,369 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$100,178,494 | $75,399,551 | $82,544 | $222,243,369 | $397,903,958 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $ 7,424,661 | $19,229,381 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 44,059,720 | 43,129,250 |
Total | $51,484,381 | $62,358,631 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $3,859 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $291,924 and $231,653, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 5,417,196 | $ 173,672,097 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,118,933 | 35,636,214 |
Shares redeemed | (2,843,866) | (90,895,781) |
Net increase (decrease) | 3,692,263 | $ 118,412,530 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 2,990,187 | $ 77,797,974 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,546,962 | 40,145,517 |
Shares redeemed | (7,190,684) | (182,095,530) |
Net increase (decrease) | (2,653,535) | $ (64,152,039) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 633,617 | $ 19,982,570 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 505,346 | 15,848,167 |
Shares redeemed | (1,788,728) | (56,350,027) |
Net increase (decrease) | (649,765) | $ (20,519,290) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 742,721 | $ 17,813,261 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 868,198 | 22,213,114 |
Shares redeemed | (2,077,311) | (52,825,490) |
Net increase (decrease) | (466,392) | $ (12,799,115) |
Note 10-Litigation
The Portfolio has been named as a defendant in the case entitled Kirschner v. FitzSimons, No. 12-2652 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “FitzSimons action”) as a result of its ownership of shares in the Tribune Company (“Tribune”) in 2007 when Tribune effected a leveraged buyout transaction (“LBO”) by which Tribune converted to a privately-held company. In its complaint, the plaintiff asserts claims against certain insiders, shareholders, professional advisers, and others involved in the LBO.
Separately, the complaint also seeks to obtain from former Tribune shareholders, including the Portfolio, any proceeds they received in connection with the LBO. The sole claim and cause of action brought against the Portfolio is for fraudulent conveyance pursuant to United States Bankruptcy Code Section 548(a)(1)(A).
In June 2011, certain Tribune creditors filed numerous additional actions asserting state law constructive fraudulent conveyance claims (the “SLCFC actions”) against specifically-named former Tribune shareholders and, in some cases, putative defendant classes comprised of former Tribune shareholders. One of the SLCFC actions, entitled Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas v. Blackrock Institutional Trust Co., No. 11-9319 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “Deutsche Bank action”), named the Portfolio as a defendant.
The FitzSimons action and Deutsche Bank action have been consolidated with the majority of the other Tribune LBO-related lawsuits in a
multidistrict litigation proceeding entitled In re Tribune Co. Fraudulent Conveyance Litig., No. 11-md-2296 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “MDL Proceeding”).
On September 23, 2013, the District Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the SLCFC actions, including the Deutsche Bank action, on the basis that the plaintiffs did not have standing to pursue their claims. On September 30, 2013, the plaintiffs in the SLCFC actions filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On October 28, 2013, the defendants filed a joint notice of cross-appeal of that same order. On November 5, 2014, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held an oral argument on appeal. On March 29, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its opinion on the appeal of the SLCFC actions. The appeals court affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of those lawsuits, but on different grounds than the District Court. The appeals court held that while the plaintiffs have standing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, their claims were pre-empted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code—the statutory safe harbor for settlement payments. On April 12, 2016, the plaintiffs in the SLCFC actions filed a petition seeking rehearing en banc before the appeals court. On July 22, 2016, the appeals court denied the petition. On September 9, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Second Circuit’s decision that the safe harbor of Section 546(e) applied to their claims. Certain shareholder defendants filed a joint brief in opposition to the petition for certiorari on October 24, 2016. The plaintiffs filed a reply in support of the petition on November 4, 2016. On April 3, 2018, Justice Kennedy and Justice Thomas issued a “Statement” related to the petition for certiorari suggesting that the Second Circuit and/or District Court may want to take steps to reexamine the application of the Section 546(e) safe harbor to the previously dismissed state law constructive fraudulent transfer claims based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Merit Management Group LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc. On April 10, 2018, the plaintiffs filed in the Second Circuit a motion for that court to recall its mandate, vacate its prior decision, and remand to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with Merit Management. On April 20, 2018, the shareholder defendants filed a response to the plaintiffs’ motion to recall the mandate. On May 15, 2018, the Second Circuit issued an order recalling the mandate “in anticipation of further panel review.” On December 19, 2019, the Second Circuit issued an amended opinion that again affirmed the district court’s ruling on the basis that plaintiffs’ claims were preempted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code. Plaintiffs filed a motion for rehearing and rehearing en banc on January 2, 2020, which was denied on February 6, 2020. Plaintiffs filed a new petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court on July 6, 2020. In that petition, plaintiffs stated that “[t]o make it more likely that there will be a quorum for this petition,” they have “abandon[ed] the case and let the judgment below stand” with respect to certain defendants. That list did not include the Portfolio. Defendants filed an opposition to the certiorari petition on August 26, 2020. Plaintiffs filed a reply in support of the petition for certiorari on September 8, 2020. On March 12, 2021, the Solicitor General filed an amicus brief recommending that certiorari be denied. Plaintiffs filed a supplemental brief in response to the Solicitor General’s amicus brief on March 31, 2021, and Defendants filed a supplemental
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brief on April 1, 2021. The Supreme Court denied the petition for certiorari on April 19, 2021.
On August 2, 2013, the plaintiff in the FitzSimons action filed a Fifth Amended Complaint. On May 23, 2014, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the FitzSimons action, including a global motion to dismiss Count I, which is the claim brought against former Tribune shareholders for intentional fraudulent conveyance under U.S. federal law. On January 6, 2017, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the shareholder defendants’ motion to dismiss the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim in the FitzSimons action. In dismissing the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request to amend the complaint. The Court’s order is not immediately appealable, but the plaintiff has asked the Court to direct entry of a final judgment in order to make the order immediately appealable. On February 23, 2017, the Court issued an order stating that it intends to permit an interlocutory appeal of the dismissal order, but will wait to do so until it has resolved outstanding motions to dismiss filed by other defendants.
On July 18, 2017, the plaintiff submitted a letter to the District Court seeking leave to amend its complaint to add a constructive fraudulent transfer claim. The shareholder defendants opposed that request.
On August 24, 2017, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request without prejudice to renewal of the request in the event of an intervening change in the law. On March 8, 2018, the plaintiff renewed his request for leave to file a motion to amend the complaint to assert a constructive fraudulent transfer claim based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Merit Management. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On June 18, 2018, the District Court ordered that the request would be stayed pending further action by the Second Circuit in the still-pending appeal, discussed above. On December 18, 2018, the plaintiff filed a letter with the District Court requesting that the stay be dissolved in order to permit briefing on the motion to amend the complaint and indicating the plaintiff’s intention to file another motion to amend the complaint to reinstate claims for intentional fraudulent transfer. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On January 14, 2019, the Court held a case management conference, during which the Court stated that it would not lift the stay prior to further action from the Second Circuit. The Court stated that it would allow the plaintiff to file a motion to amend to try to reinstate its intentional fraudulent transfer claim. On January 23, 2019, the Court ordered the parties still facing pending claims to participate in a mediation. On March 27, 2019, the Court held a telephone conference and decided to allow the plaintiff to file a motion for leave to amend. On April 4, 2019, the plaintiff filed a motion to amend the Fifth Amended Complaint to assert a federal constructive fraudulent transfer claim against certain shareholder defendants. On April 10, 2019, the shareholder defendants filed a brief in opposition to the plaintiff’s motion to amend. On April 12, 2019, the plaintiff filed a reply brief. The Court denied leave to amend the complaint on April 23, 2019. On June 13, 2019, the Court entered judgment pursuant to Rule 54(b), which would permit an appeal of the Court’s dismissal of the claim against the shareholder defendants. On July 15, 2019, the Trustee filed a notice of
appeal to the Second Circuit. Appellant filed his brief on January 7, 2020. The shareholder defendants filed an opposition brief on April 27, 2020, and Appellant filed a reply brief on May 18, 2020. The Court held oral argument on August 24, 2020 and, on August 20, 2021, affirmed the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s intentional fraudulent conveyance claims and denial of leave to amend. Plaintiff filed a petition for rehearing en banc on September 3, 2021. The petition was denied on October 7, 2021. On January 5, 2022, Plaintiff filed a petition for certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, the District Court has entered two bar orders in connection with the plaintiff’s settlement with certain non-shareholder defendants. The orders bar claims against the settling defendants, but contain a judgment reduction provision that preserves the value of any potential claim by a shareholder defendant against a settling defendant. Specifically, the judgment reduction provision reduces the amount of money recoverable against a shareholder defendant to the extent the shareholder defendant could have recovered on a claim against a settling defendant.
The value of the proceeds received by the Portfolio in connection with the LBO and the Portfolio's cost basis in shares of Tribune was as follows:
Portfolio | Proceeds | Cost Basis |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio | $1,300,602 | $1,174,184 |
At this stage of the proceedings, the Portfolio does not believe a loss is probable; however, it is difficult to assess with any reasonable certainty the outcome of the pending litigation or the effect, if any, on the Portfolio's net asset value.
Note 11–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 12–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio)
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and transfer agent. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
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Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of the Management Agreement for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management fee and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of the Management Agreement. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of the Management Agreement reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio
turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio and New York Life Investments; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments with respect to its relationship with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments. The Board’s decision with respect to the Management Agreement may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of the Management Agreement in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of the Management Agreement. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and performance in serving as investment adviser to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and New York Life Investments’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at New York Life Investments and New York Life Investments’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and acknowledged New York Life Investments’ commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed New York Life Investments’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments regarding the operations of its business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the
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Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under the Management Agreement. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and acknowledged that New York Life Investments must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management Fee and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under the Management Agreement and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
28 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
30 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
32 | MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI511
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1 | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio2 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 10.31% | 16.85% | 12.44% | 0.85% |
Service Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 10.03 | 16.56 | 12.16 | 1.10 |
1. | The Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment strategies as of May 1, 2020. Therefore, the performance information shown in this report prior to May 1, 2020 reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and its principal investment strategies. |
2. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
Russell 2000® Growth Index1 | 2.83% | 14.53% | 12.95% |
Morningstar Small Growth Category Average2 | 11.14 | 17.34 | 13.52 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Russell 2000® Growth Index is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark. The Russell 2000® Growth Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Small Growth Category Average is representative of funds that focus on faster-growing companies whose shares are at the lower end of the market-capitalization range. These funds tend to favor companies in up-and-coming industries or young firms in their early growth stages. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,008.60 | $4.30 | $1,020.92 | $4.33 | 0.85% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,007.40 | $5.57 | $1,019.66 | $5.60 | 1.10% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Software | 8.7% |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 6.0 |
IT Services | 5.8 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 5.7 |
Biotechnology | 5.5 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 5.4 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 4.8 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 4.3 |
Chemicals | 3.9 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 3.5 |
Health Care Technology | 3.4 |
Professional Services | 3.1 |
Insurance | 2.9 |
Diversified Consumer Services | 2.6 |
Capital Markets | 2.6 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts | 2.5 |
Building Products | 2.5 |
Specialty Retail | 1.9 |
Aerospace & Defense | 1.7 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 1.6 |
Machinery | 1.6 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 1.5 |
Leisure Products | 1.3% |
Pharmaceuticals | 1.3 |
Food Products | 1.2 |
Road & Rail | 1.1 |
Banks | 1.1 |
Construction & Engineering | 1.0 |
Entertainment | 1.0 |
Interactive Media & Services | 1.0 |
Food & Staples Retailing | 0.8 |
Auto Components | 0.8 |
Household Durables | 0.7 |
Media | 0.7 |
Trading Companies & Distributors | 0.6 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 0.6 |
Communications Equipment | 0.5 |
Energy Equipment & Services | 0.4 |
Electrical Equipment | 0.3 |
Consumer Finance | 0.2 |
Short–Term Investments | 4.9 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –1.0 |
| 100.0% |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | AZEK Co., Inc. (The) |
2. | Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. |
3. | Churchill Downs, Inc. |
4. | Genpact Ltd. |
5. | Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. |
6. | Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. |
7. | Waste Connections, Inc. |
8. | Silicon Laboratories, Inc. |
9. | Workiva, Inc. |
10. | Endava plc,Sponsored ADR |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of Brian C. Fitzsimons, CFA, and Mitch S. Begun, CFA, of Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH”), one of the Portfolio’s Subadvisors, and Christopher A. Berrier and George Sakellaris, CFA, of Brown Advisory Group LLC (“Brown Advisory”), the Portfolio’s other Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio returned 10.31% for Initial Class shares and 10.03% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the 2.83% return of the Russell 2000® Growth Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark, and underperformed the 11.14% return of the Morningstar Small Growth Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
SBH
The portion of the Portfolio subadvised by SBH outperformed the Index during the reporting period due to a combination of security selection and sector allocation decisions, although security selection was the primary driver. From our vantage point, the dispersion in returns across styles and sectors across the market in 2021 created an attractive environment for active management.
Brown Advisory
During the reporting period, the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by Brown Advisory benefitted from our efforts to reduce exposure to some of the most extended and expensive parts of the Index. Stock selection bolstered relative returns as well, primarily in health care. Reductions in exposure to richly valued software companies drove the outperformance of the Portfolio’s information technology holdings. Conversely, some investments in the consumer goods & services sector were negatively affected by ongoing pandemic-related effects.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
SBH
The three sectors that made the strongest positive contributions to the performance of the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by SBH relative to the Index were information technology, health care and communication services. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The three sectors that detracted most from relative performance during the reporting period were consumer discretionary, financials and consumer staples.
Brown Advisory
The three sectors making the strongest contributions to the relative performance of the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by Brown Advisory were information technology, health care and real estate. The outperformance in all three sectors was driven
primarily by stock selection. The three weakest contributors were industrials, communication services and consumer discretionary. The underperformance in all of these sectors resulted from stock selection.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
SBH
The three strongest performing holdings in the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by SBH included information technology services providers Endava and Globant, and semiconductor company SiTime. Digital transformation projects accelerated meaningfully during the pandemic, driving strong results for both Endava and Globant. SiTime posted better-than-expected results as the company captured market share due to its superior efficiency across a host of attributes for timing semiconductor solutions. While the Portfolio continued to hold Endava and SiTime, it exited Globant after the company’s market cap grew beyond the Portfolio’s investable small-cap universe.
The stocks that detracted most from absolute performance were home health and hospice provider Amedisys, direct-to-consumer insurance distribution platform SelectQuote and critical event management software provider Everbridge. Amedisys shares declined following an unexpected increase in staff turnover in their hospice segment sales force in the second half of 2021, creating a headwind to growth prospects. SelectQuote lost ground after experiencing increased policy churn, along with a negative impact to agent hiring due to pandemic-related issues. Everbridge shares slid lower after the company announced the unexpected departure of its CEO in the fourth quarter of 2021, accompanied by a moderation in growth expectations for 2022. The Portfolio continued to hold positions in all three companies.
Brown Advisory
The three strongest performing holdings in the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by Brown Advisory included laboratory testing and contract research services provider Charles River Laboratories International, software-as-a-service company Workiva and equity real estate investment trust EastGroup Properties. Charles River stock benefited from the company’s success in continuing to execute at a very high level as the leading pre-clinical contract research organization, serving small and large biotech companies alike. The business proved resilient to early pandemic disruptions, growing revenues and achieving operating margin targets earlier than planned. Workiva growth accelerated throughout 2021 as the company rebounded from elongated sales cycles in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, and also benefited from strong capital markets activity. EastGroup
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
Properties’ stock climbed in response to increasing earnings estimates and multiple expansions throughout 2021, due to a robust industrial real estate market. The company’s management team executed well against a favorable backdrop, prudently ramping up development and acquisition activity, driving forward growth estimates higher.
The stocks that detracted most from absolute performance were social game services provider Zynga, clinical laboratory company NeoGenomics and automobile auction operator IAA. Zynga executed well during the reporting period, with most signs pointing to the fact that general operations at the company remained solid. However, management was unable to meet its updated guidance for fiscal year 2021 as Apple’s new Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) policy was enacted – with negative implications for the company’s business model. NeoGenomics had a disappointing end to 2021 as the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant increased concerns that the company’s core cancer testing business would take longer to recover to pre-pandemic growth levels. IAA shares declined during the reporting period. The decline appears to be the result of investors revaluing the company to a lower multiple. We believe the catalyst for the revaluation is a result of both a macro rotation away from steady growth into hyper-growth companies, and a micro issue involving IAA’s shift from a sole-sourced company to a dual sourced model.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
SBH
Significant purchases during the reporting period included new positions in composite decking and building materials provider The AZEK Company, social media management software company Sprout Social and hospital communications platform provider Vocera Communications. In our view, AZEK is a market leader with a long runway of growth, as the market transitions from wood to sustainable composite materials. Sprout Social’s enterprise cloud platform for social media management is having greater success with larger customers, yet we believe it remains in the early innings of social media becoming the default brand communication channel for companies. Vocera offers a leading hospital communications platform, and we believe the market is underestimating its growth opportunity driven by product innovation, particularly in managing critical hospital workflow.
The most notable sales included positions in semiconductor materials provider Entegris and composite decking provider Trex, both sold due to market capitalizations rising beyond the small-cap universe. Another significant sale was the Portfolio’s holdings in datacenter company QTS Realty Trust, following the announcement of its acquisition by Blackstone Funds.
Brown Advisory
Significant purchases included pest control provider Terminix and
health care provider agilon health. Terminix’s new CEO shed ancillary businesses and appears focused on returning the core pest business to organic growth while improving profitability, a task we think is achievable given the company’s leading brand recognition. Agilon health partners with primary care groups enabling them to practice medicine with greater influence on downstream costs while sharing in created savings. The company’s business model empowers doctors—through capital, resources and collaboration—to have immediate impact on patient health while practicing more complete, tailored, primary care.
Significant sales included the Portfolio’s positions in student-first connected learning platform Chegg and organic and natural products company Hain Celestial Group. Chegg was sold following disappointing fourth quarter 2021 guidance. Hain had been a profitable, multiyear investment for the Portfolio in the consumer staples space. However, we believed the new CEO’s turnaround efforts and the value creation associated with it had largely been achieved. We saw post-pandemic growth as being more challenged and thus sold the Portfolio’s position.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
SBH
The portion of the Portfolio subadvised by SBH saw its largest sector increases relative to the Index in health care. As the size of the utilities sector in the Index fell materially during the reporting period, utilities came to represent the second largest sector increase relative to the Index for the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by SBH, although no purchases of any utilities securities were made. The most significant decreases relative to the Index occurred in the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors.
Brown Advisory
During the reporting period, the most notable increase in sector exposure affecting the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by Brown Advisory was in health care, which went from an underweight position to an equal weight position relative to the Index. During the same period, we trimmed the Portfolio’s information technology exposure from an overweight position to a modest underweight position. We were careful to lower the Portfolio’s allocation to software as valuations expanded markedly during the reporting period.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
SBH
As of December 31, 2021, the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by SBH held overweight exposure, relative to the Index, in the financials and industrials sectors, and underweight exposure
primarily in the consumer discretionary and consumer staples sectors.
Brown Advisory
As of December 31, 2021, the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by Brown Advisory held overweight exposure to the consumer discretionary, industrials and utilities sectors. As of the same date, the Portfolio held underweight exposure to information technology and financials.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
10 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 96.1% |
Aerospace & Defense 1.7% |
AeroVironment, Inc. (a) | 20,525 | $ 1,273,166 |
Hexcel Corp. (a) | 59,372 | 3,075,470 |
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (a) | 176,738 | 3,428,717 |
Mercury Systems, Inc. (a) | 31,770 | 1,749,256 |
| | 9,526,609 |
Auto Components 0.8% |
Fox Factory Holding Corp. (a) | 27,614 | 4,697,141 |
Banks 1.1% |
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. | 84,049 | 6,076,743 |
Biotechnology 5.5% |
Abcam plc, Sponsored ADR (a) | 80,832 | 1,903,594 |
Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 111,747 | 1,290,678 |
Ascendis Pharma A/S, ADR (a) | 14,248 | 1,916,783 |
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co. Ltd. (a) | 27,060 | 3,729,139 |
Blueprint Medicines Corp. (a) | 59,399 | 6,362,227 |
Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 65,239 | 3,817,134 |
Natera, Inc. (a) | 57,243 | 5,345,924 |
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (a) | 31,906 | 2,717,434 |
Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 48,327 | 2,305,198 |
Xencor, Inc. (a) | 52,296 | 2,098,115 |
| | 31,486,226 |
Building Products 2.5% |
AZEK Co., Inc. (The) (a) | 252,266 | 11,664,780 |
Zurn Water Solutions Corp. | 71,658 | 2,608,351 |
| | 14,273,131 |
Capital Markets 2.6% |
Evercore, Inc., Class A | 16,516 | 2,243,699 |
Focus Financial Partners, Inc., Class A (a) | 48,444 | 2,893,076 |
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A | 31,770 | 3,292,007 |
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. | 30,199 | 3,126,200 |
StepStone Group, Inc., Class A | 74,684 | 3,104,614 |
| | 14,659,596 |
Chemicals 3.9% |
Avient Corp. | 60,002 | 3,357,112 |
HB Fuller Co. | 54,127 | 4,384,287 |
Ingevity Corp. (a) | 39,556 | 2,836,165 |
Innospec, Inc. | 18,874 | 1,705,077 |
Livent Corp. (a)(b) | 233,697 | 5,697,533 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Chemicals (continued) |
Quaker Chemical Corp. | 17,241 | $ 3,978,878 |
| | 21,959,052 |
Commercial Services & Supplies 4.8% |
IAA, Inc. (a) | 119,682 | 6,058,303 |
Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. (a) | 31,161 | 2,197,162 |
MSA Safety, Inc. | 16,201 | 2,445,703 |
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc. | 51,976 | 3,181,451 |
Tetra Tech, Inc. | 35,339 | 6,000,562 |
Waste Connections, Inc. | 56,066 | 7,640,114 |
| | 27,523,295 |
Communications Equipment 0.5% |
Infinera Corp. (a)(b) | 305,545 | 2,930,177 |
Construction & Engineering 1.0% |
Ameresco, Inc., Class A (a) | 47,913 | 3,902,035 |
Valmont Industries, Inc. | 7,581 | 1,899,040 |
| | 5,801,075 |
Consumer Finance 0.2% |
LendingTree, Inc. (a) | 8,732 | 1,070,543 |
Diversified Consumer Services 2.6% |
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. (a) | 88,224 | 11,105,637 |
Terminix Global Holdings, Inc. (a) | 84,685 | 3,830,303 |
| | 14,935,940 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.5% |
Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. | 115,479 | 8,450,753 |
Electrical Equipment 0.3% |
TPI Composites, Inc. (a) | 116,890 | 1,748,674 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.6% |
908 Devices, Inc. (a)(b) | 80,819 | 2,090,787 |
Littelfuse, Inc. | 11,279 | 3,549,276 |
Novanta, Inc. (a) | 21,235 | 3,744,368 |
| | 9,384,431 |
Energy Equipment & Services 0.4% |
Cactus, Inc., Class A | 60,422 | 2,303,891 |
Entertainment 1.0% |
Zynga, Inc., Class A (a) | 859,201 | 5,498,886 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 2.5% |
Americold Realty Trust | 54,892 | $ 1,799,909 |
DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (a) | 231,732 | 1,930,328 |
EastGroup Properties, Inc. | 26,563 | 6,052,379 |
Terreno Realty Corp. | 53,520 | 4,564,721 |
| | 14,347,337 |
Food & Staples Retailing 0.8% |
Casey's General Stores, Inc. | 24,554 | 4,845,732 |
Food Products 1.2% |
Simply Good Foods Co. (The) (a) | 162,615 | 6,759,906 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 6.0% |
CONMED Corp. | 37,500 | 5,316,000 |
Establishment Labs Holdings, Inc. (a) | 55,201 | 3,731,036 |
Globus Medical, Inc., Class A (a) | 67,157 | 4,848,735 |
Inari Medical, Inc. (a) | 58,080 | 5,300,962 |
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. (a) | 58,096 | 3,891,851 |
LivaNova plc (a) | 23,122 | 2,021,556 |
Nevro Corp. (a) | 17,938 | 1,454,234 |
OrthoPediatrics Corp. (a) | 34,976 | 2,093,663 |
SI-BONE, Inc. (a) | 105,943 | 2,352,994 |
Silk Road Medical, Inc. (a) | 68,979 | 2,939,195 |
| | 33,950,226 |
Health Care Providers & Services 5.4% |
Accolade, Inc. (a) | 71,692 | 1,889,801 |
Addus HomeCare Corp. (a) | 34,995 | 3,272,382 |
agilon health, Inc. (a) | 120,259 | 3,246,993 |
Alignment Healthcare, Inc. (a) | 89,163 | 1,253,632 |
Amedisys, Inc. (a) | 22,648 | 3,666,258 |
Castle Biosciences, Inc. (a) | 73,636 | 3,156,775 |
Encompass Health Corp. | 40,127 | 2,618,688 |
HealthEquity, Inc. (a) | 54,844 | 2,426,299 |
Oak Street Health, Inc. (a)(b) | 32,220 | 1,067,771 |
Option Care Health, Inc. (a) | 140,121 | 3,985,041 |
Progyny, Inc. (a) | 17,770 | 894,720 |
Surgery Partners, Inc. (a) | 65,405 | 3,493,281 |
| | 30,971,641 |
Health Care Technology 3.4% |
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | 25,242 | 5,807,174 |
Omnicell, Inc. (a) | 36,102 | 6,514,245 |
Phreesia, Inc. (a) | 44,257 | 1,843,747 |
Vocera Communications, Inc. (a) | 75,885 | 4,920,383 |
| | 19,085,549 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 4.3% |
Choice Hotels International, Inc. | 21,084 | $ 3,288,893 |
Churchill Downs, Inc. | 45,265 | 10,904,339 |
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (a)(b) | 37,663 | 631,232 |
MakeMyTrip Ltd. (a) | 101,202 | 2,804,307 |
Shake Shack, Inc., Class A (a) | 43,439 | 3,134,558 |
Wingstop, Inc. | 21,004 | 3,629,491 |
| | 24,392,820 |
Household Durables 0.7% |
TopBuild Corp. (a) | 14,024 | 3,869,362 |
Insurance 2.9% |
Goosehead Insurance, Inc., Class A | 39,768 | 5,173,021 |
Palomar Holdings, Inc. (a) | 51,000 | 3,303,270 |
Selectquote, Inc. (a) | 198,859 | 1,801,663 |
Trupanion, Inc. (a)(b) | 49,447 | 6,528,487 |
| | 16,806,441 |
Interactive Media & Services 1.0% |
Angi, Inc. (a) | 308,595 | 2,842,160 |
Eventbrite, Inc., Class A (a) | 151,046 | 2,634,242 |
| | 5,476,402 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 0.6% |
Revolve Group, Inc. (a) | 61,789 | 3,462,656 |
IT Services 5.8% |
Endava plc, Sponsored ADR (a) | 42,816 | 7,189,663 |
Evo Payments, Inc., Class A (a) | 207,725 | 5,317,760 |
Genpact Ltd. | 177,388 | 9,415,755 |
Maximus, Inc. | 59,645 | 4,751,917 |
Shift4 Payments, Inc., Class A (a) | 76,381 | 4,424,751 |
WEX, Inc. (a) | 13,666 | 1,918,570 |
| | 33,018,416 |
Leisure Products 1.3% |
Callaway Golf Co. (a) | 165,568 | 4,543,186 |
Clarus Corp. | 101,178 | 2,804,654 |
| | 7,347,840 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 3.5% |
Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp. (a) | 57,013 | 1,599,785 |
Bruker Corp. | 39,049 | 3,276,601 |
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (a) | 20,709 | 7,802,737 |
NanoString Technologies, Inc. (a) | 73,203 | 3,091,363 |
NeoGenomics, Inc. (a) | 121,515 | 4,146,092 |
| | 19,916,578 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Machinery 1.6% |
IDEX Corp. | 5,828 | $ 1,377,273 |
John Bean Technologies Corp. | 35,088 | 5,388,113 |
Proto Labs, Inc. (a) | 9,728 | 499,533 |
Woodward, Inc. | 18,057 | 1,976,519 |
| | 9,241,438 |
Media 0.7% |
New York Times Co. (The), Class A | 77,561 | 3,746,196 |
Pharmaceuticals 1.3% |
Catalent, Inc. (a) | 42,342 | 5,421,046 |
Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (a) | 31,770 | 1,911,601 |
| | 7,332,647 |
Professional Services 3.1% |
ASGN, Inc. (a) | 28,862 | 3,561,571 |
FTI Consulting, Inc. (a) | 27,778 | 4,261,701 |
Huron Consulting Group, Inc. (a) | 47,420 | 2,366,258 |
ManTech International Corp., Class A | 38,448 | 2,804,012 |
Upwork, Inc. (a) | 136,219 | 4,653,241 |
| | 17,646,783 |
Road & Rail 1.1% |
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. | 35,987 | 2,193,048 |
Saia, Inc. (a) | 12,009 | 4,047,393 |
| | 6,240,441 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.7% |
CMC Materials, Inc. | 23,386 | 4,482,862 |
Entegris, Inc. | 34,923 | 4,839,629 |
Lattice Semiconductor Corp. (a) | 29,459 | 2,270,111 |
Onto Innovation, Inc. (a) | 50,426 | 5,104,624 |
Power Integrations, Inc. | 51,732 | 4,805,385 |
Silicon Laboratories, Inc. (a) | 36,566 | 7,547,954 |
SiTime Corp. (a) | 11,355 | 3,321,792 |
| | 32,372,357 |
Software 8.7% |
Anaplan, Inc. (a) | 88,626 | 4,063,502 |
Blackline, Inc. (a) | 29,813 | 3,086,838 |
Couchbase, Inc. (a)(b) | 55,173 | 1,377,118 |
Dynatrace, Inc. (a) | 55,300 | 3,337,355 |
Envestnet, Inc. (a) | 84,889 | 6,735,093 |
Everbridge, Inc. (a) | 31,964 | 2,152,136 |
Mimecast Ltd. (a) | 31,484 | 2,505,182 |
nCino, Inc. (a) | 70,054 | 3,843,162 |
Olo, Inc., Class A (a) | 116,228 | 2,418,705 |
PROS Holdings, Inc. (a) | 66,911 | 2,307,760 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Software (continued) |
Sprout Social, Inc., Class A (a) | 63,817 | | $ 5,787,564 |
Sumo Logic, Inc. (a) | 91,116 | | 1,235,533 |
Workiva, Inc. (a) | 55,403 | | 7,229,538 |
Zuora, Inc., Class A (a) | 177,294 | | 3,311,852 |
| | | 49,391,338 |
Specialty Retail 1.9% |
Leslie's, Inc. (a) | 177,933 | | 4,209,895 |
National Vision Holdings, Inc. (a) | 54,629 | | 2,621,646 |
Warby Parker, Inc., Class A (a)(b) | 80,861 | | 3,764,888 |
| | | 10,596,429 |
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.6% |
SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. (a) | 15,348 | | 3,718,514 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $404,531,284) | | | 546,863,212 |
Short-Term Investments 4.9% |
Affiliated Investment Company 4.0% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (c) | 22,772,211 | | 22,772,211 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 0.9% |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (c)(d) | 4,890,612 | | 4,890,612 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $27,662,823) | | | 27,662,823 |
Total Investments (Cost $432,194,107) | 101.0% | | 574,526,035 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (1.0) | | (5,646,934) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 568,879,101 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $5,159,237; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $5,395,243. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $504,631. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $4,890,612. (See Note 2(G)) |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 546,863,212 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 546,863,212 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 22,772,211 | | — | | — | | 22,772,211 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 4,890,612 | | — | | — | | 4,890,612 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 27,662,823 | | — | | — | | 27,662,823 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 574,526,035 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 574,526,035 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $409,421,896) including securities on loan of $5,159,237 | $551,753,824 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $22,772,211) | 22,772,211 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 193,155 |
Portfolio shares sold | 25,914 |
Securities lending | 809 |
Other assets | 2,655 |
Total assets | 574,748,568 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 4,890,612 |
Payables: | |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 441,019 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 384,120 |
Investment securities purchased | 47,918 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 35,840 |
Professional fees | 29,825 |
Shareholder communication | 25,321 |
Custodian | 6,457 |
Trustees | 646 |
Accrued expenses | 7,709 |
Total liabilities | 5,869,467 |
Net assets | $568,879,101 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 32,813 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 311,495,345 |
| 311,528,158 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 257,350,943 |
Net assets | $568,879,101 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $395,321,303 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 22,550,485 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 17.53 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $173,557,798 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 10,262,112 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 16.91 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $22,860) | $ 1,606,375 |
Securities lending | 20,835 |
Dividends-affiliated | 2,139 |
Total income | 1,629,349 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 4,735,819 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 424,691 |
Professional fees | 76,265 |
Shareholder communication | 40,682 |
Custodian | 31,496 |
Trustees | 12,098 |
Miscellaneous | 27,840 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 5,348,891 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (27,322) |
Net expenses | 5,321,569 |
Net investment income (loss) | (3,692,220) |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments | 118,790,132 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments | (56,483,974) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 62,306,158 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 58,613,938 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ (3,692,220) | $ (2,292,539) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 118,790,132 | 76,227,902 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (56,483,974) | 100,556,905 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 58,613,938 | 174,492,268 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (51,525,334) | (11,171,351) |
Service Class | (22,332,907) | (3,851,068) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (73,858,241) | (15,022,419) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 105,037,004 | 73,550,635 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 73,858,241 | 15,022,419 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (171,515,217) | (129,080,099) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 7,380,028 | (40,507,045) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (7,864,275) | 118,962,804 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 576,743,376 | 457,780,572 |
End of year | $ 568,879,101 | $ 576,743,376 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 18.16 | | $ 13.31 | | $ 12.20 | | $ 14.09 | | $ 12.03 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | (0.11) | | (0.06) | | (0.06) | | (0.06) | | (0.06) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.98 | | 5.36 | | 2.96 | | (1.04) | | 2.78 |
Total from investment operations | 1.87 | | 5.30 | | 2.90 | | (1.10) | | 2.72 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net realized gain on investments | (2.50) | | (0.45) | | (1.79) | | (0.79) | | (0.66) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 17.53 | | $ 18.16 | | $ 13.31 | | $ 12.20 | | $ 14.09 |
Total investment return (b) | 10.31% | | 40.48% | | 25.59% | | (8.88)% | | 22.83% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | (0.56)% | | (0.41)% | | (0.41)% | | (0.40)% | | (0.48)% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.84%(d) | | 0.85%(d) | | 0.85% | | 0.85% | | 0.85% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 32% | | 101% | | 46% | | 41% | | 41% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 395,321 | | $ 422,200 | | $ 332,474 | | $ 251,547 | | $ 312,106 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | Expense waiver/reimbursement less than 0.01%. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 17.64 | | $ 12.97 | | $ 11.96 | | $ 13.87 | | $ 11.88 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | (0.15) | | (0.09) | | (0.09) | | (0.09) | | (0.09) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.92 | | 5.21 | | 2.89 | | (1.03) | | 2.74 |
Total from investment operations | 1.77 | | 5.12 | | 2.80 | | (1.12) | | 2.65 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net realized gain on investments | (2.50) | | (0.45) | | (1.79) | | (0.79) | | (0.66) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 16.91 | | $ 17.64 | | $ 12.97 | | $ 11.96 | | $ 13.87 |
Total investment return (b) | 10.03% | | 40.13% | | 25.28% | | (9.11)% | | 22.53% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | (0.81)% | | (0.66)% | | (0.65)% | | (0.64)% | | (0.72)% |
Net expenses (c) | 1.09%(d) | | 1.10%(d) | | 1.10% | | 1.10% | | 1.10% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 32% | | 101% | | 46% | | 41% | | 41% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 173,558 | | $ 154,543 | | $ 125,306 | | $ 96,497 | | $ 90,887 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | Expense waiver/reimbursement less than 0.01%. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | February 17, 2012 |
Service Class | February 17, 2012 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number
of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized
20 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes
of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(H) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisors. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. The Portfolio's subadvisors are Segal Bryant & Hamill, LLC ("SBH" or a "Subadvisor") and Brown Advisory LLC ("Borwn Advisory" or a 'Subadvisor", and together, with SBH, the "subadvisors'), the Portfolio's subadvisors. SBH, a registered investment adviser, serves as a Subadvisor to the Portfolio, pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and SBH. Brown Advisory, a registered investment adviser, serves as a Subadvisor to the Portfolio, pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Brown Advisory. Each Subadvisor is responsible for managing a portion of the Portfolio’s assets, as designated by the Manager from time to time. New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisors.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.81% up to $1 billion; and 0.785% in excess of $1 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.81%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $4,735,819 and voluntarily waived fees/reimbursed expenses in the amount of $27,322 and paid SBH and Brown Advisory fees of $1,191,470 and $1,142,762, respectively.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
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(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 9,588 | $ 240,776 | $ (227,592) | $ — | $ — | $ 22,772 | $ 2 | $ — | 22,772 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $432,801,558 | $162,938,666 | $(21,214,189) | $141,724,477 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$42,868,326 | $72,723,952 | $34,188 | $141,724,477 | $257,350,943 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $34,188,405 | $ — |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 39,669,836 | 15,022,419 |
Total | $73,858,241 | $15,022,419 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian
fees which totaled $3,877 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $180,390 and $262,881, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 3,788,555 | $ 71,083,995 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,935,314 | 51,525,334 |
Shares redeemed | (7,426,075) | (140,856,224) |
Net increase (decrease) | (702,206) | $ (18,246,895) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 3,917,901 | $ 53,281,864 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 737,251 | 11,171,351 |
Shares redeemed | (6,390,605) | (93,305,819) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,735,453) | $ (28,852,604) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 1,843,221 | $ 33,953,009 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,317,996 | 22,332,907 |
Shares redeemed | (1,660,340) | (30,658,993) |
Net increase (decrease) | 1,500,877 | $ 25,626,923 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 1,540,640 | $ 20,268,771 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 261,458 | 3,851,068 |
Shares redeemed | (2,702,909) | (35,774,280) |
Net increase (decrease) | (900,811) | $ (11,654,441) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreements between New York Life Investments and each of Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“Segall”) and Brown Advisory LLC (“Brown Advisory”) with respect to the Portfolio (collectively, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
Additionally, at its March 8, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously approved the continued retention of Segall as a subadvisor to the Portfolio and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Segall with respect to the Portfolio (“Segall Subadvisory Agreement”). The previous subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and Segall with respect to the Portfolio automatically terminated, as required by the 1940 Act, as a result of the acquisition of Segall by CI Financial Corp., which was deemed to constitute a change of control of Segall. Under the terms of an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Life Investments, on behalf of the Portfolio and subject to the approval of the Board, is permitted to retain and materially amend subadvisory agreements with unaffiliated and certain affiliated subadvisors without shareholder approval. This authority is subject to certain conditions.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments, Segall and/or Brown Advisory that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s
management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
In reaching the decisions to approve the continued retention of Segall and the Segall Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Segall in connection with the Board’s consideration of the Segall Subadvisory Agreement, as well as other information and materials furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant by the Trustees. The Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Segall in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. In addition, the Board considered its experience with Segall and knowledge of Segall’s capabilities and resources, including in connection with its prior contract review process and approval of the previous subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and Segall, on behalf of the Portfolio (“Prior Contract Review Process”). The Board also considered representations from Segall that the change of control of Segall is not expected to have a material impact on the nature, extent and quality of services provided by Segall. In addition, the Trustees considered the anticipated impact of the acquisition of Segall by CI Financial Corp., including with respect to Segall’s resources and capabilities.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information
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regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
In considering the continued retention of Segall and the Segall Subadvisory Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided to the Portfolio by Segall; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio and Segall; (iii) the costs of the services to be provided, and profits to be realized, by Segall from its relationship with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized as the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have
benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. The Board’s decisions to approve the continued retention of Segall and the Segall Subadvisory Agreement were based on a consideration of the information provided to the Board throughout the year and during the Prior Contract Review Process, as well as information provided to the Board specifically in connection with its review of the Segall Subadvisory Agreement. The Board’s decision with respect to the Segall Subadvisory Agreement may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of Segall resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, particularly the previous Segall Subadvisory Agreement with respect to the Portfolio, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. The Board also considered that shareholders of the Portfolio approved the ability of New York Life Investments to act as a “manager of managers,” which allows the Board and New York Life Investments to retain and materially amend subadvisory agreements with unaffiliated and certain affiliated subadvisers for the Portfolio without the approval of Portfolio shareholders, subject to certain conditions.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decisions to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting and the continued retention of Segall and the Segall Subadvisory Agreement during its March 8, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of Segall and Brown Advisory, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreements should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of Segall and Brown Advisory and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, Segall and Brown Advisory with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as Segall’s and Brown Advisory’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that Segall and Brown Advisory provide to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated Segall’s and Brown Advisory’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisors to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and Segall’s and Brown Advisory’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at Segall and Brown Advisory and New York Life Investments’,
Segall’s and Brown Advisory’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed Segall’s and Brown Advisory’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
In considering the continued retention of Segall and the Segall Subadvisory Agreement, the Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services that Segall historically had provided to the Portfolio. Based on information provided to the Board in connection with the Prior Contract Review Process, the Board acknowledged Segall’s historical service to the Portfolio and took note of the experience of Segall’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and Segall’s method for compensating the portfolio managers. The Board considered Segall’s continued willingness to invest in personnel and other resources to service and support the Portfolio. The Board also considered the experience of senior management and administrative personnel at Segall and Segall’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities and history.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
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The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to Segall and Brown Advisory as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments, Segall or Brown Advisory had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
With respect to the Segall Subadvisory Agreement, in evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods, as presented to the Board in connection with the Prior Contract Review Process, in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. The Board also considered information provided to the Board showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds. In addition, the Board considered the strength of Segall’s resources.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements and the continued retention of Segall and the Segall Subadvisory Agreement.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Segall and Brown Advisory, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that Segall’s and Brown Advisory’s subadvisory fees have been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that these fees are paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of Segall’s and Brown Advisory’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, Segall and Brown Advisory, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’, Segall’s and Brown Advisory’s continuing investments in, or
willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fees for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory and acknowledged that New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to Segall and Brown Advisory from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to Segall and Brown Advisory in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between Segall and Brown Advisory and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
With respect to the Segall Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered that Segall’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of Segall’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio. In evaluating the costs of the services to be provided by Segall and profits expected to be realized by Segall from its relationship with the Portfolio, the Board considered, among other factors, the Prior Contract Review Process, Segall’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel, systems, equipment and other resources and infrastructure to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of Segall and acknowledged that Segall must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for Segall to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by Segall and its affiliates due to its relationship with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to Segall from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to Segall in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades on the Portfolio’s portfolio securities.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to Segall and Brown Advisory, the Board considered that any profits realized by Segall and Brown Advisory due to their relationships with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and each of Segall and
Brown Advisory, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fees paid to Segall and Brown Advisory by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fees paid to Segall and Brown Advisory are paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fees paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments, Segall and Brown Advisory on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
The Board also evaluated the reasonableness of the fee to be paid under the Segall Subadvisory Agreement and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses, taking into account information provided to the Board in connection with the Prior Contract Review Process. The Board considered that the fee to be paid to Segall under the Segall Subadvisory Agreement is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and will result in no increase in the Portfolio’s expenses.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial
30 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
With respect to the Segall Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders, taking into account information provided to the Board in connection with the Prior Contract Review Process.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements and the continued retention of Segall and the Segall Subadvisory Agreement.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
32 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
34 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
36 | MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI515
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/1/1995 | 12.24% | 14.70% | 10.38% | 0.96% |
Service Class Shares | 6/5/2003 | 11.96 | 14.42 | 10.10 | 1.21 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
MSCI ACWI® Ex U.S. Index (Net)1 | 7.82% | 9.61% | 7.28% |
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 | 11.26 | 9.55 | 8.03 |
Morningstar Foreign Large Growth Category Average3 | 7.51 | 13.85 | 9.68 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Portfolio has selected the MSCI ACWI® (All Country World Index) Ex U.S. Index (Net) as its primary benchmark. The MSCI ACWI® Ex U.S. Index (Net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index is a broad-based benchmark that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Portfolio's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Morningstar Foreign Large Growth Category Average is representative of funds that focus on high-priced growth stocks, mainly outside of the United States. Most of these funds divide their assets among a dozen or more developed markets, including Japan, Britain, France, and Germany. These funds primarily invest in stocks that have market caps in the top 70% of each economically integrated market and will have less than 20% of assets invested in U.S. stocks. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,030.70 | $4.71 | $1,020.57 | $4.69 | 0.92% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,029.50 | $5.99 | $1,019.31 | $5.96 | 1.17% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Country Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
United Kingdom | 15.4% |
Germany | 12.2 |
France | 11.3 |
Japan | 10.9 |
United States | 9.5 |
India | 4.7 |
China | 3.9 |
Ireland | 3.9 |
Switzerland | 3.8 |
Sweden | 3.2 |
Taiwan | 3.0 |
Netherlands | 3.0 |
Spain | 2.8% |
Brazil | 2.4 |
Denmark | 2.3 |
Canada | 2.3 |
Italy | 1.0 |
Israel | 1.0 |
Mexico | 0.5 |
Finland | 0.5 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 2.4 |
| 100.0% |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Prudential plc |
2. | Tencent Holdings Ltd. |
3. | ICON plc |
4. | CyberAgent, Inc. |
5. | Teleperformance |
6. | Deutsche Boerse AG |
7. | Sartorius Stedim Biotech |
8. | HDFC Bank Ltd. |
9. | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.,Sponsored ADR |
10. | Diageo plc |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of Carlos Garcia-Tunon, CFA, Ian Murdoch, CFA, and Lawrence Rosenberg, CFA, of MacKay Shields LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor .
How did MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio returned 12.24% for Initial Class shares and 11.96% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the 7.82% return of the MSCI ACWI® Ex U.S. Index (Net), which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and the 11.26% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is a secondary benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes also outperformed the 7.51% return of the Morningstar Foreign Large Growth Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s outperformance relative to the MSCI ACWI® Ex U.S. Index (Net) was driven primarily by stock selection.
A number of events propelled risk assets higher in the twelve months ending December 31, 2021. The quick rollout of several COVID vaccines combined with lofty U.S. stimulus plans spurred optimism for a normalization in global economic activity and increased inflation. This, in turn, drove sector and style rotation with international value stocks meaningfully outperforming international growth stocks in the period.
Canadian stocks were notable outperformers compared to the MSCI ACWI® Ex U.S. Index as the value of many commodities, notably crude oil, experienced a material jump in the period. European equities outperformed as they were seen to benefit disproportionately from growing expectations for a cyclical recovery and strengthening inflation.
Emerging markets varied widely but collectively were a notable underperformer versus the MSCI ACWI® Ex U.S. Index as several countries grappled with unique COVID or other idiosyncratic challenges. China, in particular, was a noteworthy underperformer as its property sector teetered financially and the government tightened regulations on select industries. Japanese shares underperformed as investors sought higher-beta risk exposures. Stocks in Asia Pacific ex Japan also underperformed as China’s issues were an overhang and growth was slated to decelerate as new COVID variants posed a renewed economic threat.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
During the reporting period, the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio's performance relative to the MSCI ACWI® Ex
U.S. Index (Net) came from the health care sector, driven by stock selection. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The Portfolio’s underweight exposure and strong stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector also aided relative performance, as did overweight exposure and positive stock selection in the information technology sector. During the same period, the communication services sector provided the weakest contributions to relative performance, due to an overweight allocation and disappointing stock selection. The Portfolio did not have exposure to the energy sector, which detracted from relative performance. Underweight exposure and underperforming stock selection in the financial services sector further weighed on relative results.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
The top contributors to the Portfolio's absolute performance during the reporting period included shares in U.K. wealth manager St. James’s Place, Swiss contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Lonza Group, and Danish diabetes-focused pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. The most significant detractors in terms of absolute performance were holdings in Dutch medical technology conglomerate Koninklijke Philips, Chinese Internet gaming and value-added services provider Tencent Holdings, and Japanese outsourced fringe benefits provider Relo Group.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio's largest initial purchase was in shares of French pharmaceutical and laboratory equipment supplier Sartorius Stedim Biotech, while the largest increase in position size was in shares of Irish clinical research outsourcer ICON. The Portfolio's largest full sale was its position in Dutch medical technology conglomerate Koninklijke Philips, while the largest decreased position size was in shares of German flavors and fragrances provider Symrise.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
The Portfolio's largest increases in sector exposures relative to the MSCI ACWI® Ex U.S. Index (Net) were in the consumer discretionary and financial services sectors, while the most significant decreases in sector exposure were in materials and real estate. From a country perspective, the Portfolio increased its
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
holdings in Ireland, France and Switzerland, and decreased holdings in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held its most overweight positions relative to the MSCI ACWI® Ex U.S. Index (Net) in the health care and information technology sectors. As of the same date, the Portfolio held its most significantly underweight exposures to the consumer staples and energy sectors.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 97.6% |
Brazil 2.4% |
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA (Health Care Providers & Services) | 1,290,931 | $ 13,978,877 |
Canada 2.3% |
Constellation Software, Inc. (Software) | 7,165 | 13,293,668 |
China 3.9% |
Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Interactive Media & Services) | 388,755 | 22,774,241 |
Denmark 2.3% |
Chr Hansen Holding A/S (Chemicals) | 174,723 | 13,736,610 |
Finland 0.5% |
Musti Group Oyj (Specialty Retail) | 78,483 | 2,764,421 |
France 11.3% |
BioMerieux (Health Care Equipment & Supplies) | 43,685 | 6,211,948 |
Dassault Systemes SE (Software) | 103,411 | 6,158,635 |
Edenred (IT Services) | 357,372 | 16,506,636 |
Sartorius Stedim Biotech (Life Sciences Tools & Services) | 32,641 | 17,926,842 |
Teleperformance (Professional Services) | 44,714 | 19,955,501 |
| | 66,759,562 |
Germany 12.2% |
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Health Care Equipment & Supplies) | 23,824 | 5,013,165 |
Deutsche Boerse AG (Capital Markets) | 107,884 | 18,072,736 |
SAP SE (Software) | 115,440 | 16,487,262 |
Scout24 SE (Interactive Media & Services) (a) | 183,069 | 12,833,550 |
Symrise AG (Chemicals) | 35,241 | 5,227,327 |
Zalando SE (Internet & Direct Marketing Retail) (a)(b) | 177,600 | 14,401,915 |
| | 72,035,955 |
India 4.7% |
HDFC Bank Ltd. (Banks) | 895,353 | 17,818,977 |
Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. (Thrifts & Mortgage Finance) | 282,216 | 9,819,482 |
| | 27,638,459 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Ireland 3.9% |
ICON plc (Life Sciences Tools & Services) (b) | 73,426 | $ 22,740,032 |
Israel 1.0% |
Nice Ltd., Sponsored ADR (Software) (b) | 18,827 | 5,715,877 |
Italy 1.0% |
Reply SpA (IT Services) | 28,377 | 5,728,152 |
Japan 10.9% |
CyberAgent, Inc. (Media) | 1,222,700 | 20,347,644 |
JMDC, Inc. (Health Care Technology) (b) | 78,200 | 5,833,911 |
Menicon Co. Ltd. (Health Care Equipment & Supplies) | 267,200 | 7,875,257 |
Relo Group, Inc. (Real Estate Management & Development) | 615,300 | 11,122,043 |
SMS Co. Ltd. (Professional Services) | 163,900 | 6,428,075 |
TechnoPro Holdings, Inc. (Professional Services) | 417,900 | 12,680,101 |
| | 64,287,031 |
Mexico 0.5% |
Regional SAB de CV (Banks) | 536,281 | 2,780,998 |
Netherlands 3.0% |
Adyen NV (IT Services) (a)(b) | 1,746 | 4,594,848 |
Koninklijke DSM NV (Chemicals) | 57,307 | 12,918,316 |
| | 17,513,164 |
Spain 2.8% |
Industria de Diseno Textil SA (Specialty Retail) | 504,773 | 16,358,895 |
Sweden 3.2% |
Hexagon AB, Class B (Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components) | 800,225 | 12,598,386 |
MIPS AB (Leisure Products) | 46,322 | 6,073,412 |
| | 18,671,798 |
Switzerland 3.8% |
Belimo Holding AG (Registered) (Building Products) | 9,100 | 5,759,838 |
Lonza Group AG (Registered) (Life Sciences Tools & Services) | 20,026 | 16,682,528 |
| | 22,442,366 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Taiwan 3.0% |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Sponsored ADR (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 147,635 | $ 17,761,967 |
United Kingdom 15.4% |
Diageo plc (Beverages) | 318,675 | 17,408,985 |
Experian plc (Professional Services) | 178,830 | 8,791,450 |
HomeServe plc (Commercial Services & Supplies) | 816,152 | 9,660,624 |
Linde plc (Chemicals) | 44,570 | 15,440,385 |
Prudential plc (Insurance) | 1,338,896 | 23,097,288 |
St James's Place plc (Capital Markets) | 707,689 | 16,126,119 |
| | 90,524,851 |
United States 9.5% |
Accenture plc, Class A (IT Services) | 18,064 | 7,488,431 |
Aon plc, Class A (Insurance) | 57,722 | 17,348,924 |
Fiverr International Ltd. (Internet & Direct Marketing Retail) (b) | 40,272 | 4,578,927 |
Globant SA (IT Services) (b) | 16,598 | 5,213,266 |
STERIS plc (Health Care Equipment & Supplies) | 27,602 | 6,718,603 |
TE Connectivity Ltd. (Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components) | 91,398 | 14,746,153 |
| | 56,094,304 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $516,180,064) | | 573,601,228 |
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investment 0.0% ‡ |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.0% ‡ |
United States 0.0% ‡ |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (c) | 144,792 | | $ 144,792 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $144,792) | | | 144,792 |
Total Investments (Cost $516,324,856) | 97.6% | | 573,746,020 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 2.4 | | 14,135,415 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 587,881,435 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(b) | Non-income producing security. |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | |
Brazil | $ — | | $ 13,978,877 | | $ — | | $ 13,978,877 |
Denmark | — | | 13,736,610 | | — | | 13,736,610 |
Finland | — | | 2,764,421 | | — | | 2,764,421 |
Germany | — | | 72,035,955 | | — | | 72,035,955 |
Italy | — | | 5,728,152 | | — | | 5,728,152 |
Japan | — | | 64,287,031 | | — | | 64,287,031 |
Spain | — | | 16,358,895 | | — | | 16,358,895 |
Sweden | — | | 18,671,798 | | — | | 18,671,798 |
Switzerland | — | | 22,442,366 | | — | | 22,442,366 |
All Other Countries | 343,597,123 | | — | | — | | 343,597,123 |
Total Common Stocks | 343,597,123 | | 230,004,105 | | — | | 573,601,228 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 144,792 | | — | | — | | 144,792 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 343,741,915 | | $ 230,004,105 | | $ — | | $ 573,746,020 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Industry Diversification
| Value | | Percent † |
Banks | $ 20,599,975 | | 3.5% |
Beverages | 17,408,985 | | 3.0 |
Building Products | 5,759,838 | | 1.0 |
Capital Markets | 34,198,855 | | 5.8 |
Chemicals | 47,322,638 | | 8.0 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 9,660,624 | | 1.7 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 27,344,539 | | 4.7 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 25,818,973 | | 4.3 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 13,978,877 | | 2.4 |
Health Care Technology | 5,833,911 | | 1.0 |
Insurance | 40,446,212 | | 6.8 |
Interactive Media & Services | 35,607,791 | | 6.1 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 18,980,842 | | 3.2 |
IT Services | 39,531,333 | | 6.8 |
Leisure Products | 6,073,412 | | 1.0 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 57,349,402 | | 9.7 |
Media | 20,347,644 | | 3.5 |
Professional Services | 47,855,127 | | 8.1 |
Real Estate Management & Development | 11,122,043 | | 1.9 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 17,761,967 | | 3.0 |
Software | 41,655,442 | | 7.1 |
Specialty Retail | 19,123,316 | | 3.3 |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance | 9,819,482 | | 1.7 |
| 573,601,228 | | 97.6 |
Short-Term Investment | 144,792 | | 0.0‡ |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 14,135,415 | | 2.4 |
Net Assets | $587,881,435 | | 100.0% |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $516,180,064) | $573,601,228 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $144,792) | 144,792 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies (identified cost $13,303,317) | 13,510,204 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends and interest | 1,002,007 |
Investment securities sold | 481,498 |
Portfolio shares sold | 164,772 |
Other assets | 4,939 |
Total assets | 588,909,440 |
Liabilities |
Due to custodian | 2,447 |
Payables: | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 431,339 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 366,820 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 66,526 |
Foreign capital gains tax (See Note 2) | 63,394 |
Professional fees | 48,835 |
Shareholder communication | 26,286 |
Custodian | 21,657 |
Trustees | 701 |
Total liabilities | 1,028,005 |
Net assets | $587,881,435 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 32,930 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 443,185,493 |
| 443,218,423 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 144,663,012 |
Net assets | $587,881,435 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $266,746,884 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 14,833,295 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 17.98 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $321,134,551 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 18,096,570 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 17.75 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $635,750) | $ 7,455,475 |
Securities lending | 93,810 |
Interest | 312 |
Dividends-affiliated | 54 |
Total income | 7,549,651 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 5,125,227 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 802,495 |
Professional fees | 104,974 |
Custodian | 101,703 |
Shareholder communication | 36,698 |
Trustees | 12,073 |
Miscellaneous | 33,702 |
Total expenses | 6,216,872 |
Net investment income (loss) | 1,332,779 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions(a) | 95,000,894 |
Foreign currency transactions | 138,418 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 95,139,312 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments(b) | (30,914,621) |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 169,919 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (30,744,702) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 64,394,610 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 65,727,389 |
(a) | Realized gain (loss) on security transactions recorded net of foreign capital gains tax in the amount of $(828,734). |
(b) | Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments recorded net of foreign capital gains tax in the amount of $927,353. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 1,332,779 | $ 94,714 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 95,139,312 | 68,904,965 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (30,744,702) | 27,504,268 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 65,727,389 | 96,503,947 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (33,734,818) | (13,134,233) |
Service Class | (41,322,755) | (17,213,641) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (75,057,573) | (30,347,874) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 34,068,196 | 34,835,816 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 75,057,573 | 30,347,874 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (72,259,312) | (83,407,113) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 36,866,457 | (18,223,423) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 27,536,273 | 47,932,650 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 560,345,162 | 512,412,512 |
End of year | $587,881,435 | $560,345,162 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 18.43 | | $ 16.21 | | $ 14.99 | | $ 17.46 | | $ 13.24 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.07 | | 0.03 | | 0.12 | | 0.10 | | 0.07 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.12 | | 3.24 | | 3.31 | | (2.04) | | 4.24 |
Total from investment operations | 2.19 | | 3.27 | | 3.43 | | (1.94) | | 4.31 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.02) | | (0.12) | | (0.08) | | (0.21) | | (0.09) |
From net realized gain on investments | (2.62) | | (0.93) | | (2.13) | | (0.32) | | — |
Total distributions | (2.64) | | (1.05) | | (2.21) | | (0.53) | | (0.09) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 17.98 | | $ 18.43 | | $ 16.21 | | $ 14.99 | | $ 17.46 |
Total investment return (b) | 12.24% | | 20.85% | | 24.80% | | (11.56)% | | 32.61% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.37% | | 0.16% | | 0.74% | | 0.55% | | 0.43% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.93% | | 0.96% | | 0.96% | | 0.96% | | 0.96% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 86% | | 135% | | 66% | | 46% | | 49% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 266,747 | | $ 245,101 | | $ 209,278 | | $ 158,215 | | $ 196,676 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 18.24 | | $ 16.06 | | $ 14.86 | | $ 17.32 | | $ 13.13 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.02 | | (0.01) | | 0.08 | | 0.05 | | 0.03 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.11 | | 3.20 | | 3.28 | | (2.03) | | 4.21 |
Total from investment operations | 2.13 | | 3.19 | | 3.36 | | (1.98) | | 4.24 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | — | | (0.08) | | (0.03) | | (0.16) | | (0.05) |
From net realized gain on investments | (2.62) | | (0.93) | | (2.13) | | (0.32) | | — |
Total distributions | (2.62) | | (1.01) | | (2.16) | | (0.48) | | (0.05) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 17.75 | | $ 18.24 | | $ 16.06 | | $ 14.86 | | $ 17.32 |
Total investment return (b) | 11.96% | | 20.54% | | 24.49% | | (11.78)% | | 32.28% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.12% | | (0.08)% | | 0.52% | | 0.32% | | 0.18% |
Net expenses (c) | 1.18% | | 1.21% | | 1.21% | | 1.21% | | 1.21% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 86% | | 135% | | 66% | | 46% | | 49% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 321,135 | | $ 315,244 | | $ 303,135 | | $ 258,307 | | $ 310,793 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 1, 1995 |
Service Class | June 5, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure
18 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number
of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Certain securities held by the Portfolio may principally trade in foreign markets. Events may occur between the time the foreign markets close and the time at which the Portfolio's NAVs are calculated. These events may include, but are not limited to, situations relating to a single issuer in a market sector, significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets, natural disasters, armed conflicts, governmental actions or other developments not tied directly to the securities markets. Should the Manager or the Subadvisor conclude that such events may have affected the accuracy of the last price of such securities reported on the local foreign market, the Subcommittee may, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, adjust the value of the local price to reflect the estimated impact on the price of such securities as a result of such events. In this instance, securities are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Additionally, certain foreign equity securities are also fair valued whenever the movement of a particular index exceeds certain thresholds. In such cases, the securities are fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No foreign equity securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021 were fair valued in such a manner.
If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
with valuation procedures adopted by the Board. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on
federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
The Portfolio may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Portfolio's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
20 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(I) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of
the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any portfolio securities on loan.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(J) Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio invests in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(K) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.89% up to $500 million; and 0.85% in excess of $500 million. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.88%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $5,125,227 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $2,563,197.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 622 | $ 55,243 | $ (55,720) | $ — | $ — | $ 145 | $ —(a) | $ — | 145 |
22 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $519,479,620 | $81,403,644 | $(27,137,244) | $54,266,400 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$46,066,053 | $44,127,520 | $54,469,439 | $144,663,012 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $50,111,243 | $ 8,353,687 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 24,946,330 | 21,994,187 |
Total | $75,057,573 | $30,347,874 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $19,770 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with
an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $484,519 and $521,077, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 838,988 | $ 16,153,016 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,922,628 | 33,734,818 |
Shares redeemed | (1,225,104) | (23,742,345) |
Net increase (decrease) | 1,536,512 | $ 26,145,489 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 713,217 | $ 11,874,962 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 783,932 | 13,134,233 |
Shares redeemed | (1,109,972) | (17,404,149) |
Net increase (decrease) | 387,177 | $ 7,605,046 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 962,140 | $ 17,915,180 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,385,193 | 41,322,755 |
Shares redeemed | (2,530,506) | (48,516,967) |
Net increase (decrease) | 816,827 | $ 10,720,968 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 1,552,128 | $ 22,960,854 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,037,498 | 17,213,641 |
Shares redeemed | (4,189,934) | (66,002,964) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,600,308) | $(25,828,469) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
24 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and transfer agent. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or MacKay that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and MacKay personnel. In
addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and MacKay; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and MacKay; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and MacKay. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
26 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Investments and MacKay resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of MacKay, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of MacKay and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated MacKay’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay and New York Life Investments’ and MacKay’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed MacKay’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to MacKay as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or MacKay had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including MacKay, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and MacKay must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and MacKay to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board
recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the
28 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to MacKay is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments regarding the management fee paid by the Portfolio.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial
shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
30 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
32 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
34 | MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio |
MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI523
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/1/1998 | 24.52% | 25.63% | 18.68% | 0.75% |
Service Class Shares | 6/6/2003 | 24.20 | 25.32 | 18.39 | 1.00 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Russell 1000® Growth Index1 | 27.60% | 25.32% | 19.79% |
S&P 500® Index2 | 28.71 | 18.47 | 16.55 |
Morningstar Large Growth Category Average3 | 20.49 | 21.76 | 17.12 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Russell 1000® Growth Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The Russell 1000® Growth Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the large-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio's secondary benchmark. “S&P 500®" is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Morningstar Large Growth Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in big U.S. companies that are projected to grow faster than other large-cap stocks. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap. Growth is defined based on fast growth and high valuations. Most of these funds focus on companies in rapidly expanding industries. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,105.00 | $3.87 | $1,021.53 | $3.72 | 0.73% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,103.60 | $5.20 | $1,020.26 | $4.99 | 0.98% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Software | 20.9% |
Interactive Media & Services | 12.2 |
IT Services | 8.1 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 7.2 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 7.2 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 4.9 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 3.9 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 3.4 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 3.4 |
Capital Markets | 3.0 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 3.0 |
Entertainment | 2.0 |
Automobiles | 2.0 |
Specialty Retail | 1.9 |
Chemicals | 1.9 |
Pharmaceuticals | 1.8 |
Road & Rail | 1.5% |
Health Care Providers & Services | 1.5 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 1.4 |
Containers & Packaging | 1.4 |
Professional Services | 1.4 |
Personal Products | 1.4 |
Machinery | 1.4 |
Auto Components | 1.3 |
Health Care Technology | 1.0 |
Electrical Equipment | 0.2 |
Real Estate Management & Development | 0.0‡ |
Short–Term Investments | 0.8 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –0.1 |
| 100.0% |
‡ Less than one-tenth of percent.
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Microsoft Corp. |
2. | Amazon.com, Inc. |
3. | Alphabet, Inc. |
4. | NVIDIA Corp. |
5. | Apple, Inc. |
6. | Adobe, Inc. |
7. | Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A |
8. | Mastercard, Inc., Class A |
9. | Netflix, Inc. |
10. | salesforce.com, Inc. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Justin H. Kelly, CFA, and Patrick M. Burton, CFA, of Winslow Capital Management, LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio returned 24.52% for Initial Class shares and 24.20% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 27.60% return of the Russell 1000® Growth Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and the 28.71% return of the S&P 500® Index, which is a secondary benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the 20.49% return of the Morningstar Large Growth Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Russell 1000® Growth Index was undermined by both sector allocations and individual security selection. At the sector allocation level, the Portfolio’s positioning in the communication services, real estate and materials sectors detracted from relative performance, with the negative effects partially offset by favorable positioning in the consumer staples and industrials sectors. Security selection in the information technology, industrials and communication services sectors detracted most from relative performance, partially offset by favorable security selection in the health care, consumer discretionary and consumer staples sectors.
During the reporting period, were there any market events that materially impacted the Portfolio’s performance or liquidity?
While 2021 marked another year of overall strong equity market returns, it proved volatile as well. During the first half of the reporting period, markets continued to reflect the positive recovery sentiment that characterized the end of 2020. Vaccine delivery accelerated, suggesting a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Importantly for equity investors, corporations reported stronger earnings than previously forecast, and corporate sentiment rose above pre-pandemic levels, supporting the favorable macroeconomic outlook.
Weaker sentiment undermined returns for most equity indices in the third quarter of 2021 as resurging COVID-19 cases and supply-chain disruptions reduced the near-term global growth outlook. Investors also focused on rising interest rates and elevated inflation levels. During the third quarter, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) signaled that it may taper bond buying starting in November and may start increasing the Fed funds rate as early as mid-2022. During the closing months of 2021, markets confronted a new COVID-19 variant, stalled fiscal
stimulus, a more hawkish monetary framework and inflation levels at multi-year highs in many developed economies. Despite these challenges, large-cap U.S. equity markets reached record highs during the fourth quarter and interest rates, while higher than the beginning of the year, remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
The sectors making the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Russell 1000® Growth Index included health care, consumer staples and consumer discretionary. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Within health care and consumer discretionary, the strongest positive contributions were driven predominantly by security selection. The relative outperformance of the Portfolio in the consumer staples sector was largely the result of relatively underweight exposure to this weak-performing sector, although stock selection within the sector further enhanced relative performance.
The three weakest-contributing sectors to the Portfolio’s relative performance were information technology, communication services and industrials. The relative underperformance in all three sectors was predominantly driven by security selection.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
The leading positive contributors to the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the reporting period included positions in software company Microsoft, holding company Alphabet and computer graphics chip maker NVIDIA. Microsoft remained the largest software company in the world while making strides in transitioning its business to become one of the largest public cloud companies as well, through its fast-growing Azure business. Alphabet, which engages in the acquisition and operation of different companies, is the holding company of Internet advertising company Google. Google generated strong revenues from its main Internet products, including advertising, Android, Chrome, hardware, Google Cloud, Google Maps, Google Play, Search and YouTube. NVIDIA posted strong financial results from the design and manufacturing of computer graphics processors, chipsets and related multimedia software.
Notable detractors from the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the same period included online dating company Bumble, social media company Pinterest and cryptocurrency platform Coinbase Global. Bumble drives business through two apps (Bumble and Badoo), both of which focus on arranging meetings for dates, friendship and business. While we model strong,
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
long-term growth, the company’s stock price was undermined during the reporting period by increased social distancing trends in response to the spread of variants of the COVID-19 virus. We continue to view Bumble to be one of the most promising emerging growth names in the consumer tech space. While Pinterest has benefited from the ongoing shift to digital advertising and the monetization of its large user base, the company guided lower on a key user metric during the reporting period. This disappointment coincided with a shift in market sentiment away from price-to-revenue stocks. Coinbase’s initial public offering during the same period preceded a meaningful sell-off in crypto currencies, resulting in a decline in the company’s stock. The Portfolio retained its position in Bumble, while selling its positions in Pinterest and Coinbase during the reporting period.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s three largest purchases during the reporting period included shares in home improvement specialty retailer Lowe’s, surgical robotics firm Intuitive Surgical, and logistics and package delivery company United Parcel Service. The purchase of Lowe’s stock reflected our view that home improvement trends are likely to remain strong over the coming years given housing price appreciation and the general lack of home supply. The investment in Intuitive Surgical was based on the company’s strong, long-term growth potential as hospitals and surgeons embrace the productivity benefits of robotics. We anticipate strong upside to consensus revenue and earnings expectations as Intuitive sees robust demand for new robotic systems and accelerating procedure growth. In our view, United Parcel Service is positioned to benefit from the positive outlook for both domestic and global economies.
Significant sales during the reporting period included positions in consumer electronics company Apple, electronic payments company Visa, and ride hailing and food delivery company Uber Technologies. While the Portfolio continues to hold a smaller position in Apple, our research points to a likely pull forward in demand for many of the company’s products and services over the near term, potentially leading to revenue decline in coming year, which would likely result in free cash flow deterioration. Visa faced an unprecedented series of negative, pandemic-related events in the payments space, resulting in a material “de-rating” in valuation levels during the reporting period. If the pandemic fades quickly, we would expect global travel and other travel related volumes to rebound, positioning payment stocks like Visa to begin beating estimates again. Regarding Uber, concern over
potential regulatory risk involving their workforce created a near-term overhang on the company’s stock price, leading to the decision to sell the Portfolio’s position.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period the Portfolio’s sector weightings relative to the Russell 1000® Growth Index underwent shifts due to structural changes within the Portfolio as well as the reconstitution of the Index. In absolute terms the Portfolio’s exposure to the consumer discretionary and communication services sectors increased. In both instances, the Portfolio’s relative weighting at the beginning of the reporting period was essentially in line with the Index, while at the end of the reporting period, the Portfolio held overweight exposure to both sectors. The largest declines in absolute exposure came from information technology, while real estate exposure fell to essentially zero at the end of the reporting period. On a relative basis, the largest shift was in information technology, where the Portfolio transitioned from a notably overweight position at the beginning of the reporting period to a significantly underweight position as of December 31, 2021.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held meaningfully overweight positions in the health care and communication services sectors relative to the Russell 1000® Growth Index. As of the same date, the Portfolio held its most significantly underweight position in consumer staples, and information technology. All of the Portfolio’s other sector weights were more closely in line with the Index.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 99.3% |
Auto Components 1.3% |
Aptiv plc (a) | 156,900 | $ 25,880,655 |
Automobiles 2.0% |
Tesla, Inc. (a) | 37,400 | 39,523,572 |
Capital Markets 3.0% |
Blackstone, Inc. | 172,600 | 22,332,714 |
Moody's Corp. | 49,040 | 19,154,043 |
MSCI, Inc. | 28,700 | 17,584,203 |
| | 59,070,960 |
Chemicals 1.9% |
Linde plc | 104,800 | 36,305,864 |
Containers & Packaging 1.4% |
Ball Corp. | 282,600 | 27,205,902 |
Electrical Equipment 0.2% |
Fluence Energy, Inc. (a) | 95,500 | 3,395,980 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.4% |
TE Connectivity Ltd. | 171,450 | 27,661,743 |
Entertainment 2.0% |
Netflix, Inc. (a) | 65,700 | 39,580,308 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.4% |
Align Technology, Inc. (a) | 50,010 | 32,865,572 |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a) | 92,480 | 33,228,064 |
| | 66,093,636 |
Health Care Providers & Services 1.5% |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 57,630 | 28,938,328 |
Health Care Technology 1.0% |
Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A (a) | 74,100 | 18,931,068 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 4.9% |
Airbnb, Inc., Class A (a) | 104,950 | 17,473,125 |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (a) | 18,440 | 32,237,730 |
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (a) | 140,600 | 21,932,194 |
McDonald's Corp. | 88,800 | 23,804,616 |
| | 95,447,665 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Interactive Media & Services 12.2% |
Alphabet, Inc. (a) | | |
Class A | 23,500 | $ 68,080,440 |
Class C | 23,793 | 68,847,187 |
|
Bumble, Inc., Class A (a) | 404,800 | 13,706,528 |
Match Group, Inc. (a) | 143,850 | 19,024,163 |
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A (a) | 142,110 | 47,798,698 |
Snap, Inc., Class A (a) | 399,900 | 18,807,297 |
| | 236,264,313 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 7.2% |
Amazon.com, Inc. (a) | 42,040 | 140,175,654 |
IT Services 8.1% |
Block, Inc., Class A (a) | 105,940 | 17,110,369 |
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 125,150 | 44,968,898 |
Payoneer Global, Inc. (a) | 148,000 | 1,087,800 |
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (a) | 208,750 | 39,366,075 |
Shopify, Inc., Class A (a) | 13,600 | 18,732,504 |
Snowflake, Inc., Class A (a) | 13,900 | 4,708,625 |
Visa, Inc., Class A | 143,200 | 31,032,872 |
| | 157,007,143 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 3.9% |
Agilent Technologies, Inc. | 174,990 | 27,937,154 |
Bio-Techne Corp. | 46,030 | 23,813,160 |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc. (a) | 83,950 | 23,685,653 |
| | 75,435,967 |
Machinery 1.4% |
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 83,100 | 26,435,772 |
Personal Products 1.4% |
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A | 72,100 | 26,691,420 |
Pharmaceuticals 1.8% |
Zoetis, Inc. | 143,750 | 35,079,313 |
Professional Services 1.4% |
CoStar Group, Inc. (a) | 342,750 | 27,087,533 |
Real Estate Management & Development 0.0% ‡ |
Compass, Inc., Class A (a)(b) | 52,100 | 473,589 |
Road & Rail 1.5% |
Union Pacific Corp. | 119,784 | 30,177,183 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 7.2% |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a) | 149,000 | $ 21,441,100 |
Analog Devices, Inc. | 166,800 | 29,318,436 |
ASML Holding NV (Registered) | 37,710 | 30,022,439 |
NVIDIA Corp. | 199,940 | 58,804,354 |
| | 139,586,329 |
Software 20.9% |
Adobe, Inc. (a) | 89,150 | 50,553,399 |
Atlassian Corp. plc, Class A (a) | 53,250 | 20,303,693 |
Intuit, Inc. | 49,600 | 31,903,712 |
Microsoft Corp. | 590,300 | 198,529,696 |
salesforce.com, Inc. (a) | 155,680 | 39,562,958 |
ServiceNow, Inc. (a) | 49,400 | 32,066,034 |
Workday, Inc., Class A (a) | 120,400 | 32,890,872 |
| | 405,810,364 |
Specialty Retail 1.9% |
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | 141,600 | 36,600,768 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 3.0% |
Apple, Inc. | 328,900 | 58,402,773 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 3.4% |
Lululemon Athletica, Inc. (a) | 68,700 | 26,892,615 |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | 229,950 | 38,325,766 |
| | 65,218,381 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,229,452,394) | | 1,928,482,183 |
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investments 0.8% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.8% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (c) | 15,462,999 | | $ 15,462,999 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 0.0% ‡ |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (c)(d) | 169,385 | | 169,385 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $15,632,384) | | | 15,632,384 |
Total Investments (Cost $1,245,084,778) | 100.1% | | 1,944,114,567 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (0.1) | | (1,528,499) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 1,942,586,068 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $473,580; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $490,146. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $320,761. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $169,385. (See Note 2(G)) |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 1,928,482,183 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,928,482,183 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 15,462,999 | | — | | — | | 15,462,999 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 169,385 | | — | | — | | 169,385 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 15,632,384 | | — | | — | | 15,632,384 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 1,944,114,567 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,944,114,567 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $1,229,621,779) including securities on loan of $473,580 | $1,928,651,568 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $15,462,999) | 15,462,999 |
Receivables: | |
Portfolio shares sold | 618,784 |
Securities lending | 1,081 |
Dividends | 103 |
Other assets | 7,656 |
Total assets | 1,944,742,191 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 169,385 |
Payables: | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 1,179,189 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 417,822 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 276,725 |
Shareholder communication | 49,998 |
Professional fees | 41,854 |
Custodian | 6,849 |
Trustees | 1,159 |
Accrued expenses | 13,142 |
Total liabilities | 2,156,123 |
Net assets | $1,942,586,068 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 53,868 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 891,662,229 |
| 891,716,097 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 1,050,869,971 |
Net assets | $1,942,586,068 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 632,665,678 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 16,684,639 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 37.92 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $1,309,920,390 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 37,183,677 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 35.23 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $26,000) | $ 7,242,348 |
Securities lending | 22,560 |
Dividends-affiliated | 1,737 |
Total income | 7,266,645 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 13,027,505 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 3,055,794 |
Professional fees | 129,374 |
Shareholder communication | 96,794 |
Trustees | 35,825 |
Custodian | 30,420 |
Miscellaneous | 74,989 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 16,450,701 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (25,974) |
Net expenses | 16,424,727 |
Net investment income (loss) | (9,158,082) |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments | 361,319,257 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments | 42,537,169 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 403,856,426 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $394,698,344 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ (9,158,082) | $ (4,447,507) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 361,319,257 | 138,815,013 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 42,537,169 | 308,412,770 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 394,698,344 | 442,780,276 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (43,495,671) | (32,083,765) |
Service Class | (95,317,024) | (68,003,617) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (138,812,695) | (100,087,382) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 225,933,895 | 205,574,641 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 138,812,695 | 100,087,382 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (306,858,723) | (282,706,153) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 57,887,867 | 22,955,870 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 313,773,516 | 365,648,764 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 1,628,812,552 | 1,263,163,788 |
End of year | $1,942,586,068 | $1,628,812,552 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 32.76 | | $ 25.51 | | $ 21.64 | | $ 23.92 | | $ 18.71 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | (0.12) | | (0.04) | | 0.00‡ | | 0.00‡ | | 0.02 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 8.01 | | 9.36 | | 6.95 | | 1.36 | | 6.00 |
Total from investment operations | 7.89 | | 9.32 | | 6.95 | | 1.36 | | 6.02 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net realized gain on investments | (2.73) | | (2.07) | | (3.08) | | (3.64) | | (0.81) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 37.92 | | $ 32.76 | | $ 25.51 | | $ 21.64 | | $ 23.92 |
Total investment return (b) | 24.52% | | 37.16% | | 33.64% | | 3.57% | | 32.39% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | (0.34)% | | (0.16)% | | 0.01% | | 0.01% | | 0.10% |
Net expenses (c)(d) | 0.74% | | 0.75% | | 0.76% | | 0.76% | | 0.76% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 62% | | 54% | | 56% | | 58% | | 53% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 632,666 | | $ 534,965 | | $ 438,089 | | $ 238,174 | | $ 368,861 |
‡ | Less than one cent per share. |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | Expense waiver/reimbursement less than 0.01%. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 30.68 | | $ 24.05 | | $ 20.60 | | $ 22.96 | | $ 18.03 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | (0.20) | | (0.11) | | (0.06) | | (0.06) | | (0.03) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 7.48 | | 8.81 | | 6.59 | | 1.34 | | 5.77 |
Total from investment operations | 7.28 | | 8.70 | | 6.53 | | 1.28 | | 5.74 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net realized gain on investments | (2.73) | | (2.07) | | (3.08) | | (3.64) | | (0.81) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 35.23 | | $ 30.68 | | $ 24.05 | | $ 20.60 | | $ 22.96 |
Total investment return (b) | 24.20% | | 36.81% | | 33.30% | | 3.31% | | 32.06% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | (0.59)% | | (0.41)% | | (0.25)% | | (0.23)% | | (0.15)% |
Net expenses (c)(d) | 0.99% | | 1.00% | | 1.01% | | 1.01% | | 1.01% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 62% | | 54% | | 56% | | 58% | | 53% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 1,309,920 | | $ 1,093,847 | | $ 825,075 | | $ 623,836 | | $ 575,514 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | Expense waiver/reimbursement less than 0.01%. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 1, 1998 |
Service Class | June 6, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure
16 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number
of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes
of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of
18 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(H) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. Winslow Capital Management, LLC. (“Winslow” or the “Subadvisor”), a registered investment adviser, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and Winslow, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.75% up to $500 million; 0.725% from $500 million to $750 million; 0.71% from $750 million to $1 billion; 0.70% from $1 billion to $2 billion; 0.66% from $2 billion to $3 billion; 0.61% from $3 billion to $7 billion; 0.585% from $7 billion to $9 billion; and 0.575% in excess of $9 billion.
New York Life Investments has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its management fee when the subadvisory fee is reduced as a result of
achieving breakpoints in the subadvisory fee schedule. The savings that result from the reduced subadvisory fee will be shared equally with the Portfolio provided that the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments, after payment of the subadvisory fee, exceeds 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio. This waiver may be discontinued at any time.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee so that the management fee does not exceed 0.55% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets from $11 billion to $13 billion; and 0.525% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets over $13 billion. This agreement expires May 1, 2022, and may only be amended or terminated prior to that date by action of the Board. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.72% (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements).
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $13,027,505 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $25,974 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $4,601,837.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 14,908 | $ 391,988 | $ (391,433) | $ — | $ — | $ 15,463 | $ 2 | $ — | 15,463 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $1,245,425,136 | $715,723,103 | $(17,033,672) | $698,689,431 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$51,907,115 | $300,273,425 | $698,689,431 | $1,050,869,971 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Long-Term Capital Gains | $138,812,695 | $100,087,382 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $3,770 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $1,108,739 and $1,198,545, respectively.
20 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 2,316,264 | $ 82,342,909 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,208,858 | 43,495,671 |
Shares redeemed | (3,168,728) | (114,442,169) |
Net increase (decrease) | 356,394 | $ 11,396,411 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 1,607,424 | $ 47,202,241 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,053,301 | 32,083,765 |
Shares redeemed | (3,506,165) | (99,452,086) |
Net increase (decrease) | (845,440) | $ (20,166,080) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 4,318,772 | $ 143,590,986 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,849,784 | 95,317,024 |
Shares redeemed | (5,641,331) | (192,416,554) |
Net increase (decrease) | 1,527,225 | $ 46,491,456 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 5,983,502 | $ 158,372,400 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,382,965 | 68,003,617 |
Shares redeemed | (7,019,980) | (183,254,067) |
Net increase (decrease) | 1,346,487 | $ 43,121,950 |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for
possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and transfer agents. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
22 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital Management, LLC (“Winslow Capital”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or Winslow Capital that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital
personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Investments and Winslow Capital resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of Winslow Capital, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of Winslow Capital and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, Winslow Capital with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as Winslow Capital’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as
well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that Winslow Capital provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated Winslow Capital’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and Winslow Capital’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at Winslow Capital and New York Life Investments’ and Winslow Capital’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed Winslow Capital’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net
24 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to Winslow Capital as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or Winslow Capital had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Winslow Capital due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that Winslow Capital’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of Winslow Capital’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Winslow Capital, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and Winslow Capital’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and
Winslow Capital and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to Winslow Capital from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to Winslow Capital in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between Winslow Capital and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to Winslow Capital, the Board considered that any profits realized by Winslow Capital due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to Winslow Capital by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to Winslow Capital is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Winslow Capital on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
26 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
28 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
30 | MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI525
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
(formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Mid Cap Core Portfolio)
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1, 2 | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio3 |
Initial Class Shares | 7/2/2001 | 20.00% | 11.47% | 13.42% | 0.89% |
Service Class Shares | 6/5/2003 | 19.70 | 11.19 | 13.13 | 1.14 |
1. | Effective January 1, 2018, due to an organizational restructuring, all investment personnel of Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings LLC, the former subadvisor, transitioned to MacKay Shields LLC. |
2. | Effective May 1, 2021, the Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment strategies. The past performance in the chart and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
3. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Russell Midcap® Index1 | 22.58% | 15.10% | 14.91% |
S&P MidCap 400® Index2 | 24.76 | 13.09 | 14.20 |
Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend Category Average3 | 23.57 | 12.38 | 12.56 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Russell Midcap® Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The Russell Midcap® Index measures the performance of the mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell Midcap® Index is a subset of the Russell 1000® Index and it includes approximately 800 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Russell Midcap® Index represents approximately 31% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 1000® Index companies. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Portfolio has selected the S&P MidCap 400® Index as its secondary benchmark. The S&P MidCap 400® Index is a market capitalization weighted index of common stocks representing the mid-cap U.S. equity market. |
3. | The Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in U.S. stocks of various sizes and styles, giving it a middle-of-the-road profile. The U.S. mid-cap range for market capitalization typically falls between $1 billion and $8 billion and represents 20% of the total capitalization of the U.S. equity market. The blend style is assigned to funds where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,034.10 | $4.41 | $1,020.87 | $4.38 | 0.86% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,032.80 | $5.69 | $1,019.61 | $5.65 | 1.11% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Machinery | 8.2% |
Banks | 6.2 |
Insurance | 6.2 |
Biotechnology | 5.9 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 5.7 |
Communications Equipment | 5.6 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts | 4.8 |
IT Services | 4.0 |
Software | 3.9 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 3.7 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 3.5 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 3.4 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 3.1 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 2.6 |
Chemicals | 2.5 |
Building Products | 2.2 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 2.2 |
Road & Rail | 2.0 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 1.9 |
Professional Services | 1.8 |
Household Durables | 1.8 |
Consumer Finance | 1.6 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 1.5 |
Aerospace & Defense | 1.4% |
Trading Companies & Distributors | 1.4 |
Pharmaceuticals | 1.2 |
Gas Utilities | 1.1 |
Media | 1.1 |
Leisure Products | 1.1 |
Diversified Financial Services | 0.8 |
Food & Staples Retailing | 0.8 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 0.8 |
Multi–Utilities | 0.8 |
Food Products | 0.8 |
Metals & Mining | 0.7 |
Specialty Retail | 0.6 |
Containers & Packaging | 0.6 |
Interactive Media & Services | 0.6 |
Entertainment | 0.5 |
Capital Markets | 0.4 |
Real Estate Management & Development | 0.4 |
Automobiles | 0.1 |
Short–Term Investments | 1.0 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –0.5 |
| 100.0% |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | F5, Inc. |
2. | Lumentum Holdings, Inc. |
3. | Ingersoll Rand, Inc. |
4. | MKS Instruments, Inc. |
5. | Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. |
6. | Molina Healthcare, Inc. |
7. | Genpact Ltd. |
8. | Credit Acceptance Corp. |
9. | II-VI, Inc. |
10. | NVR, Inc. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Migene Kim, CFA, and Mona Patni of MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields”), the Portfolio’s former Subadvisor, and Gregory J. Garabedian, Mark A. Whitaker, and Philip W. Ruedi of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington”), the Portfolio’s current Subadvisor .
How did MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio returned 20.00% for Initial Class shares and 19.70% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 22.58% return of the Russell Midcap® Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and the 24.76% return of the S&P MidCap 400® Index, which is the Portfolio’s secondary benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes also underperformed the 23.57% return of the Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend Category Average.1
Were there any changes to the Portfolio during the reporting period?
At meetings held on January 21, January 25 and February 3, 2021, the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust considered and approved, among other related proposals: (i) appointing Wellington Management Company LLP as the Portfolio’s subadvisor, and the related subadvisory agreement; (ii) changing the Portfolio’s name; and (iii) modifying the Portfolio’s principal investment strategies and investment process. These changes became effective on May 1, 2021. For more information on these and other changes refer to the supplement dated February 5, 2021.
In the process of implementing the new principal investment strategies and investment process, the Portfolio may have experienced a high level of portfolio turnover. Also during this transition period, the Portfolio may not have been pursuing its investment objective or may not have been managed consistent with its investment strategies as stated in the Prospectus. This may have impacted the Portfolio’s performance.
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio significantly outperformed the Russell Midcap® Index, helped by robust stock selection, with no sectors detracting from the relative performance. In terms of stock-selection model efficacy, the combination of signals used by the quantitative stock selection model was primarily rewarded by valuation measures.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio underperformed the Russell Midcap® Index primarily due to security selection, particularly in the health care and information
technology sectors. Sector allocation, a result of Wellington's bottom-up stock selection process, also detracted from returns.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Russell Midcap® Index were the information technology, consumer discretionary and industrials sectors. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) During the same period, the weakest contributor to relative performance was the energy sector.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, security selection in the health care and information technology sectors weighed on results, relative to the Russell Midcap® Index. These negative security selection effects were partially offset by positive contributions from security selection in the industrials and consumer discretionary sectors.
The Portfolio employs two investment strategies with different investment styles: mid-cap opportunities and select mid-cap value. Each investment strategy has a distinct investment philosophy and analytical process to identify securities for purchase or sale. In the mid-cap opportunities portion of the Portfolio, security selection in health care, information technology and consumer staples detracted the most from relative performance, with the negative impact partially offset by strong selection in consumer discretionary, industrials and financials. From a sector allocation perspective, the Portfolio’s underweight exposures to real estate and energy, and overweight exposure to health care, detracted the most from relative results. These negative allocation effects were partially offset by underweight exposure to the consumer discretionary and consumer staples sectors and overweight exposure to information technology.
The select mid-cap value portion of the Portfolio outperformed the Russell 2500™ Value Index, the yardstick by which Wellington measures this strategy, primarily due to positive security selection in the information technology, industrials and consumer discretionary sectors. Selection in financials, consumer staples and materials detracted the most. From a sector allocation perspective, underweight exposure to energy and real estate weighed on results. These negative allocation effects were partially offset by the Portfolio’s underweight exposure to the consumer discretionary sector.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
MacKay Shields
The stocks providing the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio included regional banking firm Signature Bank; apparel retailer L Brands; and technology hardware, storage & peripherals maker HP. During the same period, the most significant detractors from absolute performance were shares in leisure products maker Peloton Interactive, online music streaming service Spotify Technology, and interactive home entertainment company Take-Two Interactive Software.
Wellington
The strongest positive contributors to absolute performance during the time Wellington managed the Portfolio were holdings in subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance, real estate investment trust Life Storage and software company F5. Shares of Credit Acceptance climbed after the company reported sharply higher year-over-year consolidated net income for the second quarter of 2021. Shares of Life Storage rose after the company reported higher revenues, with an increased volume of move-ins and a reduced volume of move-outs. Shares of F5 rose late in the reporting period following better-than-expected, year-over-year fourth-quarter revenue growth, driven by strong software and systems demand.
The most significant detractors from the Portfolio’s absolute performance were holdings in biopharmaceutical companies Allakos, ChemoCentryx and Reata Pharmaceutical. Allakos shares declined sharply at the end of the reporting period after the company reported disappointing results from studies of pipeline drug lirentelimab, a potential treatment for eosinophil gastrointestinal diseases. ChemoCentryx shares fell sharply after an FDA panel issued a surprising split vote on the question of whether the risk-benefit profile of the company’s investigatory drug, avacopan, supported approval, based on efficacy concerns and the use of non-inferiority as a primary endpoint. Shares of Reata Pharmaceuticals fell at the end of the reporting period after an FDA panel voted unanimously that the benefits of the company’s kidney disease drug, bardoxolone, did not outweigh the risks.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
The Portfolio’s largest initial purchase during the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio was in shares of petroleum refining and transport company Marathon Petroleum, while its largest increase in position size was in information technology services provider Gartner. The Portfolio's largest sale was its position in
biotechnology developer Alexion Pharmaceuticals, while its most significantly reduced position size was in cloud services provider Akamai Technologies.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the largest purchases in the mid-cap opportunities portion of the Portfolio included shares in electrical weapon company Axon Enterprise and steel producer Steel Dynamics. Axon is the market leading producer of non-lethal weapons. The company has established a history of efficient capital allocation and a growing software business. Steel Dynamics is, in Wellington's opinion, run by an excellent management team focused on producing steel in a more environmentally friendly manner through electric arc furnace steel mill operations. The mid-cap opportunities strategy eliminated the Portfolio’s holdings in medical equipment provider Hill-Rom Holdings and laser and photonics producer Coherent.
The select mid-cap value portion of the Portfolio added exposure to Integra LifeSciences, a global medical device manufacturing company focused on regenerative technologies and neurosurgical solutions. In Wellington's view, the company has several medium-term growth catalysts that are being overlooked by the market due to shorter-term concerns regarding pandemic-related deferrals of procedures. The select mid-cap value strategy eliminated the Portfolio's position in SPX FLOW, an industrial-machinery company, after a private equity firm announced the acquisition of the company.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the largest increases in sector exposures relative to the Russell Midcap® Index were in the financials and industrials sectors. Conversely, the Portfolio's largest reductions in benchmark-relative sector exposures were in the information technology and consumer discretionary sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the most notable increases in absolute sector exposures through the mid-cap opportunities strategy were in industrials and materials, while the most notable reductions were in health care and real estate. The most notable increases in absolute sector exposure through the select mid-cap value strategy were in health care and information technology, while the most significant reductions were in consumer discretionary and financials.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
At the end of the period when MacKay managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio held its largest overweight positions relative to the
Russell Midcap® Index in the health care and consumer discretionary sectors. As of the same date, the Portfolio’s most significantly underweight sector positions were in materials and real estate.
Wellington
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio’s mid-cap opportunities strategy had its most overweight exposures relative to the Russell Midcap® Index in the information technology and health care sectors, while its most underweight exposures were in real estate and materials. As of the same date, the Portfolio’s select mid-cap value strategy had its most overweight exposures relative to the Russell 2500™ Value Index in industrials and information technology, while its most underweight exposures were in real estate and utilities.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
10 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 99.5% |
Aerospace & Defense 1.4% |
Axon Enterprise, Inc. (a) | 44,958 | $ 7,058,406 |
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A | 151,514 | 6,528,738 |
| | 13,587,144 |
Automobiles 0.1% |
Arrival SA (a)(b) | 184,525 | 1,369,175 |
Banks 6.2% |
Cadence Bank | 190,130 | 5,663,973 |
Cullen | 50,725 | 6,394,901 |
First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A | 10,184 | 8,451,090 |
First Republic Bank | 40,529 | 8,369,644 |
M&T Bank Corp. | 47,816 | 7,343,581 |
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. | 77,012 | 5,567,968 |
Western Alliance Bancorp | 78,608 | 8,462,151 |
Zions Bancorp NA | 122,926 | 7,764,006 |
| | 58,017,314 |
Biotechnology 5.9% |
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 8,995 | 1,525,372 |
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 157,261 | 7,435,300 |
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 47,893 | 4,451,175 |
Exact Sciences Corp. (a) | 61,641 | 4,797,519 |
Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (a) | 277,613 | 5,299,632 |
Kodiak Sciences, Inc. (a) | 59,034 | 5,004,903 |
Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 25,218 | 3,699,228 |
PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 146,774 | 5,846,008 |
Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 140,389 | 5,972,148 |
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. (a) | 70,162 | 5,899,923 |
United Therapeutics Corp. (a) | 22,720 | 4,909,338 |
| | 54,840,546 |
Building Products 2.2% |
Builders FirstSource, Inc. (a) | 66,631 | 5,710,943 |
JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (a) | 198,388 | 5,229,508 |
Lennox International, Inc. | 29,933 | 9,709,068 |
| | 20,649,519 |
Capital Markets 0.4% |
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A | 34,783 | 3,604,214 |
Chemicals 2.5% |
Celanese Corp. | 47,336 | 7,955,288 |
Element Solutions, Inc. | 366,854 | 8,907,215 |
FMC Corp. | 58,444 | 6,422,411 |
| | 23,284,914 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Commercial Services & Supplies 1.9% |
Clean Harbors, Inc. (a) | 71,610 | $ 7,144,530 |
GFL Environmental, Inc. | 204,954 | 7,757,509 |
IAA, Inc. (a) | 53,362 | 2,701,184 |
| | 17,603,223 |
Communications Equipment 5.6% |
CommScope Holding Co., Inc. (a) | 547,164 | 6,040,691 |
F5, Inc. (a) | 96,745 | 23,674,469 |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. (a) | 215,665 | 22,810,887 |
| | 52,526,047 |
Consumer Finance 1.6% |
Credit Acceptance Corp. (a)(b) | 21,425 | 14,733,544 |
Containers & Packaging 0.6% |
Silgan Holdings, Inc. | 128,856 | 5,520,191 |
Diversified Financial Services 0.8% |
Voya Financial, Inc. | 118,761 | 7,875,042 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 3.7% |
CDW Corp. | 33,694 | 6,899,857 |
Flex Ltd. (a) | 586,341 | 10,747,630 |
II-VI, Inc. (a) | 211,038 | 14,420,227 |
National Instruments Corp. | 56,113 | 2,450,455 |
| | 34,518,169 |
Entertainment 0.5% |
Zynga, Inc., Class A (a) | 723,258 | 4,628,851 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 4.8% |
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. | 155,006 | 7,542,592 |
Life Storage, Inc. | 68,262 | 10,456,373 |
PS Business Parks, Inc. | 16,559 | 3,049,671 |
Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. | 104,625 | 8,486,134 |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (a) | 91,468 | 8,411,398 |
STORE Capital Corp. | 195,557 | 6,727,161 |
| | 44,673,329 |
Food & Staples Retailing 0.8% |
Performance Food Group Co. (a) | 7,494 | 343,900 |
U.S. Foods Holding Corp. (a) | 206,416 | 7,189,469 |
| | 7,533,369 |
Food Products 0.8% |
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | 112,271 | 7,115,736 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Gas Utilities 1.1% |
UGI Corp. | 233,410 | $ 10,715,853 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.4% |
Inari Medical, Inc. (a) | 33,532 | 3,060,465 |
Insulet Corp. (a) | 2,728 | 725,839 |
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. (a) | 256,897 | 17,209,530 |
Masimo Corp. (a) | 3,433 | 1,005,114 |
Nevro Corp. (a) | 23,762 | 1,926,385 |
Teleflex, Inc. | 22,514 | 7,395,399 |
| | 31,322,732 |
Health Care Providers & Services 3.5% |
Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc. (a) | 74,450 | 4,519,115 |
Encompass Health Corp. | 183,044 | 11,945,451 |
Molina Healthcare, Inc. (a) | 50,911 | 16,193,771 |
| | 32,658,337 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 3.1% |
Choice Hotels International, Inc. | 77,183 | 12,039,776 |
Denny's Corp. (a) | 391,467 | 6,263,472 |
Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A (a) | 40,635 | 3,896,897 |
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. (a) | 159,861 | 6,806,881 |
| | 29,007,026 |
Household Durables 1.8% |
NVR, Inc. (a) | 2,314 | 13,673,125 |
Vizio Holding Corp., Class A (a)(b) | 145,857 | 2,834,002 |
| | 16,507,127 |
Insurance 6.2% |
Alleghany Corp. (a) | 13,190 | 8,805,512 |
Assurant, Inc. | 42,088 | 6,559,836 |
Erie Indemnity Co., Class A | 14,098 | 2,716,121 |
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. | 106,674 | 5,566,249 |
Globe Life, Inc. | 49,834 | 4,670,442 |
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The) | 54,235 | 7,108,039 |
Kemper Corp. | 84,373 | 4,960,289 |
Markel Corp. (a) | 7,097 | 8,757,698 |
W R Berkley Corp. | 48,079 | 3,961,229 |
White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. | 4,257 | 4,316,172 |
| | 57,421,587 |
Interactive Media & Services 0.6% |
Cargurus, Inc. (a) | 159,647 | 5,370,525 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 1.5% |
Chewy, Inc., Class A (a)(b) | 50,622 | 2,985,179 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (continued) |
Etsy, Inc. (a) | 50,324 | $ 11,017,937 |
| | 14,003,116 |
IT Services 4.0% |
Genpact Ltd. | 298,773 | 15,858,871 |
LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (a) | 90,697 | 4,348,921 |
Shift4 Payments, Inc., Class A (a) | 88,610 | 5,133,177 |
WEX, Inc. (a) | 83,582 | 11,734,077 |
| | 37,075,046 |
Leisure Products 1.1% |
YETI Holdings, Inc. (a) | 119,131 | 9,867,621 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 2.2% |
Bio-Techne Corp. | 2,017 | 1,043,475 |
ICON plc (a) | 32,236 | 9,983,489 |
NeoGenomics, Inc. (a) | 62,746 | 2,140,894 |
Syneos Health, Inc. (a) | 68,290 | 7,012,017 |
| | 20,179,875 |
Machinery 8.2% |
Colfax Corp. (a) | 124,128 | 5,706,164 |
Graco, Inc. | 48,801 | 3,934,337 |
IDEX Corp. | 48,303 | 11,414,965 |
Ingersoll Rand, Inc. | 326,417 | 20,195,420 |
Kennametal, Inc. | 135,395 | 4,862,034 |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | 53,439 | 7,453,137 |
Middleby Corp. (The) (a) | 61,130 | 12,027,939 |
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. | 116,891 | 10,766,830 |
| | 76,360,826 |
Media 1.1% |
Cable One, Inc. | 5,808 | 10,242,118 |
Metals & Mining 0.7% |
Steel Dynamics, Inc. | 110,063 | 6,831,610 |
Multi-Utilities 0.8% |
Black Hills Corp. | 63,591 | 4,487,617 |
NiSource, Inc. | 101,709 | 2,808,185 |
| | 7,295,802 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.8% |
Coterra Energy, Inc. | 37,463 | 711,797 |
Diamondback Energy, Inc. | 61,328 | 6,614,225 |
| | 7,326,022 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Pharmaceuticals 1.2% |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (a) | 71,561 | $ 9,116,872 |
Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Class A (a) | 70,217 | 1,851,622 |
| | 10,968,494 |
Professional Services 1.8% |
Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (a) | 342,615 | 7,020,182 |
Leidos Holdings, Inc. | 65,987 | 5,866,244 |
Science Applications International Corp. | 45,332 | 3,789,302 |
| | 16,675,728 |
Real Estate Management & Development 0.4% |
Redfin Corp. (a) | 91,922 | 3,528,886 |
Road & Rail 2.0% |
AMERCO | 11,429 | 8,300,083 |
JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc. | 8,676 | 1,773,374 |
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. | 136,358 | 8,309,657 |
| | 18,383,114 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.7% |
First Solar, Inc. (a) | 132,856 | 11,579,729 |
MKS Instruments, Inc. | 106,874 | 18,614,244 |
Silicon Laboratories, Inc. (a) | 33,945 | 7,006,927 |
Synaptics, Inc. (a) | 32,833 | 9,505,482 |
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (a) | 163,715 | 6,496,211 |
| | 53,202,593 |
Software 3.9% |
Black Knight, Inc. (a) | 41,720 | 3,458,171 |
Digital Turbine, Inc. (a) | 102,539 | 6,253,854 |
Guidewire Software, Inc. (a) | 60,050 | 6,817,477 |
Informatica, Inc., Class A (a) | 122,247 | 4,520,694 |
Olo, Inc., Class A (a) | 121,036 | 2,518,759 |
Q2 Holdings, Inc. (a) | 65,305 | 5,187,829 |
Teradata Corp. (a) | 179,375 | 7,618,056 |
| | 36,374,840 |
Specialty Retail 0.6% |
CarMax, Inc. (a) | 46,803 | 6,095,155 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 2.6% |
Carter's, Inc. | 69,059 | 6,990,152 |
PVH Corp. | 68,307 | 7,284,941 |
Steven Madden Ltd. | 94,725 | 4,401,871 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (continued) |
Under Armour, Inc., Class C (a) | 329,619 | | $ 5,946,327 |
| | | 24,623,291 |
Trading Companies & Distributors 1.4% |
AerCap Holdings NV (a) | 124,430 | | 8,140,210 |
Watsco, Inc. | 17,019 | | 5,324,905 |
| | | 13,465,115 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $883,548,527) | | | 927,582,766 |
Short-Term Investments 1.0% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.5% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (c) | 4,362,239 | | 4,362,239 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 0.5% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, 0.025% (c)(d) | 1,000,000 | | 1,000,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (c)(d) | 3,679,925 | | 3,679,925 |
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies (Cost $4,679,925) | | | 4,679,925 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $9,042,164) | | | 9,042,164 |
Total Investments (Cost $892,590,691) | 100.5% | | 936,624,930 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (0.5) | | (4,929,560) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 931,695,370 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $9,278,657; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $9,867,639. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $5,187,714. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $4,679,925. (See Note 2(G)) |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 927,582,766 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 927,582,766 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 4,362,239 | | — | | — | | 4,362,239 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 4,679,925 | | — | | — | | 4,679,925 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 9,042,164 | | — | | — | | 9,042,164 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 936,624,930 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 936,624,930 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $888,228,452) including securities on loan of $9,278,657 | $932,262,691 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $4,362,239) | 4,362,239 |
Cash | 271 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 2,472,625 |
Portfolio shares sold | 869,395 |
Dividends | 476,170 |
Securities lending | 3,271 |
Other assets | 4,221 |
Total assets | 940,450,883 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 4,679,925 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 2,792,694 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 640,977 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 430,991 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 118,398 |
Professional fees | 38,605 |
Shareholder communication | 31,118 |
Custodian | 8,368 |
Trustees | 1,507 |
Accrued expenses | 12,930 |
Total liabilities | 8,755,513 |
Net assets | $931,695,370 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 57,762 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 591,635,657 |
| 591,693,419 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 340,001,951 |
Net assets | $931,695,370 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $360,436,608 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 22,063,682 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 16.34 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $571,258,762 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 35,698,314 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 16.00 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $758) | $ 7,432,922 |
Securities lending | 45,979 |
Dividends-affiliated | 260 |
Other | 19 |
Total income | 7,479,180 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 7,851,255 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 1,426,662 |
Professional fees | 153,409 |
Shareholder communication | 124,584 |
Custodian | 37,547 |
Trustees | 19,849 |
Miscellaneous | 44,302 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 9,657,608 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (287,316) |
Net expenses | 9,370,292 |
Net investment income (loss) | (1,891,112) |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments | 309,141,181 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments | (139,533,923) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 169,607,258 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 167,716,146 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ (1,891,112) | $ 4,171,226 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 309,141,181 | 12,548,378 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (139,533,923) | 78,527,857 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 167,716,146 | 95,247,461 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (8,656,336) | (25,918,174) |
Service Class | (13,020,163) | (38,008,170) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (21,676,499) | (63,926,344) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 35,391,084 | 74,832,263 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 21,676,499 | 63,926,344 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (169,646,736) | (186,530,560) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (112,579,153) | (47,771,953) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 33,460,494 | (16,450,836) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 898,234,876 | 914,685,712 |
End of year | $ 931,695,370 | $ 898,234,876 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 13.96 | | $ 13.56 | | $ 11.94 | | $ 15.57 | | $ 13.37 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | (0.02) | | 0.08 | | 0.11 | | 0.16 | | 0.12 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.80 | | 1.32 | | 2.54 | | (1.68) | | 2.42 |
Total from investment operations | 2.78 | | 1.40 | | 2.65 | | (1.52) | | 2.54 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.10) | | (0.12) | | (0.16) | | (0.15) | | (0.16) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.30) | | (0.88) | | (0.87) | | (1.96) | | (0.18) |
Total distributions | (0.40) | | (1.00) | | (1.03) | | (2.11) | | (0.34) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 16.34 | | $ 13.96 | | $ 13.56 | | $ 11.94 | | $ 15.57 |
Total investment return (b) | 20.00% | | 11.28% | | 22.88% | | (11.98)% | | 19.14% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | (0.12)% | | 0.65% | | 0.84% | | 1.08% | | 0.87% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.86% | | 0.86% | | 0.86% | | 0.86% | | 0.86% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.89% | | 0.89% | | 0.88% | | 0.88% | | 0.88% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 54% | | 178% | | 174% | | 181% | | 155% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 360,437 | | $ 346,379 | | $ 398,240 | | $ 453,343 | | $ 503,364 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 13.68 | | $ 13.32 | | $ 11.74 | | $ 15.35 | | $ 13.18 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | (0.04) | | 0.05 | | 0.08 | | 0.12 | | 0.09 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.72 | | 1.28 | | 2.49 | | (1.66) | | 2.38 |
Total from investment operations | 2.68 | | 1.33 | | 2.57 | | (1.54) | | 2.47 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.06) | | (0.09) | | (0.12) | | (0.11) | | (0.12) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.30) | | (0.88) | | (0.87) | | (1.96) | | (0.18) |
Total distributions | (0.36) | | (0.97) | | (0.99) | | (2.07) | | (0.30) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 16.00 | | $ 13.68 | | $ 13.32 | | $ 11.74 | | $ 15.35 |
Total investment return (b) | 19.70% | | 11.00% | | 22.57% | | (12.20)% | | 18.85% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | (0.25)% | | 0.42% | | 0.58% | | 0.83% | | 0.64% |
Net expenses (c) | 1.11% | | 1.11% | | 1.11% | | 1.11% | | 1.11% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 1.14% | | 1.14% | | 1.13% | | 1.13% | | 1.13% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 54% | | 178% | | 174% | | 181% | | 155% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 571,259 | | $ 551,856 | | $ 516,445 | | $ 395,800 | | $ 477,253 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Mid Cap Core Portfolio) (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | July 2, 2001 |
Service Class | June 5, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to
calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter
20 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(H) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. The Portfolio’s subadvisor changed effective May 1, 2021, due to the replacement of MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields") as the Portfolio’s subadvisor and the appointment of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington” or the “Subadvisor”) as the Portfolio’s subadvisor. Wellington, a registered investment adviser, is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and Wellington, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.85% up to $1 billion; 0.80% from $1 billion to $2 billion; and 0.775% in excess of $2 billion. During the year ended
December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.85% (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements).
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments, and acquired (underlying) portfolio/fund fees and expenses) of Initial Class shares and Service Class shares do not exceed 0.86% and 1.11%, respectively, of the Portfolio's average daily net assets. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $7,851,255 and waived fees and/or reimbursed certain class specific expenses in the amount of $287,316 and paid MacKay Shields and Wellington fees of $1,269,247 and $2,248,049, respectively.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
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(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ — | $ 104,809 | $ (100,447) | $ — | $ — | $ 4,362 | $ —(a) | $ — | 4,362 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $894,331,996 | $98,648,764 | $(56,355,830) | $42,292,934 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$163,813,711 | $133,766,181 | $129,132 | $42,292,927 | $340,001,951 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $ 4,299,927 | $26,437,525 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 17,376,572 | 37,488,819 |
Total | $21,676,499 | $63,926,344 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the
Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $4,226 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $496,675 and $614,088, respectively.
The Portfolio may purchase securities from or sell securities to other portfolios managed by the Subadvisor. These interportfolio transactions are primarily used for cash management purposes and are made pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Rule 17a-7 transactions during the year ended December 31, 2021, were as follows:
Sales (000's) | Realized Gain / (Loss) (000's) |
$274 | $(16) |
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 670,483 | $ 10,666,624 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 549,295 | 8,656,336 |
Shares redeemed | (3,970,175) | (61,601,891) |
Net increase (decrease) | (2,750,397) | $ (42,278,931) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 541,033 | $ 6,496,484 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,114,906 | 25,918,174 |
Shares redeemed | (7,201,123) | (92,080,310) |
Net increase (decrease) | (4,545,184) | $ (59,665,652) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 1,575,723 | $ 24,724,460 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 842,947 | 13,020,163 |
Shares redeemed | (7,046,320) | (108,044,845) |
Net increase (decrease) | (4,627,650) | $ (70,300,222) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 6,166,167 | $ 68,335,779 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 3,161,762 | 38,008,170 |
Shares redeemed | (7,776,625) | (94,450,250) |
Net increase (decrease) | 1,551,304 | $ 11,893,699 |
Note 10-Litigation
The Portfolio has been named as a defendant in the case entitled Kirschner v. FitzSimons, No. 12-2652 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “FitzSimons action”) as a result of its ownership of shares in the Tribune Company (“Tribune”) in 2007 when Tribune effected a leveraged buyout transaction (“LBO”) by
which Tribune converted to a privately-held company. In its complaint, the plaintiff asserts claims against certain insiders, shareholders, professional advisers, and others involved in the LBO.
Separately, the complaint also seeks to obtain from former Tribune shareholders, including the Portfolio, any proceeds they received in connection with the LBO. The sole claim and cause of action brought against the Portfolio is for fraudulent conveyance pursuant to United States Bankruptcy Code Section 548(a)(1)(A).
In June 2011, certain Tribune creditors filed numerous additional actions asserting state law constructive fraudulent conveyance claims (the “SLCFC actions”) against specifically-named former Tribune shareholders and, in some cases, putative defendant classes comprised of former Tribune shareholders. One of the SLCFC actions, entitled Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas v. Blackrock Institutional Trust Co., No. 11-9319 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “Deutsche Bank action”), named the Portfolio as a defendant.
The FitzSimons action and Deutsche Bank action have been consolidated with the majority of the other Tribune LBO-related lawsuits in a multidistrict litigation proceeding entitled In re Tribune Co. Fraudulent Conveyance Litig., No. 11-md-2296 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “MDL Proceeding”).
On September 23, 2013, the District Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the SLCFC actions, including the Deutsche Bank action, on the basis that the plaintiffs did not have standing to pursue their claims. On September 30, 2013, the plaintiffs in the SLCFC actions filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On October 28, 2013, the defendants filed a joint notice of cross-appeal of that same order. On November 5, 2014, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held an oral argument on appeal. On March 29, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its opinion on the appeal of the SLCFC actions. The appeals court affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of those lawsuits, but on different grounds than the District Court. The appeals court held that while the plaintiffs have standing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, their claims were pre-empted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code—the statutory safe harbor for settlement payments. On April 12, 2016, the plaintiffs in the SLCFC actions filed a petition seeking rehearing en banc before the appeals court. On July 22, 2016, the appeals court denied the petition. On September 9, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Second Circuit’s decision that the safe harbor of Section 546(e) applied to their claims. Certain shareholder defendants filed a joint brief in opposition to the petition for certiorari on October 24, 2016. The plaintiffs filed a reply in support of the petition on November 4, 2016. On April 3, 2018, Justice Kennedy and Justice Thomas issued a “Statement” related to the petition for certiorari suggesting that the Second Circuit and/or District Court may want to take steps to reexamine the application of the Section 546(e) safe harbor to the previously dismissed state law constructive fraudulent transfer claims based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Merit Management Group LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc. On April 10, 2018, the plaintiffs filed in the Second Circuit a motion for that court to recall its mandate, vacate its prior
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decision, and remand to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with Merit Management. On April 20, 2018, the shareholder defendants filed a response to the plaintiffs’ motion to recall the mandate. On May 15, 2018, the Second Circuit issued an order recalling the mandate “in anticipation of further panel review.” On December 19, 2019, the Second Circuit issued an amended opinion that again affirmed the district court’s ruling on the basis that plaintiffs’ claims were preempted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code. Plaintiffs filed a motion for rehearing and rehearing en banc on January 2, 2020, which was denied on February 6, 2020. Plaintiffs filed a new petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court on July 6, 2020. In that petition, plaintiffs stated that “[t]o make it more likely that there will be a quorum for this petition,” they have “abandon[ed] the case and let the judgment below stand” with respect to certain defendants. That list did not include the Portfolio. Defendants filed an opposition to the certiorari petition on August 26, 2020. Plaintiffs filed a reply in support of the petition for certiorari on September 8, 2020. On March 12, 2021, the Solicitor General filed an amicus brief recommending that certiorari be denied. Plaintiffs filed a supplemental brief in response to the Solicitor General’s amicus brief on March 31, 2021, and Defendants filed a supplemental brief on April 1, 2021. The Supreme Court denied the petition for certiorari on April 19, 2021.
On August 2, 2013, the plaintiff in the FitzSimons action filed a Fifth Amended Complaint. On May 23, 2014, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the FitzSimons action, including a global motion to dismiss Count I, which is the claim brought against former Tribune shareholders for intentional fraudulent conveyance under U.S. federal law. On January 6, 2017, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the shareholder defendants’ motion to dismiss the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim in the FitzSimons action. In dismissing the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request to amend the complaint. The Court’s order is not immediately appealable, but the plaintiff has asked the Court to direct entry of a final judgment in order to make the order immediately appealable. On February 23, 2017, the Court issued an order stating that it intends to permit an interlocutory appeal of the dismissal order, but will wait to do so until it has resolved outstanding motions to dismiss filed by other defendants.
On July 18, 2017, the plaintiff submitted a letter to the District Court seeking leave to amend its complaint to add a constructive fraudulent transfer claim. The shareholder defendants opposed that request.
On August 24, 2017, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request without prejudice to renewal of the request in the event of an intervening change in the law. On March 8, 2018, the plaintiff renewed his request for leave to file a motion to amend the complaint to assert a constructive fraudulent transfer claim based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Merit Management. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On June 18, 2018, the District Court ordered that the request would be stayed pending further action by the Second Circuit in the still-pending appeal, discussed above. On December 18, 2018, the plaintiff filed a letter with the District Court requesting that the stay be dissolved in order to permit
briefing on the motion to amend the complaint and indicating the plaintiff’s intention to file another motion to amend the complaint to reinstate claims for intentional fraudulent transfer. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On January 14, 2019, the Court held a case management conference, during which the Court stated that it would not lift the stay prior to further action from the Second Circuit. The Court stated that it would allow the plaintiff to file a motion to amend to try to reinstate its intentional fraudulent transfer claim. On January 23, 2019, the Court ordered the parties still facing pending claims to participate in a mediation. On March 27, 2019, the Court held a telephone conference and decided to allow the plaintiff to file a motion for leave to amend. On April 4, 2019, the plaintiff filed a motion to amend the Fifth Amended Complaint to assert a federal constructive fraudulent transfer claim against certain shareholder defendants. On April 10, 2019, the shareholder defendants filed a brief in opposition to the plaintiff’s motion to amend. On April 12, 2019, the plaintiff filed a reply brief. The Court denied leave to amend the complaint on April 23, 2019. On June 13, 2019, the Court entered judgment pursuant to Rule 54(b), which would permit an appeal of the Court’s dismissal of the claim against the shareholder defendants. On July 15, 2019, the Trustee filed a notice of appeal to the Second Circuit. Appellant filed his brief on January 7, 2020. The shareholder defendants filed an opposition brief on April 27, 2020, and Appellant filed a reply brief on May 18, 2020. The Court held oral argument on August 24, 2020 and, on August 20, 2021, affirmed the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s intentional fraudulent conveyance claims and denial of leave to amend. Plaintiff filed a petition for rehearing en banc on September 3, 2021. The petition was denied on October 7, 2021. On January 5, 2022, Plaintiff filed a petition for certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, the District Court has entered two bar orders in connection with the plaintiff’s settlement with certain non-shareholder defendants. The orders bar claims against the settling defendants, but contain a judgment reduction provision that preserves the value of any potential claim by a shareholder defendant against a settling defendant. Specifically, the judgment reduction provision reduces the amount of money recoverable against a shareholder defendant to the extent the shareholder defendant could have recovered on a claim against a settling defendant.
The value of the proceeds received by the Portfolio in connection with the LBO and the Portfolio's cost basis in shares of Tribune was as follows:
Portfolio | Proceeds | Cost Basis |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio | $808,180 | $790,269 |
At this stage of the proceedings, the Portfolio does not believe a loss is probable; however, it is difficult to assess with any reasonable certainty the outcome of the pending litigation or the effect, if any, on the Portfolio's net asset value.
Note 11–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 12–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Mid Cap Core Portfolio)
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of the Management Agreement for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management fee and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of the Management Agreement. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of the Management Agreement reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio
turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio and New York Life Investments; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments with respect to its relationship with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments. The Board’s decision with respect to the Management Agreement may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of the Management Agreement in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the
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performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of the Management Agreement. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and performance in serving as investment adviser to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and New York Life Investments’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at New York Life Investments and New York Life Investments’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and acknowledged New York Life Investments’ commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed New York Life Investments’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments regarding the operations of its business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under the Management Agreement. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and acknowledged that New York Life Investments must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management Fee and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under the Management Agreement and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of
30 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints, voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
32 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
34 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
36 | MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI527
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
An investment in the Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1 | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio2 |
Initial Class Shares | 1/29/1993 | 0.01% | 0.77% | 0.39% | 0.42% |
| | | | | |
7-Day Current Yield = 0.01%; 7-Day Effective Yield = 0.01%.3 | | | | | |
1. | Effective August 26, 2016 and October 14, 2016, the Portfolio modified its principal investment strategies in connection with commencing operations as a "government money market fund." Consequently the performance information may have been different if the current investment strategies had been in effect during the period prior to the Portfolio commencing operations as a "government money market fund." |
2. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
3. As of December 31, 2021, MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio had an effective 7-day current yield = 0.01%; 7-day effective yield = 0.01%. The current yield is more reflective of the Portfolio’s earnings than the total return.
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Average Lipper Variable Products U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio1 | 0.01% | 0.72% | 0.37% |
Morningstar Prime Money Market Category Average2 | 0.02 | 0.94 | 0.50 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Average Lipper VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio is an equally weighted performance average consisting of funds that invest 99.5% of their assets in cash, government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized solely by government securities or cash, and have a weighted average maturity of 60 days or less. These funds intend to keep a constant net asset value. |
2. | The Morningstar Prime Money Market Category Average is representative of funds that invest in short-term money market securities in order to provide a level of current income that is consistent with the preservation of capital. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,000.10 | $0.15 | $1,025.05 | $0.15 | 0.03% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
‡ Less than one-tenth of percent.
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 9 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by NYL Investors LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio perform relative to its peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, Initial Class shares of MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio provided a 7-day current yield of 0.01% and a 7-day effective yield of 0.01%. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, Initial Class shares of MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio returned 0.01%. For the same period, the Portfolio performed in line with the 0.01% return of the Average Lipper Variable Products U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio and underperformed the 0.02% return of the Morningstar Prime Money Market Category Average.1
What was the Portfolio’s duration2 strategy during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s strategy was to continue to look for term premium in the market. The duration at the end of the reporting period was 49 days (up from 33 days in December 2020).
What specific factors, risks or market forces prompted significant decisions for the Portfolio during the reporting period?
Because markets remained stable during the reporting period, the Portfolio was not forced to make significant changes to the allocation or strategy.
During the reporting period, which market segments were the strongest contributors to the Portfolio’s performance and which market segments were particularly weak?
Due to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s zero interest rate strategy in 2021, all assets available to the Portfolio traded in a narrow range. No sector meaningfully outperformed any other.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The Portfolio made no significant purchases or sales during the reporting period.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s allocation to agency debt decreased while its allocation to U.S. Treasury bills and repurchase agreements increased.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
2. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
The opinions expressed are those of the Subadvisor as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
8 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Short-Term Investments 100.0% |
Government Agency Debt 35.4% |
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp. | | |
0.04%, due 1/31/22 | $ 20,000,000 | $ 19,999,333 |
0.05%, due 2/1/22 | 30,000,000 | 29,998,708 |
0.05%, due 2/24/22 | 12,000,000 | 11,999,100 |
Federal Farm Credit Banks | | |
0.05%, due 1/10/22 | 5,000,000 | 4,999,938 |
0.04%, due 1/26/22 | 5,000,000 | 4,999,861 |
0.04%, due 2/1/22 | 20,000,000 | 19,999,311 |
0.05%, due 2/10/22 | 13,000,000 | 12,999,278 |
0.05%, due 2/15/22 | 9,000,000 | 8,999,438 |
Federal Home Loan Banks | | |
0.04%, due 1/7/22 | 16,500,000 | 16,499,890 |
0.04%, due 1/13/22 | 18,000,000 | 17,999,760 |
0.045%, due 2/18/22 | 20,000,000 | 19,998,800 |
0.17%, due 6/24/22 | 15,500,000 | 15,487,264 |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | |
0.04%, due 2/2/22 | 39,000,000 | 38,998,613 |
Total Government Agency Debt (Cost $222,979,294) | | 222,979,294 |
Treasury Debt 51.1% |
U.S. Treasury Bills (a) | | |
0.051%, due 1/4/22 | 30,000,000 | 29,999,872 |
0.01%, due 2/22/22 | 25,000,000 | 24,999,621 |
0.015%, due 3/3/22 | 100,000,000 | 99,997,374 |
0.021%, due 3/10/22 | 100,000,000 | 99,996,033 |
0.049%, due 3/17/22 | 3,000,000 | 2,999,695 |
0.047%, due 3/22/22 | 8,000,000 | 7,999,164 |
0.052%, due 3/24/22 | 15,000,000 | 14,998,234 |
0.078%, due 4/26/22 | 33,000,000 | 32,991,830 |
0.069%, due 5/12/22 | 7,000,000 | 6,998,255 |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | |
1.50%, due 1/31/22 | 1,000,000 | 1,001,183 |
Total Treasury Debt (Cost $321,981,261) | | 321,981,261 |
| Principal Amount | | Value |
|
Treasury Repurchase Agreements 13.5% |
RBC Capital Markets LLC 0.04%, dated 12/31/21 due 1/3/22 Proceeds at Maturity $25,000,104 (Collateralized by United States Treasury securities with rates between 0.63% and 2.88% and maturity dates between 01/31/22 and 11/15/46, with a Principal Amount of $37,943,900 and a Market Value of $46,073,643) | 45,170,000 | | $ 45,170,000 |
TD Securities, Inc. 0.05%, dated 12/31/21 due 1/3/22 Proceeds at Maturity $40,000,167 (Collateralized by United States Treasury Note with a rate of 0.25% and maturity date of 06/15/23 , with a Principal Amount of $40,992,000 and a Market Value of $40,800,071) | 40,000,000 | | 40,000,000 |
Total Treasury Repurchase Agreements (Cost $85,170,000) | | | 85,170,000 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $630,130,555) | 100.0% | | 630,130,555 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (0.0)‡ | | (96,194) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 630,034,361 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Interest rate shown represents yield to maturity. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
9
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Government Agency Debt | $ — | | $ 222,979,294 | | $ — | | $ 222,979,294 |
Treasury Debt | — | | 321,981,261 | | — | | 321,981,261 |
Treasury Repurchase Agreements | — | | 85,170,000 | | — | | 85,170,000 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ — | | $ 630,130,555 | | $ — | | $ 630,130,555 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in securities, at value (amortized cost $544,960,555) | $544,960,555 |
Repurchase agreements, at value (amortized cost $85,170,000) | 85,170,000 |
Cash | 34 |
Receivables: | |
Interest | 6,383 |
Other assets | 130,908 |
Total assets | 630,267,880 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 139,992 |
Professional fees | 39,136 |
Shareholder communication | 35,946 |
Custodian | 9,069 |
Trustees | 1,821 |
Accrued expenses | 2,267 |
Dividends payable | 5,288 |
Total liabilities | 233,519 |
Net assets | $630,034,361 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 629,969 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 629,389,508 |
| 630,019,477 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 14,884 |
Net assets | $630,034,361 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $630,034,361 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 629,968,666 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 1.00 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $ 348,571 |
Other | 1,739 |
Total income | 350,310 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 2,724,001 |
Professional fees | 83,852 |
Shareholder communication | 43,692 |
Custodian | 28,414 |
Trustees | 16,479 |
Miscellaneous | 15,707 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 2,912,145 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (2,632,503) |
Net expenses | 279,642 |
Net investment income (loss) | 70,668 |
Realized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 2,617 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 73,285 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 70,668 | $ 1,012,893 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 2,617 | 7,864 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 73,285 | 1,020,757 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (70,685) | (1,012,896) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 565,120,376 | 1,078,323,719 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 65,395 | 1,012,896 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (762,204,170) | (648,548,415) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (197,018,399) | 430,788,200 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (197,015,799) | 430,796,061 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 827,050,160 | 396,254,099 |
End of year | $ 630,034,361 | $ 827,050,160 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 1.00 | | $ 1.00 | | $ 1.00 | | $ 1.00 | | $ 1.00 |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.00‡ | | 0.00‡ | | 0.02 | | 0.01 | | 0.00‡ |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments‡ | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | 0.00 |
Total from investment operations | 0.00‡ | | 0.00‡ | | 0.02 | | 0.01 | | 0.00‡ |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.00)‡ | | 0.00‡ | | (0.02) | | (0.01) | | (0.00)‡ |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 1.00 | | $ 1.00 | | $ 1.00 | | $ 1.00 | | $ 1.00 |
Total investment return (a) | 0.01% | | 0.24% | | 1.78% | | 1.38% | | 0.42% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.01% | | 0.15% | | 1.78% | | 1.37% | | 0.41% |
Net expenses | 0.04% | | 0.16% | | 0.44% | | 0.44% | | 0.44% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) | 0.41% | | 0.42% | | 0.44% | | 0.44% | | 0.44% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 630,034 | | $ 827,050 | | $ 396,254 | | $ 512,490 | | $ 496,871 |
‡ | Less than one cent per share. |
(a) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share class that has been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | January 29, 1993 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek a high level of current income while preserving capital and maintaining liquidity.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Valuation of Shares. The Portfolio seeks to maintain a NAV of $1.00 per share, although there is no assurance that it will be able to do so. An investment in the Portfolio, is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Portfolio’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support
to the Portfolio, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Portfolio at any time.
(B) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business (“valuation date”). Securities are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate per the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security.
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
Securities valued at amortized cost are not obtained from a quoted price in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio may utilize some of the following fair value
techniques: multi-dimensional relational pricing models and option adjusted spread pricing. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(C) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
16 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare dividends from net investment income, if any, daily and intends to pay them at least monthly and declares and pays distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Funds in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Repurchase Agreements. The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements (i.e., buy a security from another party with the agreement that it will be sold back in the future) to earn income. The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements only with counterparties, usually financial institutions, that are deemed by the Manager or the Subadvisor to be creditworthy, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. During the term of any repurchase agreement, the Manager or the Subadvisor will continue to monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparty. Under the 1940 Act, repurchase agreements are considered to be collateralized loans by the Portfolio to the counterparty secured by the securities transferred to the Portfolio.
Repurchase agreements are subject to counterparty risk, meaning the Portfolio could lose money by the counterparty’s failure to perform under the terms of the agreement. The Portfolio mitigates this risk by ensuring the repurchase agreement is collateralized by cash, U.S. government securities, fixed income securities and/or other securities. The collateral is held by the Portfolio's custodian and valued daily on a mark to market basis to determine if the value, including accrued interest, exceeds the repurchase price. In the event of the counterparty’s default on the obligation to repurchase, the Portfolio has the right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of the obligation. Under certain circumstances, such as in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty, realization and/or retention of the collateral may be
limited or subject to delay, to legal proceedings and possible realized loss to the Portfolio. Repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(I) Debt Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Investments in the Portfolio are not guaranteed, even though some of the Portfolio’s underlying investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The principal risk of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities is that the underlying debt may be prepaid ahead of schedule, if interest rates fall, thereby reducing the value of the Portfolio’s investment. If interest rates rise, less of the debt may be prepaid and the Portfolio may lose money because the Portfolio may be unable to invest in higher yielding assets. The Portfolio is subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise. Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner.
(J) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(K) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. NYL Investors LLC ("NYL Investors" or ''Subadvisor''), a registered investment adviser and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, pays New York Life Investments in its capacity as the Portfolio’s investment manager and administrator, pursuant to the Management Agreement, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of 0.40% up to $500 million; 0.35% from $500 million to $1 billion; and 0.30% in excess of $1 billion.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that total annual operating expenses (excluding
taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments and acquired (underlying) fund fees and expenses) of Initial Class shares do not exceed 0.28% of average daily net assets. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022 and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.39%.
New York Life Investments may voluntarily waive fees or reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent it deems appropriate to enhance the yield of the Fund’s during periods when expenses have a significant impact on the yield of the Fund, as applicable, because of low interest rates. This expense limitation policy is voluntary and in addition to any contractual arrangements that may be in place with respect to the Fund and described in the Fund’s prospectus.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $2,724,001 and paid the Subadvisor in the amount of $895,529. Additionally, New York Life Investments reimbursed expenses in the amount of $2,632,503, without which the Portfolio's total returns would have been lower.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
The amortized cost also represents the aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes.
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$20,172 | $— | $(5,288) | $— | $14,884 |
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During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $70,685 | $1,012,551 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | — | 345 |
Total | $70,685 | $1,012,896 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $6,004 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class (at $1 per share) | Shares |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | |
Shares sold | 565,063,871 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 65,388 |
Shares redeemed | (762,127,958) |
Net increase (decrease) | (196,998,699) |
Year ended December 31, 2020 : | |
Shares sold | 1,078,220,316 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,012,804 |
Shares redeemed | (648,484,735) |
Net increase (decrease) | 430,748,385 |
Note 7–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 8–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
20 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors LLC (“NYL Investors”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or NYL Investors that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the share class of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Investments and NYL Investors resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of NYL Investors, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of NYL Investors and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, NYL Investors with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as NYL Investors’ investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that NYL Investors provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated NYL Investors’ experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and NYL Investors’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at NYL Investors and New York Life Investments’ and NYL Investors’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed NYL Investors’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant
22 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to NYL Investors as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or NYL Investors had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because NYL Investors is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including NYL Investors, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and NYL Investors must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and
NYL Investors to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to NYL Investors is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints, voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board noted that New York Life Investments had provided support to the Portfolio in the form of voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements of fees and expenses in order to maintain a positive yield. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways,
including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
24 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file a Form N-MFP every month disclosing its portfolio holdings. The Portfolio's Form N-MFP is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
26 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
28 | MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
1802524 | MSVPUSGMM11-02/22 |
(NYLIAC) NI510
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years or Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 10/1/1996 | 9.25% | 14.78% | 12.52% | 0.61% |
Service Class Shares | 6/5/2003 | 8.98 | 14.49 | 12.24 | 0.86 |
Service 2 Class Shares | 4/26/2016 | 8.87 | 14.38 | 14.44 | 0.96 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index1 | 6.34% | 16.87% | 13.89% |
Morningstar Convertibles Category Average2 | 4.64 | 13.89 | 11.00 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index is the Portfolio’s primary broad–based securities market index for comparison purposes. The ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index is a market-capitalization weighted index of domestic corporate convertible securities. In order to be included in this Index, bonds and preferred stocks must be convertible only to common stock. Results assume reinvestment of all income and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Convertibles Category Average is representative of funds that are designed to offer some of the capital-appreciation potential of stock portfolios while also supplying some of the safety and yield of bond portfolios. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
6 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,030.60 | $2.87 | $1,022.38 | $2.85 | 0.56% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,029.30 | $4.14 | $1,021.12 | $4.13 | 0.81% |
Service 2 Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,028.80 | $4.65 | $1,020.62 | $4.63 | 0.91% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Danaher Corp., 4.75%-5.00% |
2. | Nice Ltd., (zero coupon), due 9/15/25 |
3. | Anthem, Inc., 2.75%, due 10/15/42 |
4. | Palo Alto Networks, Inc., 0.375%-0.75%, due 7/1/23–6/1/25 |
5. | Pioneer Natural Resources Co., 0.25%, due 5/15/25 |
6. | Ford Motor Co., (zero coupon), due 3/15/26 |
7. | Microchip Technology, Inc., 0.125%, due 11/15/24 |
8. | BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc., 0.599%-1.25%, due 8/1/24–5/15/27 |
9. | EQT Corp., 1.75%, due 5/1/26 |
10. | Southwest Airlines Co., 1.25%, due 5/1/25 |
8 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio manager Edward Silverstein, CFA, of MacKay Shields LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio returned 9.25% for Initial Class shares, 8.98% for Service Class shares and 8.87% for Service 2 Class shares. Over the same period, all share classes outperformed the 6.34% return of the ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark, and the 4.64% return of the Morningstar Convertibles Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio outperformed the Index largely due to individual security selection. The Portfolio held large positions in several securities that rose well in excess of the Index. Holdings such as Anthem, EQT, Silicon Laboratories, and ON Semiconductor all bolstered the Portfolio’s absolute performance, while impacting the benchmark to a much smaller extent. The Portfolio’s relative performance also benefitted from not owning large benchmark positions such as Zillow Group, Sarepta Therapeutics and Wayfair, that were poor performers during the reporting period.
During the reporting period, which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
The sectors making the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period were media, health care and energy. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) In media, the Portfolio benefitted greatly by not holding securities of digital real estate company Zillow Group, which had several convertible bonds outstanding and was a large benchmark constituent. The Portfolio also benefitted from overweight exposure to live concert company Live Nation Entertainment, which was a strong performer during the year. In health care, the convertible bonds of health insurer Anthem and the convertible preferred shares of lab equipment & diagnostics company Danaher were both strong performers. In the energy sector, the exploration & production subsector generated particularly strong returns, benefitting from the rise in crude oil and natural gas prices. The Portfolio’s holdings of the convertible bonds of EQT, Centennial Resources Development and Pioneer Natural Resources were standout performers.
Relative to the Index, the Portfolio’s weakest sectors were utilities, real estate and materials. The most significant detractor in utilities was the Portfolio’s underweight exposure to NextEra Energy. Underweight exposure to the real estate and materials sectors also hurt relative performance. In real estate, the Portfolio lacked exposure to real estate investment trust DigitalBridge Group, which saw shares rise following news that it would be acquired. In
materials, the Portfolio’s relative performance was hurt by not holding positions in steel producers Cleveland-Cliffs and United States Steel, since both companies benefitted from soaring steel prices.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
The Portfolio’s three best-performing individual holdings included the convertible preferred shares of Danaher, and the convertible bonds of Anthem and Atlassian. The convertible preferred shares of Danaher rose during the reporting period as the company consistently exceeded quarterly revenue and earnings estimates by significant margins. The company benefitted from the increase in demand for diagnostic tests related to COVID-19 infections. Health insurer Anthem performed well as the company raised forward earnings guidance and kept medical costs under control. The convertible bonds of enterprise software company Atlassian rose when the company exceeded earnings expectations over several quarters. Shares in Atlassian also benefitted from investor enthusiasm for software companies.
The Portfolio’s weakest individual holdings included the convertible bonds of RingCentral, Wix.com and Everbridge. While communications firm RingCentral generally met earnings expectations, the company’s convertible bonds declined after the departure of several key executives, raising concerns for investors. The convertible bonds of Internet software firm Wix.com declined after the company reported a disappointing quarter in the second half of 2021. It appeared that some demand had been pulled forward into 2020 when small businesses were desperate to establish an online presence at the height of the pandemic. Investors wrongly concluded that the company’s 2020 growth rate was sustainable. The convertible bonds of software company Everbridge declined late in the reporting period after the company provided disappointing guidance for 2022 and announced the departure of its CEO.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio purchased convertible bonds of vehicle maker Ford Motor when the shares appeared very inexpensive based on free cash flow and earnings. We were further encouraged by the company’s introduction of several electric vehicles to meet demand for zero-emission products from investors, regulators and possibly consumers. During the same period, we exchanged the Portfolio’s holdings of oilfield products and services company Oil States International (OSI) for a new convertible bond issue from the company that offered a higher coupon and greater equity sensitivity. We believed that OSI’s
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
common shares were undervalued based on an expected recovery in oilfield activity as a result of higher commodity prices. Within the energy sector, the Portfolio also purchased the convertible bonds of exploration & production company Centennial Resource Development.
During the reporting period, holdings in semiconductor manufacturers Lam Research and Micron Technology left the Portfolio after each company called their respective convertible bonds. A position in software firm Atlassian also left the Portfolio when those bonds were called by the company. We sold the Portfolio’s entire position in electric car maker Tesla as we did not believe that the company’s share price was supported by fundamentals and valuation.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio increased its exposure to the real estate, consumer staples and energy sectors. Conversely, the Portfolio decreased its exposure to materials, information technology and consumer discretionary.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held overweight exposure relative to the Index in the energy, information technology and industrials sectors. As of the same date, the Portfolio held underweight exposure to financials, communication services and utilities.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio manager as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
10 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 3.0% |
Corporate Bonds 3.0% |
Biotechnology 0.2% |
Bridgebio Pharma, Inc. | | |
2.50%, due 3/15/27 | $ 6,895,000 | $ 5,083,052 |
Commercial Services 0.7% |
Block, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 11/1/27 (a) | 13,105,000 | 13,899,491 |
Leisure Time 0.2% |
NCL Corp. Ltd. | | |
5.375%, due 8/1/25 | 2,860,000 | 4,061,200 |
Oil & Gas 0.0% ‡ |
Valaris Ltd. | | |
Series 1145 | | |
8.25% (8.25% Cash or 12.00% PIK), due 4/30/28 (b) | 801,000 | 833,040 |
Oil & Gas Services 0.0% ‡ |
Weatherford International Ltd. | | |
11.00%, due 12/1/24 (c) | 138,000 | 142,140 |
Semiconductors 1.6% |
Silicon Laboratories, Inc. | | |
0.625%, due 6/15/25 | 18,986,000 | 33,379,286 |
Software 0.3% |
Five9, Inc. | | |
0.50%, due 6/1/25 | 4,933,000 | 6,070,550 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $56,778,541) | | 63,468,759 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $56,778,541) | | 63,468,759 |
Convertible Securities 91.1% |
Convertible Bonds 80.4% |
Airlines 2.6% |
American Airlines Group, Inc. | | |
6.50%, due 7/1/25 | 6,895,000 | 9,556,470 |
JetBlue Airways Corp. | | |
0.50%, due 4/1/26 (c) | 4,623,000 | 4,332,757 |
Southwest Airlines Co. | | |
1.25%, due 5/1/25 | 29,005,000 | 38,772,434 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Airlines (continued) |
Spirit Airlines, Inc. | | |
1.00%, due 5/15/26 | $ 3,235,000 | $ 2,804,876 |
| | 55,466,537 |
Auto Manufacturers 2.2% |
Ford Motor Co. | | |
(zero coupon), due 3/15/26 (c) | 32,843,000 | 45,343,867 |
Beverages 0.5% |
MGP Ingredients, Inc. | | |
1.875%, due 11/15/41 (c) | 8,635,000 | 9,892,256 |
Biotechnology 4.2% |
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 9/15/26 | 4,715,000 | 7,152,066 |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. | | |
0.599%, due 8/1/24 | 9,693,000 | 10,159,233 |
1.25%, due 5/15/27 | 28,541,000 | 29,913,822 |
Guardant Health, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 11/15/27 | 7,494,000 | 7,618,401 |
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 3/1/27 (c) | 3,493,000 | 3,128,418 |
Illumina, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 8/15/23 (a) | 19,199,000 | 21,994,854 |
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 4/1/26 (c) | 9,307,000 | 8,231,111 |
| | 88,197,905 |
Building Materials 1.0% |
Patrick Industries, Inc. | | |
1.00%, due 2/1/23 | 16,885,000 | 18,805,669 |
1.75%, due 12/1/28 (c) | 2,900,000 | 3,022,537 |
| | 21,828,206 |
Commercial Services 2.2% |
Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 1/15/26 (c) | 3,250,000 | 2,941,250 |
Block, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 5/1/26 (a) | 14,812,000 | 15,265,351 |
Chegg, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 9/1/26 | 10,000,000 | 8,325,000 |
Euronet Worldwide, Inc. | | |
0.75%, due 3/15/49 | 11,685,000 | 12,736,650 |
Repay Holdings Corp. | | |
(zero coupon), due 2/1/26 (c) | 2,180,000 | 1,895,292 |
Sabre GLBL, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 4/15/25 | 1,185,000 | 1,622,699 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Convertible Bonds (continued) |
Commercial Services (continued) |
Shift4 Payments, Inc. (c) | | |
(zero coupon), due 12/15/25 | $ 2,300,000 | $ 2,436,620 |
0.50%, due 8/1/27 | 1,180,000 | 1,042,058 |
| | 46,264,920 |
Computers 2.9% |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. | | |
0.50%, due 12/15/26 | 26,640,000 | 33,266,700 |
Parsons Corp. | | |
0.25%, due 8/15/25 | 2,878,000 | 2,868,502 |
Western Digital Corp. | | |
1.50%, due 2/1/24 (d) | 4,634,000 | 4,700,614 |
Zscaler, Inc. | | |
0.125%, due 7/1/25 | 9,088,000 | 19,907,364 |
| | 60,743,180 |
Cosmetics & Personal Care 0.3% |
Beauty Health Co. (The) | | |
1.25%, due 10/1/26 (c) | 5,672,000 | 6,035,598 |
Diversified Financial Services 0.4% |
LendingTree, Inc. | | |
0.625%, due 6/1/22 | 7,200,000 | 7,150,500 |
Upstart Holdings, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 8/15/26 (c) | 2,380,000 | 2,284,800 |
| | 9,435,300 |
Electric 1.7% |
NRG Energy, Inc. | | |
2.75%, due 6/1/48 | 29,752,000 | 35,443,558 |
Energy-Alternate Sources 2.0% |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 3/1/26 (c) | 9,315,000 | 9,370,890 |
NextEra Energy Partners LP | | |
(zero coupon), due 11/15/25 (c) | 10,860,000 | 12,429,270 |
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 9/15/25 | 16,283,000 | 20,720,118 |
| | 42,520,278 |
Entertainment 2.6% |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. | | |
2.50%, due 3/15/23 | 9,704,000 | 17,564,240 |
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp. | | |
(zero coupon), due 1/15/26 (c) | 3,060,000 | 3,596,235 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Entertainment (continued) |
Vail Resorts, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 1/1/26 | $ 30,094,000 | $ 32,223,939 |
| | 53,384,414 |
Food 0.6% |
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (The) | | |
1.875%, due 12/1/24 | 11,724,000 | 12,537,353 |
Healthcare-Products 3.6% |
CONMED Corp. | | |
2.625%, due 2/1/24 (a) | 14,887,000 | 24,824,072 |
Exact Sciences Corp. | | |
0.375%, due 3/1/28 | 21,770,000 | 21,129,962 |
Haemonetics Corp. | | |
(zero coupon), due 3/1/26 (c) | 4,580,000 | 3,852,351 |
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. | | |
0.50%, due 8/15/25 | 8,831,000 | 9,609,011 |
NuVasive, Inc. | | |
0.375%, due 3/15/25 | 12,958,000 | 12,488,273 |
Omnicell, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 9/15/25 | 1,735,000 | 3,281,319 |
| | 75,184,988 |
Healthcare-Services 3.7% |
Anthem, Inc. | | |
2.75%, due 10/15/42 | 7,764,000 | 51,056,064 |
Teladoc Health, Inc. | | |
1.25%, due 6/1/27 | 28,389,000 | 25,993,678 |
| | 77,049,742 |
Internet 10.5% |
Booking Holdings, Inc. | | |
0.75%, due 5/1/25 (a) | 11,000,000 | 16,208,500 |
Etsy, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 6/15/28 (c) | 26,578,000 | 31,377,987 |
Expedia Group, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 2/15/26 (a)(c) | 2,758,000 | 3,186,869 |
Match Group Financeco 2, Inc. | | |
0.875%, due 6/15/26 (c) | 13,160,000 | 21,327,096 |
Okta, Inc. | | |
0.125%, due 9/1/25 | 7,194,000 | 9,791,014 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | | |
0.375%, due 6/1/25 | 11,770,000 | 22,355,938 |
0.75%, due 7/1/23 | 13,152,000 | 27,603,418 |
Q2 Holdings, Inc. | | |
0.75%, due 6/1/26 | 2,800,000 | 3,152,724 |
Shopify, Inc. | | |
0.125%, due 11/1/25 (a) | 17,355,000 | 21,737,137 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Convertible Bonds (continued) |
Internet (continued) |
Snap, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 5/1/27 (c) | $ 10,555,000 | $ 10,259,890 |
Twitter, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 3/15/26 (c) | 6,865,000 | 6,182,619 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 12/15/25 | 12,588,000 | 12,418,062 |
Zendesk, Inc. | | |
0.625%, due 6/15/25 | 9,259,000 | 11,093,208 |
Zillow Group, Inc. | | |
2.75%, due 5/15/25 | 17,202,000 | 22,226,723 |
| | 218,921,185 |
Leisure Time 0.7% |
NCL Corp. Ltd. | | |
6.00%, due 5/15/24 | 1,756,000 | 3,041,392 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | | |
4.25%, due 6/15/23 | 8,684,000 | 11,093,810 |
| | 14,135,202 |
Machinery-Diversified 1.6% |
Chart Industries, Inc. | | |
1.00%, due 11/15/24 (c) | 12,471,000 | 34,287,767 |
Media 3.6% |
Cable One, Inc. | | |
1.125%, due 3/15/28 (c) | 18,790,000 | 18,692,775 |
DISH Network Corp. | | |
(zero coupon), due 12/15/25 | 20,445,000 | 20,649,450 |
Liberty Media Corp. | | |
1.375%, due 10/15/23 | 11,955,000 | 18,049,525 |
Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One | | |
1.00%, due 1/30/23 | 9,954,000 | 17,203,477 |
| | 74,595,227 |
Oil & Gas 5.1% |
Centennial Resource Production LLC | | |
3.25%, due 4/1/28 | 14,611,000 | 18,254,618 |
EQT Corp. | | |
1.75%, due 5/1/26 | 23,557,000 | 39,375,526 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | | |
0.25%, due 5/15/25 | 27,292,000 | 48,767,392 |
| | 106,397,536 |
Oil & Gas Services 2.0% |
Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. | | |
6.75%, due 2/15/26 | 18,071,000 | 18,025,822 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Oil & Gas Services (continued) |
Oil States International, Inc. | | |
1.50%, due 2/15/23 | $ 1,013,000 | $ 950,068 |
4.75%, due 4/1/26 (c) | 25,625,000 | 22,774,219 |
| | 41,750,109 |
Pharmaceuticals 2.6% |
Dexcom, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 11/15/25 (a) | 16,942,000 | 20,192,746 |
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. | | |
2.25%, due 5/15/24 | 15,225,000 | 19,135,922 |
Pacira BioSciences, Inc. | | |
0.75%, due 8/1/25 | 11,671,000 | 12,962,105 |
2.375%, due 4/1/22 | 1,094,000 | 1,126,136 |
| | 53,416,909 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.0% |
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | | |
1.75%, due 12/15/26 | 5,863,000 | 6,485,356 |
Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. | | |
1.50%, due 2/15/26 | 13,238,000 | 13,873,424 |
| | 20,358,780 |
Retail 2.3% |
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 4/15/25 | 2,758,000 | 8,393,973 |
Burlington Stores, Inc. | | |
2.25%, due 4/15/25 | 20,948,000 | 31,225,613 |
Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The) | | |
0.375%, due 6/15/26 | 9,488,000 | 8,545,130 |
| | 48,164,716 |
Semiconductors 4.0% |
Impinj, Inc. | | |
1.125%, due 5/15/27 (c) | 4,870,000 | 5,338,981 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. | | |
0.125%, due 11/15/24 (a) | 35,083,000 | 43,590,627 |
ON Semiconductor Corp. | | |
1.625%, due 10/15/23 | 5,984,000 | 19,679,880 |
Rambus, Inc. | | |
1.375%, due 2/1/23 | 6,552,000 | 10,311,538 |
Wolfspeed, Inc. | | |
1.75%, due 5/1/26 | 1,495,000 | 3,668,356 |
| | 82,589,382 |
Software 10.2% |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. | | |
0.375%, due 9/1/27 | 18,297,000 | 21,487,997 |
Avalara, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 8/1/26 (c) | 2,365,000 | 2,194,720 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Convertible Bonds (continued) |
Software (continued) |
Bentley Systems, Inc. | | |
0.125%, due 1/15/26 (c) | $ 3,445,000 | $ 3,561,441 |
Bill.com Holdings, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 12/1/25 | 5,190,000 | 8,890,989 |
Coupa Software, Inc. | | |
0.375%, due 6/15/26 | 11,250,000 | 10,687,500 |
Datadog, Inc. | | |
0.125%, due 6/15/25 | 10,168,000 | 20,427,512 |
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 12/1/26 (c) | 6,410,000 | 5,701,054 |
Envestnet, Inc. | | |
1.75%, due 6/1/23 | 21,941,000 | 27,673,086 |
Everbridge, Inc. | | |
0.125%, due 12/15/24 (a) | 13,318,000 | 12,993,374 |
MongoDB, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 1/15/26 | 7,540,000 | 19,288,263 |
RingCentral, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 3/1/25 | 28,729,000 | 27,133,392 |
Splunk, Inc. | | |
0.50%, due 9/15/23 | 17,072,000 | 18,298,415 |
Workday, Inc. | | |
0.25%, due 10/1/22 | 11,687,000 | 21,767,037 |
Ziff Davis, Inc. | | |
1.75%, due 11/1/26 (c) | 3,285,000 | 4,075,901 |
Zynga, Inc. | | |
(zero coupon), due 12/15/26 | 8,495,000 | 7,794,938 |
| | 211,975,619 |
Telecommunications 4.6% |
Infinera Corp. | | |
2.50%, due 3/1/27 | 4,490,000 | 6,600,300 |
InterDigital, Inc. | | |
2.00%, due 6/1/24 | 2,860,000 | 3,153,150 |
Nice Ltd. | | |
(zero coupon), due 9/15/25 (a) | 48,248,000 | 58,832,405 |
Viavi Solutions, Inc. | | |
1.00%, due 3/1/24 | 14,133,000 | 20,068,860 |
Vonage Holdings Corp. | | |
1.75%, due 6/1/24 | 5,148,000 | 6,900,897 |
| | 95,555,612 |
Transportation 1.2% |
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. | | |
1.875%, due 6/1/24 | 15,022,000 | 24,485,860 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Trucking & Leasing 0.5% |
Greenbrier Cos., Inc. (The) | | |
2.875%, due 4/15/28 (c) | $ 9,472,000 | $ 10,348,160 |
Total Convertible Bonds (Cost $1,499,796,514) | | 1,676,310,166 |
|
| Shares | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks 10.7% |
Banks 1.7% |
Bank of America Corp. | |
Series L | | |
7.25% (e) | 11,636 | 16,818,674 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | |
Series L | | |
7.50% (e) | 12,264 | 18,279,860 |
| | 35,098,534 |
Capital Markets 1.3% |
KKR & Co., Inc. | |
Series C | | |
6.00% (a) | 283,400 | 26,398,710 |
Chemicals 0.2% |
Lyondellbasell Advanced Polymers, Inc. | |
6.00% (a)(e) | 4,110 | 4,126,440 |
Electric Utilities 0.8% |
PG&E Corp. | |
5.50% | 154,100 | 17,826,288 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.3% |
Becton Dickinson and Co. | |
Series B | | |
6.00% (a) | 106,750 | 5,631,062 |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 0.7% |
AES Corp. (The) | |
6.875% | 150,600 | 14,457,600 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 3.6% |
Danaher Corp. | |
Series A | | |
4.75% | 30,270 | 66,412,380 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Convertible Preferred Stocks (continued) |
Life Sciences Tools & Services (continued) |
Danaher Corp. (continued) | |
Series B | | |
5.00% (a) | 4,769 | $ 8,289,333 |
| | 74,701,713 |
Machinery 0.9% |
RBC Bearings, Inc. | |
Series A | | |
5.00% | 17,043 | 1,787,129 |
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. | |
5.25% (a) | 164,200 | 17,928,998 |
| | 19,716,127 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 1.2% |
Broadcom, Inc. | |
Series A | | |
8.00% | 12,125 | 25,164,104 |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Cost $178,635,072) | | 223,120,578 |
Total Convertible Securities (Cost $1,678,431,586) | | 1,899,430,744 |
Common Stocks 1.0% |
Banks 0.6% |
Bank of America Corp. | 267,678 | 11,908,994 |
Energy Equipment & Services 0.4% |
Valaris Ltd. (f) | 111,802 | 4,024,872 |
Weatherford International plc (f) | 157,538 | 4,366,953 |
| | 8,391,825 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $10,218,126) | | 20,300,819 |
Short-Term Investments 9.4% |
Affiliated Investment Company 4.8% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (g)(h) | 98,790,203 | 98,790,203 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 4.6% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, 0.025% (h)(i) | 40,000,000 | | $ 40,000,000 |
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund, 0.026% (h)(i) | 10,000,000 | | 10,000,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (h)(i) | 46,072,428 | | 46,072,428 |
| | | 96,072,428 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $194,862,631) | | | 194,862,631 |
Total Investments (Cost $1,940,290,884) | 104.5% | | 2,178,062,953 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (4.5) | | (92,940,514) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 2,085,122,439 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $114,429,026; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $118,097,425. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $22,024,997. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $96,072,428. (See Note 2(G)) |
(b) | PIK ("Payment-in-Kind")—issuer may pay interest or dividends with additional securities and/or in cash. |
(c) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(d) | Step coupon—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(e) | Security is perpetual and, thus, does not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date. |
(f) | Non-income producing security. |
(g) | As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio's ownership exceeds 5% of the outstanding shares of the Underlying Portfolio's share class. |
(h) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(i) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds | $ — | | $ 63,468,759 | | $ — | | $ 63,468,759 |
Total Corporate Bonds | — | | 63,468,759 | | — | | 63,468,759 |
Convertible Securities | | | | | | | |
Convertible Bonds | — | | 1,676,310,166 | | — | | 1,676,310,166 |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 218,994,138 | | 4,126,440 | | — | | 223,120,578 |
Total Convertible Securities | 218,994,138 | | 1,680,436,606 | | — | | 1,899,430,744 |
Common Stocks | 20,300,819 | | — | | — | | 20,300,819 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 98,790,203 | | — | | — | | 98,790,203 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 96,072,428 | | — | | — | | 96,072,428 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 194,862,631 | | — | | — | | 194,862,631 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 434,157,588 | | $ 1,743,905,365 | | $ — | | $ 2,178,062,953 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $1,841,500,681) including securities on loan of $114,429,026 | $2,079,272,750 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $98,790,203) | 98,790,203 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends and interest | 3,855,835 |
Portfolio shares sold | 836,255 |
Securities lending | 111,523 |
Other assets | 13,909 |
Total assets | 2,182,880,475 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 96,072,428 |
Payables: | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 935,833 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 435,470 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 238,849 |
Professional fees | 45,053 |
Shareholder communication | 19,530 |
Custodian | 9,022 |
Trustees | 1,851 |
Total liabilities | 97,758,036 |
Net assets | $2,085,122,439 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 112,290 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 1,607,888,333 |
| 1,608,000,623 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 477,121,816 |
Net assets | $2,085,122,439 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 946,695,795 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 50,688,876 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 18.68 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $1,129,151,149 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 61,099,445 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 18.48 |
Service 2 Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 9,275,495 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 501,890 |
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding | $ 18.48 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $ 11,685,532 |
Dividends-unaffiliated | 8,750,328 |
Securities lending | 509,924 |
Dividends-affiliated | 15,836 |
Other | 109 |
Total income | 20,961,729 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 10,582,187 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 2,677,413 |
Distribution/Service—Service 2 Class (See Note 3) | 22,443 |
Professional fees | 157,400 |
Shareholder communication | 89,057 |
Trustees | 37,957 |
Custodian | 36,072 |
Shareholder service (See Note 3) | 8,977 |
Miscellaneous | 57,708 |
Total expenses | 13,669,214 |
Net investment income (loss) | 7,292,515 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments | 248,922,270 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments | (98,533,563) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 150,388,707 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $157,681,222 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 7,292,515 | $ 4,734,545 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 248,922,270 | 113,765,608 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (98,533,563) | 186,348,336 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 157,681,222 | 304,848,489 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (55,054,387) | (3,134,899) |
Service Class | (63,916,632) | (12,798,176) |
Service 2 Class | (497,943) | (113,691) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (119,468,962) | (16,046,766) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 742,122,288 | 347,963,493 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 119,468,962 | 16,046,766 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (176,472,885) | (252,348,769) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 685,118,365 | 111,661,490 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 723,330,625 | 400,463,213 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 1,361,791,814 | 961,328,601 |
End of year | $2,085,122,439 | $1,361,791,814 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 18.17 | | $ 13.60 | | $ 12.31 | | $ 13.29 | | $ 12.28 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.10 | | 0.10 | | 0.13 | | 0.17 | | 0.18 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.56 | | 4.74 | | 2.56 | | (0.41) | | 1.28 |
Total from investment operations | 1.66 | | 4.84 | | 2.69 | | (0.24) | | 1.46 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.22) | | (0.11) | | (0.20) | | (0.23) | | (0.23) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.93) | | (0.16) | | (1.20) | | (0.51) | | (0.22) |
Total distributions | (1.15) | | (0.27) | | (1.40) | | (0.74) | | (0.45) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 18.68 | | $ 18.17 | | $ 13.60 | | $ 12.31 | | $ 13.29 |
Total investment return (b) | 9.25% | | 36.04% | | 22.46% | | (2.27)% | | 11.99% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.51% | | 0.70% | | 0.94% | | 1.24% | | 1.40% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.56% | | 0.61% | | 0.61% | | 0.61% | | 0.62% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 41% | | 49% | | 26% | | 43% | | 34% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 946,696 | | $ 370,733 | | $ 202,104 | | $ 177,136 | | $ 227,285 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 17.99 | | $ 13.47 | | $ 12.21 | | $ 13.18 | | $ 12.18 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.05 | | 0.06 | | 0.09 | | 0.13 | | 0.15 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.54 | | 4.69 | | 2.53 | | (0.40) | | 1.26 |
Total from investment operations | 1.59 | | 4.75 | | 2.62 | | (0.27) | | 1.41 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.17) | | (0.07) | | (0.16) | | (0.19) | | (0.19) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.93) | | (0.16) | | (1.20) | | (0.51) | | (0.22) |
Total distributions | (1.10) | | (0.23) | | (1.36) | | (0.70) | | (0.41) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 18.48 | | $ 17.99 | | $ 13.47 | | $ 12.21 | | $ 13.18 |
Total investment return (b) | 8.98% | | 35.70% | | 22.15% | | (2.52)% | | 11.72% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.25% | | 0.44% | | 0.69% | | 0.99% | | 1.15% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.81% | | 0.86% | | 0.86% | | 0.86% | | 0.87% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 41% | | 49% | | 26% | | 43% | | 34% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 1,129,151 | | $ 982,863 | | $ 752,670 | | $ 592,673 | | $ 565,974 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class 2 | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 18.00 | | $ 13.47 | | $ 12.21 | | $ 13.18 | | $ 12.18 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.03 | | 0.05 | | 0.08 | | 0.12 | | 0.14 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.53 | | 4.70 | | 2.53 | | (0.40) | | 1.26 |
Total from investment operations | 1.56 | | 4.75 | | 2.61 | | (0.28) | | 1.40 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.15) | | (0.06) | | (0.15) | | (0.18) | | (0.18) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.93) | | (0.16) | | (1.20) | | (0.51) | | (0.22) |
Total distributions | (1.08) | | (0.22) | | (1.35) | | (0.69) | | (0.40) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 18.48 | | $ 18.00 | | $ 13.47 | | $ 12.21 | | $ 13.18 |
Total investment return (b) | 8.87% | | 35.57% | | 22.03% | | (2.59)% | | 11.60% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.16% | | 0.32% | | 0.56% | | 0.88% | | 1.05% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.91% | | 0.96% | | 0.96% | | 0.96% | | 0.97% |
Portfolio turnover rate | $ 41% | | $ 49% | | $ 26% | | $ 43% | | $ 34% |
Net assets at end of year(in 000's) | $ 9,275 | | $ 8,196 | | $ 6,555 | | $ 3,016 | | $ 2,179 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Service 2 Class shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by participating insurance companies. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | October 1, 1996 |
Service Class | June 5, 2003 |
Service 2 Class | April 26, 2016 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, each of Service Class and Service 2 Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to such Class's shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class and Service 2 Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek capital appreciation together with current income.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
22 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The
Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Certain convertible preferred stocks may be valued utilizing evaluated prices based on market inputs obtained from the pricing vendor and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an
uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income, if any, at least quarterly and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method. Premium associated with the conversion feature on a convertible bond is not amortized.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans and shareholder service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class and Service 2 Class shares, as applicable) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
24 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(H) Debt and Convertible Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Convertible securities may be subordinate to other securities. In part, the total return for a convertible security depends upon the performance of the underlying stock into which it can be converted. Also, issuers of
convertible securities are often not as strong financially as those issuing securities with higher credit ratings, are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and typically are more vulnerable to changes in the economy, such as a recession or a sustained period of rising interest rates, which could affect their ability to make interest and principal payments.
(I) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.60% up to $500 million; 0.55% from $500 million to $1 billion; 0.50% from $1 billion to $2 billion; and 0.49% in excess of $2 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.54%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $10,582,187 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $5,292,768.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution, Service and Shareholder Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and
administrative support services to the Service Class and Service 2 Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class and Service 2 Class shares of the Portfolio.
The Board has adopted a shareholder services plan (the “Service Plan”) with respect to the Service 2 Class shares of the Portfolio. Under the terms of the Services Plan, the Portfolio is authorized to pay to New York Life Investments, its affiliates or independent third-party service providers, as compensation for services rendered to shareholders of the Service 2 Class shares, in connection with the administration of plans or programs that use Portfolio shares as their funding medium a shareholder servicing fee at the rate of 0.10% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Service 2 Class shares.
(C) Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent. NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments, serves as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for Service Class and Service 2 Class shares of the Portfolio. NYLIM Service Company LLC has entered into an agreement with DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.(“DST”), pursuant to which DST performs certain transfer agent services on behalf of NYLIM Service Company LLC. During the year ended December 31, 2021, all associated fees were paid by the Manager.
(D) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 163,347 | $ 823,275 | $ (887,832) | $ — | $ — | $ 98,790 | $ 16 | $ — | 98,790 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $1,944,242,530 | $299,015,043 | $(65,194,620) | $233,820,423 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$68,670,806 | $174,993,758 | $(363,171) | $233,820,423 | $477,121,816 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to cumulative convertible bond adjustment, wash sale adjustments, and contingent payment debt instruments (“CPDI”). The other temporary differences are primarily due to interest accruals on defaulted securities.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $ 38,710,804 | $ 5,745,857 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 80,758,158 | 10,300,909 |
Total | $119,468,962 | $16,046,766 |
26 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $3,989 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $1,360,716 and $728,685, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 28,905,024 | $ 539,730,987 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,990,672 | 55,054,387 |
Shares redeemed | (1,606,291) | (30,266,824) |
Net increase (decrease) | 30,289,405 | $ 564,518,550 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 10,584,369 | $ 189,502,221 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 209,351 | 3,134,899 |
Shares redeemed | (5,252,451) | (69,916,218) |
Net increase (decrease) | 5,541,269 | $ 122,720,902 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 10,612,726 | $ 197,997,196 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 3,510,792 | 63,916,632 |
Shares redeemed | (7,643,368) | (142,139,912) |
Net increase (decrease) | 6,480,150 | $ 119,773,916 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 10,432,501 | $ 151,830,845 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 853,201 | 12,798,176 |
Shares redeemed | (12,539,552) | (175,639,923) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,253,850) | $ (11,010,902) |
|
Service 2 Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 235,940 | $ 4,394,105 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 27,351 | 497,943 |
Shares redeemed | (216,834) | (4,066,149) |
Net increase (decrease) | 46,457 | $ 825,899 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 456,713 | $ 6,630,427 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 7,438 | 113,691 |
Shares redeemed | (495,342) | (6,792,628) |
Net increase (decrease) | (31,191) | $ (48,510) |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Fund's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and transfer agents. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or MacKay that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and MacKay personnel. In
addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and MacKay; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio manager of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and MacKay; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and MacKay. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
30 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Investments and MacKay resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of MacKay, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of MacKay and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated MacKay’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay and New York Life Investments’ and MacKay’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed MacKay’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio manager, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the method for compensating the portfolio manager.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to MacKay as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or MacKay had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including MacKay, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and MacKay must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and MacKay to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board
recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the
32 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to MacKay is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Additionally, the Board noted that NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments, serves as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Service Class and Service 2 Class Shares of the Portfolio but that the Service Class and Service 2 Class Shares do not incur any fees for these services.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
34 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
36 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
38 | MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio |
MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI512
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
(formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Growth Portfolio)
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1, 2, 3 | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio4 |
Initial Class Shares | 1/29/1993 | 19.75% | 20.80% | 15.24% | 0.73% |
Service Class Shares | 6/5/2003 | 19.45 | 20.50 | 14.96 | 0.98 |
1. | Effective January 11, 2013 and July 29, 2016, the Portfolio modified its principal investment strategies in connection with changes in the Portfolio’s Subadvisor. The past performance in the graph and table reflect the Subadvisors and strategies in place during their respective time periods. |
2. | Effective January 1, 2018 due to an organizational restructuring, all investment personnel of Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings LLC, the former subadvisor, transitioned to MacKay Shields LLC, a former subadvisor. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
3. | Effective May 1, 2021, the Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment strategies. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio's prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
4. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Russell 1000® Growth Index1 | 27.60% | 25.32% | 19.79% |
Morningstar Large Growth Category Average2 | 20.49 | 21.76 | 17.12 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Russell 1000® Growth Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The Russell 1000® Growth Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the large-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Large Growth Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in big U.S. companies that are projected to grow faster than other large-cap stocks. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap. Growth is defined based on fast growth and high valuations. Most of these funds focus on companies in rapidly expanding industries. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,053.30 | $3.73 | $1,021.58 | $3.67 | 0.72% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,052.00 | $5.02 | $1,020.32 | $4.94 | 0.97% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Software | 23.9% |
Interactive Media & Services | 12.8 |
IT Services | 11.9 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 8.6 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 8.4 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 4.6 |
Capital Markets | 3.8 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 3.6 |
Professional Services | 2.7 |
Beverages | 2.3 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 2.0 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 1.9 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 1.7 |
Automobiles | 1.5 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 1.4 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 1.2 |
Aerospace & Defense | 1.1% |
Pharmaceuticals | 0.9 |
Biotechnology | 0.9 |
Insurance | 0.8 |
Entertainment | 0.7 |
Road & Rail | 0.7 |
Consumer Finance | 0.5 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts | 0.5 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 0.4 |
Specialty Retail | 0.3 |
Machinery | 0.2 |
Media | 0.1 |
Short–Term Investments | 0.9 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –0.3 |
| 100.0% |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Microsoft Corp. |
2. | Apple, Inc. |
3. | Alphabet, Inc., Class C |
4. | Amazon.com, Inc. |
5. | Mastercard, Inc., Class A |
6. | Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A |
7. | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. |
8. | NVIDIA Corp. |
9. | salesforce.com, Inc. |
10. | Adobe, Inc. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Migene Kim, CFA, and Mona Patni of MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields”), the Portfolio’s former Subadvisor and Andrew J. Shilling, CFA, of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington”), the Portfolio’s current Subadvisor .
How did MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio returned 19.75% for Initial Class shares and 19.45% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 27.60% return of the Russell 1000® Growth Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark, and the 20.49% return of the Morningstar Large Growth Category Average.1
Were there any changes to the Portfolio during the reporting period?
At meetings held on January 21, January 25 and February 3, 2021, the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust considered and approved, among other related proposals: (i) appointing Wellington Management Company LLP as the Portfolio’s subadvisor, and the related subadvisory agreement; (ii) changing the Portfolio’s name; and (iii) modifying the Portfolio’s principal investment strategies and investment process. These changes became effective on May 1, 2021. For more information on these and other changes refer to the supplement dated February 5, 2021.
In the process of implementing the new principal investment strategies and investment process, the Portfolio may have experienced a high level of portfolio turnover. Also during this transition period, the Portfolio may not have been pursuing its investment objective or may not have been managed consistent with its investment strategies as stated in the Prospectus. This may have impacted the Portfolio’s performance.
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio outperformed the Index, helped by strong stock selection, most notably among consumer discretionary and health care issues. Sector allocation effect also made a positive contribution to relative returns due to the Portfolio’s underweight exposure to consumer staples and overweight exposure to communication services. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) In terms of stock-selection model efficacy, the combination of signals used by the Portfolio’s quantitative stock selection model was rewarded primarily by valuation measures.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio underperformed the Index primarily due to security selection, with many of the most notable detractors coming from the information
technology and consumer discretionary sectors. The weakness in information technology came, in large part, from overweight exposure to the payment industry. Payment company stocks experienced broad weakness related to the impact of the pandemic on travel and consumer spending. In addition, a record number of new initial public offerings in the fintech space created the perception of emerging competitive threats to the legacy payment companies we tended to favor. The Portfolio maintained significantly overweight exposure to payment company stocks, which we regard as high-quality businesses characterized by extremely attractive valuations and positive growth within the industry. The Portfolio’s underperformance in the consumer discretionary sector was largely driven by underweight exposure to electric vehicle maker Tesla. While we appreciate the incredible progress the company has made over the past couple of years, we struggle with the stock’s valuation, even over a long-term horizon.
Sector allocation, a result of our bottom-up stock selection, did not have a meaningful impact on relative performance during the time Wellington managed the Portfolio.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index were the health care, consumer discretionary and information technology sectors. During the same period, the most significant detractors from relative performance were the real estate, communication services and energy sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, security selection in the industrials and utilities sectors made modestly positive contributions to performance relative to the Index. The sectors that detracted most significantly from relative performance were information technology, consumer discretionary and consumer staples. From a sector allocation perspective, the Portfolio’s overweight allocation to communication services weighed on results. This negative allocation effect was partially offset by the Portfolio’s overweight exposure to information technology and underweight exposure to consumer discretionary.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
MacKay Shields
The stocks providing the strongest positive contributions to the
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Portfolio’s absolute performance during the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio included shares in systems software company Microsoft and interactive media & services provider Alphabet. During the same period, the most significant detractors from absolute returns were wireless technology company Qualcomm, interactive home entertainment developer Take-Two Interactive Software, and athletic footwear & apparel firm Nike.
Wellington
The strongest positive contributors to absolute performance during the time Wellington managed the Portfolio were holdings in enterprise software company Microsoft, consumer electronics maker Apple, and semiconductor chip manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices. Shares of Microsoft rose when technology stocks rebounded following weakness in May 2021, when hawkish comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve prompted a market rotation away from cyclically sensitive value stocks and into growth stocks. Apple shares advanced after the company was granted a stay from a U.S. appeals court which prevented the company from being forced to allow payments outside of the company's app store, a change ordered by a federal judge as part of the company's antitrust battle with Epic Games. Additionally, Apple announced that it was accelerating plans to build a self-driving car and could unveil its debut model as early as 2025. Advanced Micro Devices stock gained ground after the company reported strong quarterly results and noted that it continues to see share gains in servers and personal computers. Interestingly, the company does not appear to have experienced the headwinds cited by key competitors. Instead, management described strong visibility for future market share gains in the server market.
The most significant detractors from absolute performance during the time Wellington managed the Portfolio were financial technology company Global Payments, online payment system company PayPal and payment processing provider Fidelity National Information Services (FIS). Shares of Global Payments lost ground despite posting strong quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. Rather than reward this positive news, market participants appeared more focused on increasing competition in the space, while also reacting skeptically to two acquisitions announced by the company. Shares of PayPal declined after the company reduced its revenue guidance based on global supply chain shortages. Investors started turning bearish on the stock in October 2021, when PayPal was in late-stage talks to acquire Pinterest, although the mobile payments leader later backed away from the deal. Shares of FIS fell during the reporting period after the company lowered profit projections for the year.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
The Portfolio’s largest initial purchase during the time MacKay
Shields managed the Portfolio was in auto parts and equipment retailer O'Reilly Automotive, while the largest increase in position size was in Microsoft (described above). The Portfolio's largest full sale was in information technology services provider DXC Technology, while its most significantly reduced position size was in social media platform Facebook.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, electric vehicle maker Tesla, mentioned earlier, was a notable addition to the portfolio. The Portfolio has historically not owned Tesla, a large benchmark constituent, for a variety of reasons, including operational and financing challenges in 2020 and an extended valuation over the past year based on incredible performance. However, we are incrementally more positive on the company given the recent infrastructure bill which should provide a positive boost for electric vehicle adoption. Additionally, we acknowledge that we previously underappreciated the significant lead Tesla has on legacy original equipment manufacturers and think they will retain this lead for some time. While we remain mindful of valuation, we made the decision to reduce the size of the Portfolio’s underweight position.
By contrast, two notable eliminations included off-price apparel and home fashions retailer The TJX Companies and online sports betting company DraftKings. In our opinion, shares in The TJX Companies no longer offered compelling risk-adjusted upside due to supply side constraints, which caused inventory tightness and put pressure on margins. In the case of DraftKings, we grew incrementally concerned around news of a proposed acquisition by the company, later cancelled, which raised doubts for us regarding its strategic vision.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the largest increases in sector exposures relative to the Index were in the health care and financials sectors. Conversely, the Portfolio's largest reductions in relative sector exposures were in the information technology and communication services sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the most notable increases in absolute sector exposures were in health care and information technology, both of which represented overweight positions relative to the Index at the end of the reporting period. Notable reductions in the Portfolio’s absolute sector exposures included consumer discretionary and industrials. Industrials remained slightly overweight at the end of the reporting period, while consumer discretionary represented the Portfolio’s largest underweight.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held its most overweight exposures to information technology (particularly payments and software) and financials (particularly capital markets and insurance). As of the same date, the Portfolio’s most significantly underweight positions were in the consumer discretionary and consumer staples sectors.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
10 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 99.4% |
Aerospace & Defense 1.1% |
Airbus SE, ADR (a) | 119,410 | $ 3,810,373 |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | 12,654 | 4,897,984 |
| | 8,708,357 |
Automobiles 1.5% |
Rivian Automotive, Inc., Class A (a)(b) | 31,186 | 3,233,676 |
Tesla, Inc. (a) | 7,961 | 8,413,026 |
| | 11,646,702 |
Beverages 2.3% |
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A | 56,467 | 14,171,523 |
Monster Beverage Corp. (a) | 39,334 | 3,777,637 |
| | 17,949,160 |
Biotechnology 0.9% |
Seagen, Inc. (a) | 43,770 | 6,766,842 |
Capital Markets 3.8% |
Blackstone, Inc. | 58,974 | 7,630,646 |
Coinbase Global, Inc., Class A (a) | 18,665 | 4,710,486 |
MarketAxess Holdings, Inc. | 17,303 | 7,116,204 |
S&P Global, Inc. | 20,145 | 9,507,030 |
| | 28,964,366 |
Commercial Services & Supplies 1.4% |
Copart, Inc. (a) | 70,790 | 10,733,180 |
Consumer Finance 0.5% |
American Express Co. | 22,609 | 3,698,832 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.4% |
CDW Corp. | 16,362 | 3,350,610 |
Entertainment 0.7% |
ROBLOX Corp., Class A (a) | 27,465 | 2,833,290 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) (a) | 18,461 | 2,859,424 |
| | 5,692,714 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.5% |
Equinix, Inc. | 4,018 | 3,398,585 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.6% |
ABIOMED, Inc. (a) | 28,477 | 10,228,084 |
Align Technology, Inc. (a) | 12,589 | 8,273,239 |
Boston Scientific Corp. (a) | 221,918 | 9,427,077 |
| | 27,928,400 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Health Care Providers & Services 1.9% |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 29,278 | $ 14,701,655 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.0% |
Airbnb, Inc., Class A (a) | 67,588 | 11,252,726 |
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (a) | 27,735 | 4,326,383 |
| | 15,579,109 |
Insurance 0.8% |
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | 36,085 | 6,272,295 |
Interactive Media & Services 12.8% |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (a) | 18,103 | 52,382,660 |
Match Group, Inc. (a) | 40,864 | 5,404,264 |
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A (a) | 66,723 | 22,442,281 |
Snap, Inc., Class A (a) | 120,646 | 5,673,981 |
ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc., Class A (a) | 199,871 | 12,831,718 |
| | 98,734,904 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 4.6% |
Amazon.com, Inc. (a) | 10,699 | 35,674,104 |
IT Services 11.9% |
Affirm Holdings, Inc. (a) | 23,368 | 2,349,886 |
Block, Inc., Class A (a) | 41,773 | 6,746,758 |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | 109,647 | 11,967,970 |
FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a) | 46,024 | 10,302,012 |
Global Payments, Inc. | 87,445 | 11,820,815 |
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 70,819 | 25,446,683 |
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (a) | 38,472 | 7,255,050 |
Shopify, Inc., Class A (a) | 3,490 | 4,807,091 |
Snowflake, Inc., Class A (a) | 19,216 | 6,509,420 |
Visa, Inc., Class A | 22,162 | 4,802,727 |
| | 92,008,412 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 1.7% |
Illumina, Inc. (a) | 23,317 | 8,870,719 |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | 2,432 | 4,127,615 |
| | 12,998,334 |
Machinery 0.2% |
IDEX Corp. | 7,715 | 1,823,209 |
Media 0.1% |
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The) | 7,626 | 285,594 |
Pharmaceuticals 0.9% |
Zoetis, Inc. | 28,309 | 6,908,245 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Professional Services 2.7% |
IHS Markit Ltd. | 47,867 | $ 6,362,481 |
Legalzoom.com, Inc. (a)(b) | 10,553 | 169,587 |
TransUnion | 120,960 | 14,343,437 |
| | 20,875,505 |
Road & Rail 0.7% |
Uber Technologies, Inc. (a) | 135,555 | 5,683,821 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 8.4% |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a) | 150,096 | 21,598,814 |
Marvell Technology, Inc. | 106,492 | 9,316,985 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. | 136,346 | 11,870,283 |
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 5,800 | 2,861,314 |
NVIDIA Corp. | 65,778 | 19,345,968 |
| | 64,993,364 |
Software 23.9% |
Adobe, Inc. (a) | 27,625 | 15,665,032 |
Autodesk, Inc. (a) | 39,089 | 10,991,436 |
Avalara, Inc. (a) | 56,808 | 7,334,481 |
Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc. (a) | 68,298 | 7,134,409 |
DocuSign, Inc. (a) | 13,938 | 2,122,897 |
HashiCorp, Inc., Class A (a) | 4,617 | 420,332 |
Intuit, Inc. | 15,192 | 9,771,798 |
Microsoft Corp. | 214,588 | 72,170,235 |
nCino, Inc. (a) | 94,712 | 5,195,900 |
Qualtrics International, Inc., Class A (a) | 10,623 | 376,054 |
RingCentral, Inc., Class A (a) | 30,161 | 5,650,663 |
salesforce.com, Inc. (a) | 63,758 | 16,202,820 |
SentinelOne, Inc., Class A (a) | 28,422 | 1,435,027 |
ServiceNow, Inc. (a) | 19,060 | 12,372,037 |
UiPath, Inc., Class A (a)(b) | 169,459 | 7,308,767 |
Workday, Inc., Class A (a) | 39,420 | 10,768,756 |
| | 184,920,644 |
Specialty Retail 0.3% |
Burlington Stores, Inc. (a) | 7,980 | 2,326,250 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 8.6% |
Apple, Inc. | 375,191 | 66,622,666 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 1.2% |
Lululemon Athletica, Inc. (a) | 23,693 | | $ 9,274,625 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $619,293,737) | | | 768,520,484 |
Short-Term Investments 0.9% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.8% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (c) | 6,653,783 | | 6,653,783 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 0.1% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, 0.025% (c)(d) | 100,000 | | 100,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (c)(d) | 457,905 | | 457,905 |
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies (Cost $557,905) | | | 557,905 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $7,211,688) | | | 7,211,688 |
Total Investments (Cost $626,505,425) | 100.3% | | 775,732,172 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (0.3) | | (2,227,592) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 773,504,580 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $4,262,229; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $4,386,419. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $3,828,514. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $557,905. (See Note 2(G)) |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 768,520,484 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 768,520,484 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 6,653,783 | | — | | — | | 6,653,783 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 557,905 | | — | | — | | 557,905 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 7,211,688 | | — | | — | | 7,211,688 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 775,732,172 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 775,732,172 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $619,851,642) including securities on loan of $4,262,229 | $769,078,389 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $6,653,783) | 6,653,783 |
Due from custodian | 25,812 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 11,383 |
Portfolio shares sold | 1,121 |
Securities lending | 1,051 |
Other assets | 3,066 |
Total assets | 775,774,605 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 557,905 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 885,999 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 441,677 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 286,616 |
Shareholder communication | 35,243 |
Professional fees | 32,299 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 12,047 |
Custodian | 7,078 |
Trustees | 420 |
Accrued expenses | 10,741 |
Total liabilities | 2,270,025 |
Net assets | $773,504,580 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 19,320 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 441,191,656 |
| 441,210,976 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 332,293,604 |
Net assets | $773,504,580 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $716,521,373 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 17,873,386 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 40.09 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 56,983,207 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 1,446,785 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 39.39 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated | $ 3,077,699 |
Securities lending | 13,481 |
Dividends-affiliated | 434 |
Total income | 3,091,614 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 4,837,404 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 145,322 |
Professional fees | 121,699 |
Shareholder communication | 101,538 |
Custodian | 25,872 |
Trustees | 14,105 |
Miscellaneous | 35,101 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 5,281,041 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (48,499) |
Net expenses | 5,232,542 |
Net investment income (loss) | (2,140,928) |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments(a) | 187,628,438 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments | (60,913,826) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 126,714,612 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $124,573,684 |
(a) | Includes transition cost of $16,469. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ (2,140,928) | $ 2,215,651 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 187,628,438 | 103,480,396 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (60,913,826) | 78,489,040 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 124,573,684 | 184,185,087 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (97,692,566) | (59,754,524) |
Service Class | (8,338,204) | (5,072,008) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (106,030,770) | (64,826,532) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 81,855,689 | 8,061,237 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 106,030,770 | 64,826,532 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (81,116,553) | (252,257,221) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 106,769,906 | (179,369,452) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 125,312,820 | (60,010,897) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 648,191,760 | 708,202,657 |
End of year | $ 773,504,580 | $ 648,191,760 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 39.15 | | $ 32.64 | | $ 27.74 | | $ 30.87 | | $ 23.90 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | (0.12) | | 0.12 | | 0.18 | | 0.19 | | 0.19 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 7.70 | | 10.08 | | 7.77 | | (1.10) | | 7.05 |
Total from investment operations | 7.58 | | 10.20 | | 7.95 | | (0.91) | | 7.24 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.15) | | (0.21) | | (0.19) | | (0.21) | | (0.07) |
From net realized gain on investments | (6.49) | | (3.48) | | (2.86) | | (2.01) | | (0.20) |
Total distributions | (6.64) | | (3.69) | | (3.05) | | (2.22) | | (0.27) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 40.09 | | $ 39.15 | | $ 32.64 | | $ 27.74 | | $ 30.87 |
Total investment return (b) | 19.75% | | 32.30% | | 30.01% | | (4.24)% | | 30.41% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | (0.28)% | | 0.35% | | 0.56% | | 0.60% | | 0.71% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.72% | | 0.73% | | 0.72% | | 0.73% | | 0.74% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.73% | | 0.73% | | 0.72% | | 0.73% | | 0.74% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 48% | | 144% | | 156% | | 127% | | 141% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 716,521 | | $ 590,841 | | $ 652,081 | | $ 461,537 | | $ 525,483 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 38.57 | | $ 32.19 | | $ 27.38 | | $ 30.50 | | $ 23.62 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | (0.22) | | 0.04 | | 0.10 | | 0.11 | | 0.12 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 7.57 | | 9.93 | | 7.66 | | (1.10) | | 6.97 |
Total from investment operations | 7.35 | | 9.97 | | 7.76 | | (0.99) | | 7.09 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.04) | | (0.11) | | (0.09) | | (0.12) | | (0.01) |
From net realized gain on investments | (6.49) | | (3.48) | | (2.86) | | (2.01) | | (0.20) |
Total distributions | (6.53) | | (3.59) | | (2.95) | | (2.13) | | (0.21) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 39.39 | | $ 38.57 | | $ 32.19 | | $ 27.38 | | $ 30.50 |
Total investment return (b) | 19.45% | | 31.97% | | 29.69% | | (4.48)% | | 30.09% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | (0.53)% | | 0.11% | | 0.32% | | 0.35% | | 0.46% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.97% | | 0.98% | | 0.97% | | 0.98% | | 0.99% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.98% | | 0.98% | | 0.97% | | 0.98% | | 0.99% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 48% | | 144% | | 156% | | 127% | | 141% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 56,983 | | $ 57,351 | | $ 56,122 | | $ 51,674 | | $ 66,735 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Growth Portfolio) (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | January 29, 1993 |
Service Class | June 5, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
18 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to
calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned
20 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(H) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. The Portfolio’s subadvisor changed effective May 1, 2021, due to the replacement of MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields") as the Portfolio’s subadvisor and the appointment of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington” or the “Subadvisor”) as the Portfolio’s subadvisor. Wellington, a registered investment adviser, is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and Wellington, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.70% up to $500 million; 0.65% from $500 million to $1 billion; 0.625% from $1 billion to $2 billion; and 0.60% in excess of $2 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.69%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $4,837,404 and voluntarily waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $48,499 and paid MacKay Shields and Wellington fees of $738,905 and $1,385,915, respectively.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 32 | $ 175,953 | $ (169,331) | $ — | $ — | $ 6,654 | $ —(a) | $ — | 6,654 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $627,181,333 | $179,974,742 | $(31,423,903) | $148,550,839 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$50,638,555 | $133,104,210 | $148,550,839 | $332,293,604 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $ 16,747,990 | $21,811,757 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 89,282,780 | 43,014,775 |
Total | $106,030,770 | $64,826,532 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian
fees which totaled $3,802 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
22 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $332,865 and $332,249, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 1,949,803 | $ 81,230,189 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,496,099 | 97,692,566 |
Shares redeemed | (1,662,755) | (69,745,620) |
Net increase (decrease) | 2,783,147 | $ 109,177,135 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 270,749 | $ 7,421,176 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,663,929 | 59,754,524 |
Shares redeemed | (6,824,924) | (238,125,894) |
Net increase (decrease) | (4,890,246) | $(170,950,194) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 15,229 | $ 625,500 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 216,720 | 8,338,204 |
Shares redeemed | (272,037) | (11,370,933) |
Net increase (decrease) | (40,088) | $ (2,407,229) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 19,462 | $ 640,061 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 143,286 | 5,072,008 |
Shares redeemed | (419,134) | (14,131,327) |
Net increase (decrease) | (256,386) | $ (8,419,258) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Growth Portfolio)
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
24 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of the Management Agreement for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management fee and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of the Management Agreement. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of the Management Agreement reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio
turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio manager of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio and New York Life Investments; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments with respect to its relationship with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments. The Board’s decision with respect to the Management Agreement may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of the Management Agreement in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of the Management Agreement. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and performance in serving as investment adviser to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and New York Life Investments’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at New York Life Investments and New York Life Investments’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and acknowledged New York Life Investments’ commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed New York Life Investments’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio manager, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the method for compensating the portfolio manager.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments regarding the operations of its business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the
26 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolio, the Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the three- and ten-year periods ended July 31, 2021, and performed in line with its peer funds for the one- and five-year periods ended July 31, 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments regarding the Portfolio’s investment performance and the Board’s approval to terminate the previous subadvisor, approve a new subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and Wellington Management Company LLP with respect to the Portfolio and reposition the Portfolio, effective May 1, 2021.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under the Management Agreement. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and acknowledged that New York Life Investments must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs
among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Management Fee and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under the Management Agreement and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
28 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
30 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
32 | MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI513
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1 | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio2 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/1/1998 | 22.89% | 11.41% | 11.01% | 0.73% |
Service Class Shares | 6/5/2003 | 22.58 | 11.14 | 10.73 | 0.98 |
1. | Effective January 9, 2017, the Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment as of March 13, 2017. The past performance in the graph and table prior to those dates reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
2. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Russell 1000® Value Index1 | 25.16% | 11.16% | 12.97% |
U.S. Equity Yield Composite Index2 | 20.73 | 12.24 | 12.53 |
Morningstar Large Value Category Average3 | 26.08 | 11.41 | 12.06 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Portfolio has selected the Russell 1000® Value Index as its primary benchmark. The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of the large-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower expected growth values. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Portfolio has selected the U.S. Equity Yield Composite Index as its secondary benchmark. The U.S. Equity Yield Composite Index consists of the MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index and the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) Index weighted at 60% and 40%, respectively. The MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index is based on the MSCI USA Index and includes large and mid-cap stocks. The MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index is designed to reflect the performance of equities in the MSCI USA Index (excluding real estate investment trusts) with higher dividend income and quality characteristics than average dividend yields that are both sustainable and persistent. The MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) Index aims to reflect the performance characteristics of a minimum variance strategy applied to the large and mid-cap USA equity universe. The MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) Index is calculated by optimizing the MSCI USA Index in USD for the lowest absolute risk (within a given set of constraints). Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Morningstar Large Value Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in big U.S. companies that are less expensive or growing more slowly than other large-cap stocks. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,082.50 | $3.57 | $1,021.78 | $3.47 | 0.68% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,081.10 | $4.88 | $1,020.52 | $4.74 | 0.93% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Banks | 7.3% |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 6.9 |
Pharmaceuticals | 6.0 |
Electric Utilities | 5.6 |
Insurance | 5.1 |
Chemicals | 5.0 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts | 4.3 |
Electrical Equipment | 4.1 |
Capital Markets | 4.0 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 3.9 |
Biotechnology | 3.3 |
Multi–Utilities | 3.2 |
Beverages | 2.9 |
Household Products | 2.9 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 2.8 |
Tobacco | 2.6 |
IT Services | 2.5 |
Aerospace & Defense | 2.4 |
Media | 2.2 |
Communications Equipment | 1.7 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 1.7 |
Specialty Retail | 1.7% |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 1.5 |
Software | 1.5 |
Food & Staples Retailing | 1.4 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 1.3 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 1.3 |
Consumer Finance | 1.2 |
Leisure Products | 1.2 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 1.1 |
Trading Companies & Distributors | 1.1 |
Multiline Retail | 1.0 |
Industrial Conglomerates | 1.0 |
Air Freight & Logistics | 0.9 |
Containers & Packaging | 0.9 |
Machinery | 0.7 |
Household Durables | 0.5 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 0.5 |
Short–Term Investments | 2.3 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –1.5 |
| 100.0% |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Broadcom, Inc. |
2. | AbbVie, Inc. |
3. | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
4. | MetLife, Inc. |
5. | Johnson & Johnson |
6. | Merck & Co., Inc. |
7. | Emerson Electric Co. |
8. | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. |
9. | Cisco Systems, Inc. |
10. | Bank of America Corp. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Michael A. Welhoelter, CFA, William W. Priest, CFA, John M. Tobin, PhD, CFA, and Kera Van Valen, CFA, of Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (“Epoch”), the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio returned 22.89% for Initial Class shares and 22.58% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 25.16% return of the Russell 1000® Value Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and outperformed the 20.73% return of the U.S. Equity Yield Composite Index, which is the Portfolio’s secondary benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes underperformed the 26.08% return of the Morningstar Large Value Category Average.1
During the reporting period, were there any market events that materially impacted the Portfolio’s performance or liquidity?
The pace of global economic growth, interest rates, inflation and the spread of COVID-19 variants remained intertwined and dominated headlines throughout the year. Inflation proved to be more persistent and higher prices threatened to pressure profit margins, nudge bond yields upward and force central banks to be less accommodative sooner than expected. Despite these dynamic challenges, market participation was broader than during the prior year and many businesses across sectors and industries proved to be resilient. The continued resumption of dividend growth and share repurchases (which we had anticipated) was a positive development for the Portfolio, as businesses experienced strong demand and produced robust earnings throughout the period. The Portfolio delivered very strong absolute returns, performing in line with expectations, given the volatile and evolving market landscape.
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s performance lagged that of the Russell 1000® Value Index primarily due to the Portfolio’s tilt in favor of dividend yield, along with an underweight exposure to value. Nevertheless, the Portfolio successfully provided downside protection during market dips and captured significant upside participation during a year in which the Index posted outsized returns.
The first half of 2021 was characterized by a powerful market rally, driven by vaccine and economic recovery optimism. The Index produced exceptionally strong returns, and while the Portfolio kept pace for much of the rally, it lagged the benchmark. Markets continued moving upward in July and August, advancing first on optimism driven by strong corporate earnings, and hitting record highs in August as investors were further encouraged by dovish Fed comments on inflation. However, September brought an abrupt shift in investor sentiment, with stocks declining on
growing concerns about the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, global supply chain issues, and indications that inflation might prove less transitory than initially believed. The Portfolio had negative absolute returns for the quarter, but provided downside protection, finishing ahead of the Index. Markets charged upward in October as investors focused on the strength of earnings and temporarily put aside inflation concerns. The Index and the Portfolio rose again in early November until stalled by increasingly hawkish signaling from the Fed and the emergence of the Omicron variant of the virus. Volatility persisted into early December, but markets shook off concerns and equities rallied into year end, touching new highs. The Portfolio outpaced the benchmark during the closing quarter of the year.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
During the reporting period, the strongest positive sector contributions to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Russell 1000® Value Index came from information technology, driven by favorable stock selection. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Communication services also contributed positively, due to an underweight allocation, followed by industrials. Conversely, financials provided the weakest contribution to the Portfolio’s relative performance due to a mix of stock selection and an underweight allocation. Energy was the next most significant detractor, driven primarily by stock selection, followed by consumer staples, which underperformed due to a mix of stock selection and allocation.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
The strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance came from positions in data and records management company Iron Mountain, fertilizer provider Nutrien and global software company Microsoft. Iron Mountain shares rose in response to favorable earnings reports, with management twice raising guidance for full-year 2021 results. The company benefited from economic reopening with more businesses returning to on-site working, the continued development of the data center segment which saw increased leasing activity and good expense performance. Nutrien shares moved to record highs as a result of strong demand, tight supply, logistical issues and geopolitical tensions. Fundamentals in the agriculture sector recovered and improved, with higher crop prices supporting farmer income and lifting prices for key crop nutrients like potash. Microsoft outperformed on strong demand across its product portfolio, including growth in Azure, its cloud service offering, recurring subscription services and productivity solutions.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
The most significant detractors from the Portfolio’s absolute returns were Las Vegas Sands, Medtronic, and Verizon. Las Vegas Sands is the world's largest casino developer, owner and operator. Shares underperformed as visitation trends stalled in the second quarter, caused by pandemic-related travel restrictions in Macao and Singapore. Shares were further undermined by subsequent comments from a local government official that Macao planned to increase direct supervision of gambling companies. Medical device company Medtronic faced headwinds stemming from a slowdown in the recovery of elective procedure volumes due to COVID-19 resurgences and nursing shortages, as well as pipeline setbacks that could delay an acceleration in the company's organic growth rate. Shares of telecommunications provider Verizon underperformed on a more competitive environment, worries regarding total market customer growth for 2022, and a spectrum auction that far exceeded initial expectations.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The Portfolio initiated multiple positions during the reporting period, including Ally Financial and Hubbell. In our opinion, financial services company Ally is well positioned to continue to grow its loan portfolio and expand its product offering in an environment of rapidly evolving U.S. consumer banking trends. Ally pays an attractive and growing dividend, and conducts ongoing share repurchases that have historically exceeded the dividend. We believe electrical equipment company Hubbell has attractive cash flow growth drivers, including organic sales growth primarily influenced by exposure to clean energy secular growth trends. The company appears positioned to benefit from grid modernization and electrification, margin expansion from ongoing restructuring activities and productivity actions, working capital efficiency, and potential bolt-on acquisitions. Hubbell returns cash to shareholders through its growing and well-covered dividend, with a 45% earnings payout target and regular net share repurchases.
Several positions were closed during the reporting period, including Allianz and Phillips 66. While we consider financial services company Allianz a strong global franchise and expect earnings development and a robust regulatory capital position to continue supporting shareholder distributions, we elected to close this position to fund other shareholder yield opportunities among U.S.-domiciled candidates. Phillips 66, a midstream and downstream energy company, faced headwinds as refining margins saw pressures due to the high cost of renewable fuel credits that are expected to last. The Portfolio exited the name to fund better shareholder yield opportunities.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
The Portfolio's most significant sector allocation changes during the reporting period were increases in financials and real estate, and decreases in consumer staples and communication services. The Portfolio’s sector allocations are a result of our bottom-up fundamental investment process and reflect the companies and securities that we confidently believe can collect and distribute sustainable, growing shareholder yield.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held its most overweight allocations relative to the Russell 1000® Value Index in the utilities and information technology sectors. The Portfolio's most underweight allocations were in the health care and communications services sectors.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 99.2% |
Aerospace & Defense 2.4% |
General Dynamics Corp. | 34,434 | $ 7,178,456 |
Lockheed Martin Corp. | 23,458 | 8,337,208 |
Raytheon Technologies Corp. | 126,146 | 10,856,125 |
| | 26,371,789 |
Air Freight & Logistics 0.9% |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 49,002 | 10,503,089 |
Banks 7.3% |
Bank of America Corp. | 425,704 | 18,939,571 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 130,606 | 20,681,460 |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | 60,109 | 12,053,057 |
Truist Financial Corp. | 288,858 | 16,912,636 |
U.S. Bancorp | 214,307 | 12,037,624 |
| | 80,624,348 |
Beverages 2.9% |
Coca-Cola Co. (The) | 193,097 | 11,433,273 |
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc | 171,888 | 9,613,696 |
PepsiCo, Inc. | 65,472 | 11,373,141 |
| | 32,420,110 |
Biotechnology 3.3% |
AbbVie, Inc. | 169,079 | 22,893,296 |
Amgen, Inc. | 58,603 | 13,183,917 |
| | 36,077,213 |
Capital Markets 4.0% |
BlackRock, Inc. | 17,392 | 15,923,419 |
CME Group, Inc. | 37,745 | 8,623,223 |
Lazard Ltd., Class A | 289,195 | 12,617,578 |
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | 32,778 | 6,445,466 |
| | 43,609,686 |
Chemicals 5.0% |
Dow, Inc. | 195,014 | 11,061,194 |
Linde plc | 27,302 | 9,458,232 |
LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A | 93,368 | 8,611,331 |
Nutrien Ltd. (a) | 232,072 | 17,451,814 |
PPG Industries, Inc. | 48,743 | 8,405,243 |
| | 54,987,814 |
Commercial Services & Supplies 1.3% |
Republic Services, Inc. | 58,386 | 8,141,928 |
Waste Management, Inc. | 38,407 | 6,410,128 |
| | 14,552,056 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Communications Equipment 1.7% |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 299,259 | $ 18,964,043 |
Consumer Finance 1.2% |
Ally Financial, Inc. | 274,919 | 13,088,894 |
Containers & Packaging 0.9% |
Amcor plc | 810,516 | 9,734,297 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.5% |
AT&T, Inc. | 255,604 | 6,287,859 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 198,371 | 10,307,357 |
| | 16,595,216 |
Electric Utilities 5.6% |
Alliant Energy Corp. | 104,294 | 6,410,952 |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | 125,289 | 11,146,962 |
Duke Energy Corp. | 60,590 | 6,355,891 |
Entergy Corp. | 123,167 | 13,874,763 |
Evergy, Inc. | 134,755 | 9,245,541 |
Eversource Energy | 83,767 | 7,621,122 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 76,482 | 7,140,359 |
| | 61,795,590 |
Electrical Equipment 4.1% |
Eaton Corp. plc | 101,977 | 17,623,665 |
Emerson Electric Co. | 206,600 | 19,207,602 |
Hubbell, Inc. | 39,619 | 8,251,449 |
| | 45,082,716 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 4.3% |
American Tower Corp. | 28,805 | 8,425,463 |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | 282,101 | 14,762,345 |
Realty Income Corp. | 99,377 | 7,114,400 |
Welltower, Inc. | 71,412 | 6,125,007 |
WP Carey, Inc. | 137,065 | 11,246,183 |
| | 47,673,398 |
Food & Staples Retailing 1.4% |
Walmart, Inc. | 104,633 | 15,139,349 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 1.3% |
Medtronic plc | 138,178 | 14,294,514 |
Health Care Providers & Services 2.8% |
CVS Health Corp. | 118,200 | 12,193,512 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 38,088 | 19,125,508 |
| | 31,319,020 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.7% |
McDonald's Corp. | 44,035 | $ 11,804,463 |
Vail Resorts, Inc. | 21,196 | 6,950,168 |
| | 18,754,631 |
Household Durables 0.5% |
Leggett & Platt, Inc. | 147,668 | 6,078,015 |
Household Products 2.9% |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | 68,205 | 5,820,615 |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | 60,313 | 8,619,934 |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | 104,956 | 17,168,702 |
| | 31,609,251 |
Industrial Conglomerates 1.0% |
Honeywell International, Inc. | 53,328 | 11,119,421 |
Insurance 5.1% |
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | 110,254 | 18,706,796 |
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | 49,669 | 8,633,466 |
MetLife, Inc. | 323,478 | 20,214,140 |
Travelers Cos., Inc. (The) | 58,272 | 9,115,489 |
| | 56,669,891 |
IT Services 2.5% |
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | 28,143 | 6,939,501 |
International Business Machines Corp. | 103,342 | 13,812,692 |
Paychex, Inc. | 53,637 | 7,321,450 |
| | 28,073,643 |
Leisure Products 1.2% |
Hasbro, Inc. | 128,206 | 13,048,807 |
Machinery 0.7% |
Cummins, Inc. | 33,109 | 7,222,397 |
Media 2.2% |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 329,539 | 16,585,698 |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | 111,061 | 8,137,439 |
| | 24,723,137 |
Multiline Retail 1.0% |
Target Corp. | 48,817 | 11,298,206 |
Multi-Utilities 3.2% |
Ameren Corp. | 101,174 | 9,005,498 |
CMS Energy Corp. | 85,091 | 5,535,170 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Multi-Utilities (continued) |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | 84,429 | $ 6,632,742 |
NiSource, Inc. | 218,521 | 6,033,365 |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 81,449 | 7,906,254 |
| | 35,113,029 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 3.9% |
Chevron Corp. | 148,811 | 17,462,971 |
Enterprise Products Partners LP | 552,512 | 12,133,163 |
Magellan Midstream Partners LP | 157,115 | 7,296,421 |
TotalEnergies SE, Sponsored ADR | 116,805 | 5,777,175 |
| | 42,669,730 |
Pharmaceuticals 6.0% |
Eli Lilly and Co. | 54,565 | 15,071,944 |
Johnson & Johnson | 115,297 | 19,723,858 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 255,990 | 19,619,074 |
Pfizer, Inc. | 208,121 | 12,289,545 |
| | 66,704,421 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 6.9% |
Analog Devices, Inc. | 102,393 | 17,997,618 |
Broadcom, Inc. | 38,359 | 25,524,462 |
Intel Corp. | 118,453 | 6,100,330 |
KLA Corp. | 37,886 | 16,295,147 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 52,592 | 9,912,014 |
| | 75,829,571 |
Software 1.5% |
Microsoft Corp. | 48,383 | 16,272,171 |
Specialty Retail 1.7% |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 44,035 | 18,274,965 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 1.1% |
Apple, Inc. | 67,646 | 12,011,900 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.5% |
Hanesbrands, Inc. | 335,994 | 5,617,819 |
Tobacco 2.6% |
Altria Group, Inc. | 204,284 | 9,681,019 |
British American Tobacco plc, Sponsored ADR | 183,094 | 6,849,546 |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | 122,504 | 11,637,880 |
| | 28,168,445 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Trading Companies & Distributors 1.1% |
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A | 141,714 | | $ 11,912,479 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $814,062,139) | | | 1,094,005,071 |
Short-Term Investments 2.3% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.9% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (b) | 9,626,007 | | 9,626,007 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 1.4% |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (b)(c) | 15,904,917 | | 15,904,917 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $25,530,924) | | | 25,530,924 |
Total Investments (Cost $839,593,063) | 101.5% | | 1,119,535,995 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (1.5) | | (17,070,980) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 1,102,465,015 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $15,706,498. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $15,904,917. (See Note 2(H)) |
(b) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(c) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 1,094,005,071 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,094,005,071 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 9,626,007 | | — | | — | | 9,626,007 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 15,904,917 | | — | | — | | 15,904,917 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 25,530,924 | | — | | — | | 25,530,924 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 1,119,535,995 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,119,535,995 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $829,967,056) including securities on loan of $15,706,498 | $1,109,909,988 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $9,626,007) | 9,626,007 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 3,473,119 |
Dividends and interest | 2,214,856 |
Portfolio shares sold | 163,560 |
Securities lending | 616 |
Other assets | 4,265 |
Total assets | 1,125,392,411 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 15,904,917 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 6,012,174 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 603,179 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 201,470 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 95,801 |
Shareholder communication | 46,756 |
Professional fees | 44,191 |
Custodian | 5,974 |
Trustees | 1,197 |
Accrued expenses | 11,737 |
Total liabilities | 22,927,396 |
Net assets | $1,102,465,015 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 61,152 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 786,028,568 |
| 786,089,720 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 316,375,295 |
Net assets | $1,102,465,015 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $640,585,270 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 35,296,111 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 18.15 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $461,879,745 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 25,855,745 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 17.86 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $142,187) | $ 27,239,691 |
Dividends-affiliated | 1,939 |
Securities lending | 978 |
Total income | 27,242,608 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 6,949,654 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 1,113,393 |
Professional fees | 109,780 |
Shareholder communication | 61,606 |
Custodian | 27,082 |
Trustees | 20,936 |
Miscellaneous | 45,799 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 8,328,250 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (359,856) |
Net expenses | 7,968,394 |
Net investment income (loss) | 19,274,214 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 55,297,723 |
Foreign currency transactions | 3,873 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 55,301,596 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments | 129,641,555 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 184,943,151 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $204,217,365 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 19,274,214 | $ 21,227,734 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 55,301,596 | (32,499,703) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 129,641,555 | (972,217) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 204,217,365 | (12,244,186) |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (14,032,271) | (30,366,836) |
Service Class | (9,739,276) | (24,324,032) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (23,771,547) | (54,690,868) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 119,905,528 | 68,376,620 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 23,771,547 | 54,690,868 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (138,903,490) | (190,864,938) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 4,773,585 | (67,797,450) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 185,219,403 | (134,732,504) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 917,245,612 | 1,051,978,116 |
End of year | $1,102,465,015 | $ 917,245,612 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 15.13 | | $ 16.12 | | $ 14.01 | | $ 16.15 | | $ 13.79 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.34 | | 0.35 | | 0.38 | | 0.39 | | 0.30 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 3.09 | | (0.41) | | 2.92 | | (1.12) | | 2.26 |
Total from investment operations | 3.43 | | (0.06) | | 3.30 | | (0.73) | | 2.56 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.41) | | (0.41) | | (0.52) | | (0.35) | | (0.20) |
From net realized gain on investments | — | | (0.52) | | (0.67) | | (1.06) | | — |
Total distributions | (0.41) | | (0.93) | | (1.19) | | (1.41) | | (0.20) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 18.15 | | $ 15.13 | | $ 16.12 | | $ 14.01 | | $ 16.15 |
Total investment return (b) | 22.89% | | 0.03% | | 24.18% | | (5.23)% | | 18.66% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.02% | | 2.47% | | 2.43% | | 2.49% | | 2.01% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.68% | | 0.68% | | 0.68% | | 0.68% | | 0.73% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.72% | | 0.73% | | 0.72% | | 0.71% | | 0.74% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 20% | | 26% | | 22% | | 25% | | 122% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 640,585 | | $ 495,193 | | $ 591,185 | | $ 548,881 | | $ 791,462 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 14.90 | | $ 15.89 | | $ 13.81 | | $ 15.94 | | $ 13.61 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.29 | | 0.31 | | 0.34 | | 0.35 | | 0.26 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 3.05 | | (0.42) | | 2.88 | | (1.12) | | 2.24 |
Total from investment operations | 3.34 | | (0.11) | | 3.22 | | (0.77) | | 2.50 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.38) | | (0.36) | | (0.47) | | (0.30) | | (0.17) |
From net realized gain on investments | — | | (0.52) | | (0.67) | | (1.06) | | — |
Total distributions | (0.38) | | (0.88) | | (1.14) | | (1.36) | | (0.17) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 17.86 | | $ 14.90 | | $ 15.89 | | $ 13.81 | | $ 15.94 |
Total investment return (b) | 22.58% | | (0.22)% | | 23.87% | | (5.46)% | | 18.37% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.77% | | 2.21% | | 2.18% | | 2.23% | | 1.73% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.93% | | 0.93% | | 0.93% | | 0.93% | | 0.98% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.97% | | 0.98% | | 0.97% | | 0.96% | | 0.99% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 20% | | 26% | | 22% | | 25% | | 122% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 461,880 | | $ 422,053 | | $ 460,793 | | $ 431,635 | | $ 536,044 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 1, 1998 |
Service Class | June 5, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek current income and capital appreciation.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number
of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized
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cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes
of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(H) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(I) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the
Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (“Epoch” or the “Subadvisor”), a registered investment adviser, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and Epoch, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.70% up to $500 million; 0.68% from $500 million to $1 billion; 0.66% from $1 billion to $2 billion; and 0.65% in excess of $2 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.69% (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements).
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments and acquired (underlying) portfolio/fund fees and expenses) of Service Class shares do not exceed 0.93% of its average daily net assets. New York Life Investments will apply an equivalent waiver or reimbursement to Initial Class shares. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $6,949,654 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $359,856 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $3,295,721.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs
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incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under
the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 21,984 | $ 153,035 | $ (165,393) | $ — | $ — | $ 9,626 | $ 2 | $ — | 9,626 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $846,756,306 | $289,358,469 | $(16,578,780) | $272,779,689 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$20,927,554 | $22,291,106 | $376,946 | $272,779,689 | $316,375,295 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments, and partnership adjustments. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
The Portfolio utilized $31,990,022 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $23,771,547 | $23,317,781 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | — | 31,373,087 |
Total | $23,771,547 | $54,690,868 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $3,428 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $214,480 and $196,850, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 5,530,435 | $ 94,089,547 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 822,245 | 14,032,271 |
Shares redeemed | (3,793,315) | (62,560,476) |
Net increase (decrease) | 2,559,365 | $ 45,561,342 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 2,458,147 | $ 35,425,531 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,166,877 | 30,366,836 |
Shares redeemed | (8,562,407) | (122,749,006) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,937,383) | $ (56,956,639) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 1,557,270 | $ 25,815,981 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 579,460 | 9,739,276 |
Shares redeemed | (4,609,938) | (76,343,014) |
Net increase (decrease) | (2,473,208) | $ (40,787,757) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 2,391,552 | $ 32,951,089 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,761,258 | 24,324,032 |
Shares redeemed | (4,829,707) | (68,115,932) |
Net increase (decrease) | (676,897) | $ (10,840,811) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
22 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and broker; when replies were not received from broker, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (“Epoch”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Epoch in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Epoch in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or Epoch that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and Epoch personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New
York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and Epoch; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and Epoch; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and Epoch with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and Epoch. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and Epoch resulting from, among other things, the Board’s
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consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and Epoch
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of Epoch, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of Epoch and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, Epoch with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as Epoch’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program;
(iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that Epoch provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated Epoch’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and Epoch’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at Epoch and New York Life Investments’ and Epoch’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and Epoch and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed Epoch’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Epoch regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to Epoch as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or Epoch had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolio, the Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the one-, five- and ten-year periods ended July 31, 2021, and performed in line with its peer funds for the three-year period ended July 31, 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments and Epoch regarding the Portfolio’s investment performance.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and Epoch
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Epoch due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that Epoch’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of Epoch’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and Epoch and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Epoch, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and Epoch’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee
for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and Epoch and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and Epoch must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and Epoch to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to Epoch from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to Epoch in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between Epoch and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates and considered the existence of a strategic partnership between New York Life Investments and Epoch that relates to certain current and future products that represents a conflict of interest associated with New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the Subadvisory Agreement. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
26 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to Epoch, the Board considered that any profits realized by Epoch due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and Epoch, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to Epoch by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to Epoch is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Epoch on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other
investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints, voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
28 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
30 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
32 | MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI521
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 25.49% | 11.01% | 11.10% | 0.76% |
Service Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 25.18 | 10.73 | 10.83 | 1.01 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
Russell 1000® Value Index1 | 25.16% | 11.16% | 12.26% |
S&P 500® Index2 | 28.71 | 18.47 | 15.82 |
Morningstar Large Value Category Average3 | 26.08 | 11.41 | 11.28 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Russell 1000® Value Index is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark. The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of the large-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower expected growth values. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio's secondary benchmark. “S&P 500®" is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Morningstar Large Value Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in big U.S. companies that are less expensive or growing more slowly than other large-cap stocks. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,060.30 | $3.95 | $1,021.37 | $3.87 | 0.76% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,058.90 | $5.24 | $1,020.11 | $5.14 | 1.01% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Banks | 8.6% |
Insurance | 8.4 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 6.3 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 5.5 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 5.4 |
Pharmaceuticals | 4.6 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts | 4.6 |
Multi–Utilities | 4.6 |
Capital Markets | 4.4 |
Electric Utilities | 4.2 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 3.8 |
Chemicals | 3.5 |
Industrial Conglomerates | 3.5 |
Media | 3.1 |
Food Products | 3.0 |
Air Freight & Logistics | 2.6 |
Software | 2.4 |
Biotechnology | 2.3 |
Aerospace & Defense | 2.3 |
Containers & Packaging | 1.5 |
Household Products | 1.5 |
Tobacco | 1.4 |
Diversified Financial Services | 1.2 |
Entertainment | 1.1% |
Automobiles | 1.0 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 0.8 |
Machinery | 0.7 |
Specialty Retail | 0.7 |
Leisure Products | 0.7 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 0.6 |
Multiline Retail | 0.6 |
Communications Equipment | 0.6 |
Beverages | 0.5 |
Professional Services | 0.5 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 0.4 |
IT Services | 0.4 |
Food & Staples Retailing | 0.4 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 0.3 |
Airlines | 0.2 |
Energy Equipment & Services | 0.1 |
Paper & Forest Products | 0.0‡ |
Short–Term Investments | 2.2 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –0.5 |
| 100.0% |
‡ Less than one-tenth of percent.
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Wells Fargo & Co. |
2. | QUALCOMM, Inc. |
3. | Southern Co. (The) |
4. | United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B |
5. | General Electric Co. |
6. | American International Group, Inc. |
7. | Anthem, Inc. |
8. | TotalEnergies SE |
9. | Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A |
10. | Chubb Ltd. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio manager John D. Linehan, CFA, of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio returned 25.49% for Initial Class shares and 25.18% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the 25.16% return of the Russell 1000® Value Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and underperformed the 28.71% return of the S&P 500® Index, which is the Portfolio’s secondary benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes underperformed the 26.08% return of the Morningstar Large Value Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio outperformed the Russell 1000® Value Index during the reporting period, driven by both sector allocation and stock selection.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
The financials sector made the strongest positive contribution to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Russell 1000® Value Index due to stock selection. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The Portfolio’s information technology holdings also added value due to stock selection. The communication services sector had a positive impact on relative returns caused by the Portfolio’s underweight sector allocation.
Conversely, the consumer discretionary sector was the most significant detractor from the Portfolio’s relative returns due to security selection. The industrials and business services and health care sectors also undermined relative results as a result of security choices.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
Leading positive contributors to the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the reporting period included positions in multinational financial services company Wells Fargo & Company, nitrogen producer CF Industries and insurance carrier American International Group (AIG).
Wells Fargo shares benefited from consumer credit resilience and action by the U.S. Federal Reserve (“Fed”) that allowed banks to resume returning capital to shareholders. The company also benefited from strong loan growth, despite shares being
negatively affected by headlines about a civil penalty assessment related to deficiencies in Wells Fargo’s lending loss mitigation program. We continue to believe Wells Fargo has significant room for improvement in its results and an attractive valuation. Furthermore, the prospect of the asset cap—which the Fed imposed on Wells Fargo in 2018 that restricts the bank’s ability to grow its assets above a certain amount—eventually being removed could prove to be a tailwind for the company’s business and, ultimately, shares, as the asset cap has proven to be an overhang. We trimmed holdings throughout the reporting period to moderate the Portfolio’s position size.
Shares in CF Industries advanced after the company delivered an earnings report that showed strong execution in an uncertain environment caused by unfavorable weather. The company was also able to reduce operating rates while selling excess gas back into the market. Later in the reporting period, the company was negatively affected by surging European natural gas prices, leading it to shut down U.K. operations. We continue to appreciate the company’s position as a low-cost nitrogen producer and its ability to generate free cash flow. We sold shares to moderate the Portfolio’s position size.
AIG shares were buoyed by strength in property and casualty insurance pricing, along with a significant amount of cash available to be deployed into share buybacks and dividends. We like AIG’s strong balance sheet and attractive valuation, and believe the company is likely to benefit from the rising property and casualty cycle. The Portfolio sold shares on strength.
The most significant detractors from the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the reporting period included casino and resort company Las Vegas Sands, multinational cloud computing and virtualization technology company Citrix Systems, and medical device company Medtronic.
Las Vegas Sands stock posted negative total returns amid continued uncertainty around the recovery timeline for its Singapore and Macau gaming businesses, and more restrictive casino concession renewal terms in Macau. We remain optimistic about Las Vegas Sands’ reasonable risk/reward potential and potential upside driven by more normalized travel in Macau and Singapore. The Portfolio purchased shares during the reporting period.
Citrix Systems shares produced negative total returns as the company reported financial results that missed revenue targets and included lower-than-expected guidance. We are cognizant of the potential headwinds that Citrix Systems may experience as it transitions to a subscription-based business, but remain encouraged by the company’s competitive positioning and believe the market underappreciates the positive impact this transition may have. The Portfolio bought shares during the reporting period.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio |
Medtronic shares were pressured by investor uncertainty about the potential strength of the clinical trial data for the company’s renal denervation system, and as regulators flagged concerns in its diabetes business. We sold shares to moderate the Portfolio’s position size but continue to appreciate the company’s solid product pipeline and believe that new products, new markets and improved execution should help drive organic revenue growth over time.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The Portfolio initiated a position in global health services company Cigna and continued to add to its stake during the reporting period. In our view, the company has an attractive valuation and should benefit from an improved managed care environment over time. The Portfolio also initiated a position in asset bank Huntington Bancshares and continued to buy shares throughout the reporting period. We believe the company is well positioned to improve returns through its focus on technology, its ability to deliver growth through expansion markets, and the ability to extract efficiencies from its core footprint.
Significant sales during the reporting period included reduced positions in global investment bank Morgan Stanley and specialty chemical company DuPont de Nemours. The Portfolio sold some of its Morgan Stanley shares on strength, reinvesting the proceeds in companies with more attractive valuations. In the case of DuPont, while we appreciate the company’s efforts to position itself as a leader in electronic materials and industrial technology, we decided to reduce the Portfolio’s position to invest in higher-conviction ideas within the portfolio.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
At the beginning of the reporting period, the Portfolio's largest overweight positions relative to the Index were utilities and energy. At the end of the reporting period, utilities and financials were the largest overweight positions. The most substantial increases in the Portfolio’s relative weighting were in the communication services and consumer discretionary sectors.
The Portfolio’s most substantially underweight positions relative to the Index at the beginning of the reporting period were in the communication services and consumer discretionary sectors. As of the end of the reporting period, communication services and consumer discretionary remained the Portfolio’s most substantially underweight positions. During the reporting period, the most substantial decreases in the Portfolio’s relative weighting occurred in energy and information technology.
It is important to note that the Portfolio uses a diversified, bottom-up investment strategy with a long-term focus that has historically resulted in lower turnover relative to peers. Changes to the Portfolio’s sector positioning are residual of our stock-selection process. In addition, the Russell 1000® Value Index was reconstituted in late June 2021. Accordingly, the changes in the Portfolio's sector weighting relative to the Index are, in part, a reflection of the reconstitution of the Index, rather than solely investment decisions made within the Portfolio.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio’s largest sector positions relative to the Russell 1000® Value Index included utilities and financials. The utilities sector contains several companies that deliver durable cash flows and relatively high dividend yields. We were attracted to the durability of utility earnings and believed efforts to modernize the U.S. electric grid, while shifting more power production to renewables, offered a multiyear rate-base growth opportunity. In the financials sector, which represents a significant absolute weighting in the Portfolio, we tended to favor defensively positioned names with solid balance sheets and diversified revenue streams. We remained mindful of the adverse impact of lower interest rates on bank lending margins and potential weakening of the credit cycle.
As of the same date, the Portfolio’s most significantly underweight sector positions relative to the Index included communication services and consumer discretionary. In communication services, the Portfolio’s main exposure was to the media industry, with an emphasis on companies producing or distributing must-see content and generating strong cash flow. The Portfolio also held positions in the entertainment and diversified telecommunication services industries. In consumer discretionary, we remained cautious regarding industries that we believed were exposed to short- and long-term headwinds, such as continued fallout from the pandemic. At the same time, we favored industries that stood to benefit from continued consumer resilience.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio manager as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 95.9% |
Aerospace & Defense 2.3% |
Boeing Co. (The) (a) | 24,089 | $ 4,849,598 |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | 36,093 | 7,696,471 |
| | 12,546,069 |
Air Freight & Logistics 2.6% |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 67,215 | 14,406,863 |
Airlines 0.2% |
Southwest Airlines Co. (a) | 31,934 | 1,368,053 |
Banks 8.6% |
Bank of America Corp. | 68,642 | 3,053,883 |
Citigroup, Inc. | 27,237 | 1,644,842 |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 16,361 | 773,057 |
Fifth Third Bancorp | 219,794 | 9,572,029 |
Huntington Bancshares, Inc. | 368,300 | 5,679,186 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 20,230 | 3,203,420 |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | 9,726 | 1,950,258 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 449,584 | 21,571,040 |
| | 47,447,715 |
Beverages 0.5% |
Coca-Cola Co. (The) | 50,472 | 2,988,447 |
Biotechnology 2.3% |
AbbVie, Inc. | 77,676 | 10,517,330 |
Biogen, Inc. (a) | 5,300 | 1,271,576 |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 12,045 | 874,588 |
| | 12,663,494 |
Capital Markets 4.4% |
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The) | 14,037 | 815,269 |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | 37,715 | 3,171,832 |
Franklin Resources, Inc. | 19,160 | 641,668 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | 17,016 | 6,509,471 |
Morgan Stanley | 55,183 | 5,416,763 |
Raymond James Financial, Inc. | 8,465 | 849,886 |
State Street Corp. | 72,265 | 6,720,645 |
| | 24,125,534 |
Chemicals 3.5% |
Akzo Nobel NV | 18,671 | 2,051,294 |
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. | 135,038 | 9,557,990 |
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. | 15,026 | 1,213,800 |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | 40,442 | 6,092,587 |
RPM International, Inc. | 6,300 | 636,300 |
| | 19,551,971 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.8% |
Stericycle, Inc. (a) | 73,564 | $ 4,387,357 |
Communications Equipment 0.6% |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 52,647 | 3,336,240 |
Containers & Packaging 1.5% |
International Paper Co. | 177,597 | 8,343,507 |
Diversified Financial Services 1.2% |
Equitable Holdings, Inc. | 198,243 | 6,500,388 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services 0.4% |
AT&T, Inc. | 66,437 | 1,634,350 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 12,653 | 657,450 |
| | 2,291,800 |
Electric Utilities 3.5% |
Entergy Corp. | 12,174 | 1,371,401 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 34,258 | 3,198,327 |
Southern Co. (The) | 205,828 | 14,115,684 |
Xcel Energy, Inc. | 13,400 | 907,180 |
| | 19,592,592 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.3% |
TE Connectivity Ltd. | 10,300 | 1,661,802 |
Energy Equipment & Services 0.1% |
Halliburton Co. | 19,432 | 444,410 |
Entertainment 1.1% |
Walt Disney Co. (The) (a) | 37,992 | 5,884,581 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 4.6% |
Equity Residential | 95,064 | 8,603,292 |
Rayonier, Inc. | 109,929 | 4,436,735 |
Vornado Realty Trust | 15,400 | 644,644 |
Welltower, Inc. | 22,964 | 1,969,622 |
Weyerhaeuser Co. | 235,341 | 9,691,342 |
| | 25,345,635 |
Food & Staples Retailing 0.4% |
Walmart, Inc. | 14,732 | 2,131,573 |
Food Products 3.0% |
Conagra Brands, Inc. | 168,732 | 5,762,198 |
Mondelez International, Inc., Class A | 5,663 | 375,513 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Food Products (continued) |
Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A | 122,249 | $ 10,655,223 |
| | 16,792,934 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.4% |
Becton Dickinson and Co. | 33,831 | 8,507,820 |
Medtronic plc | 66,108 | 6,838,873 |
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | 27,039 | 3,435,034 |
| | 18,781,727 |
Health Care Providers & Services 6.3% |
Anthem, Inc. | 28,101 | 13,025,938 |
Cardinal Health, Inc. | 46,400 | 2,389,136 |
Centene Corp. (a) | 43,100 | 3,551,440 |
Cigna Corp. | 24,315 | 5,583,453 |
CVS Health Corp. | 73,342 | 7,565,961 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 5,500 | 2,761,770 |
| | 34,877,698 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.6% |
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (a) | 95,391 | 3,590,517 |
Household Products 1.5% |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | 58,107 | 8,304,652 |
Industrial Conglomerates 3.5% |
3M Co. | 6,300 | 1,119,069 |
General Electric Co. | 147,056 | 13,892,380 |
Siemens AG, Sponsored ADR | 48,460 | 4,196,636 |
| | 19,208,085 |
Insurance 8.4% |
American International Group, Inc. | 239,590 | 13,623,088 |
Chubb Ltd. | 55,104 | 10,652,154 |
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | 36,000 | 2,485,440 |
Loews Corp. | 156,470 | 9,037,707 |
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | 4,712 | 819,040 |
MetLife, Inc. | 157,818 | 9,862,047 |
| | 46,479,476 |
IT Services 0.4% |
Fiserv, Inc. (a) | 21,650 | 2,247,054 |
Leisure Products 0.7% |
Mattel, Inc. (a) | 169,365 | 3,651,509 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Machinery 0.7% |
Flowserve Corp. | 14,635 | $ 447,831 |
PACCAR, Inc. | 28,289 | 2,496,787 |
Snap-on, Inc. | 5,389 | 1,160,683 |
| | 4,105,301 |
Media 3.1% |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 162,556 | 8,181,443 |
Fox Corp., Class B | 87,691 | 3,005,171 |
News Corp., Class A | 267,676 | 5,971,852 |
| | 17,158,466 |
Multiline Retail 0.6% |
Kohl's Corp. | 68,321 | 3,374,374 |
Multi-Utilities 4.3% |
Ameren Corp. | 38,975 | 3,469,165 |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | 67,900 | 5,334,224 |
NiSource, Inc. | 220,483 | 6,087,536 |
Sempra Energy | 67,276 | 8,899,269 |
| | 23,790,194 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 5.4% |
Chevron Corp. | 7,749 | 909,345 |
EOG Resources, Inc. | 67,334 | 5,981,279 |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | 73,595 | 4,503,278 |
Hess Corp. | 5,080 | 376,072 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | 36,463 | 1,057,062 |
Targa Resources Corp. | 8,911 | 465,511 |
TC Energy Corp. (b) | 71,657 | 3,334,917 |
TotalEnergies SE | 202,099 | 10,268,904 |
TotalEnergies SE, Sponsored ADR (b) | 54,900 | 2,715,354 |
| | 29,611,722 |
Paper & Forest Products 0.0% ‡ |
Sylvamo Corp. (a) | 413 | 11,519 |
Pharmaceuticals 4.6% |
AstraZeneca plc, Sponsored ADR | 37,400 | 2,178,550 |
GlaxoSmithKline plc | 27,935 | 607,478 |
Johnson & Johnson | 38,694 | 6,619,383 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 53,311 | 4,085,755 |
Organon & Co. | 2,381 | 72,502 |
Pfizer, Inc. | 119,899 | 7,080,036 |
Sanofi | 32,872 | 3,315,086 |
Sanofi, ADR | 28,863 | 1,446,036 |
| | 25,404,826 |
Professional Services 0.5% |
Nielsen Holdings plc | 128,661 | 2,638,837 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.5% |
Applied Materials, Inc. | 37,183 | $ 5,851,117 |
NXP Semiconductors NV | 9,702 | 2,209,921 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 90,570 | 16,562,536 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 31,346 | 5,907,781 |
| | 30,531,355 |
Software 2.4% |
Citrix Systems, Inc. | 43,602 | 4,124,313 |
Microsoft Corp. | 26,861 | 9,033,892 |
| | 13,158,205 |
Specialty Retail 0.7% |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | 50,459 | 3,830,847 |
Tobacco 1.4% |
Altria Group, Inc. | 26,630 | 1,261,996 |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | 69,251 | 6,578,845 |
| | 7,840,841 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $375,225,089) | | 530,408,170 |
Convertible Preferred Stocks 1.4% |
Electric Utilities 0.7% |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.279% | 33,097 | 1,904,401 |
Southern Co. (The), 6.75% | 41,886 | 2,251,373 |
| | 4,155,774 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.4% |
Becton Dickinson and Co., 6.00% (b) | 37,419 | 1,973,852 |
Multi-Utilities 0.3% |
NiSource, Inc., 7.75% (b) | 15,018 | 1,681,866 |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Cost $7,085,026) | | 7,811,492 |
Preferred Stock 1.0% |
Automobiles 1.0% |
Volkswagen AG, ADR | 273,843 | 5,498,767 |
Total Preferred Stock (Cost $4,572,143) | | 5,498,767 |
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investments 2.2% |
Affiliated Investment Company 1.4% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (c) | 7,977,354 | | $ 7,977,354 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 0.8% |
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund, 0.026% (c)(d) | 1,000,000 | | 1,000,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (c)(d) | 3,189,045 | | 3,189,045 |
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies (Cost $4,189,045) | | | 4,189,045 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $12,166,399) | | | 12,166,399 |
Total Investments (Cost $399,048,657) | 100.5% | | 555,884,828 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (0.5) | | (2,497,038) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 553,387,790 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $5,012,020; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $5,234,735. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $1,045,690. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $4,189,045. (See Note 2(I)) |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 530,408,170 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 530,408,170 |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 7,811,492 | | — | | — | | 7,811,492 |
Preferred Stock | 5,498,767 | | — | | — | | 5,498,767 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 7,977,354 | | — | | — | | 7,977,354 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 4,189,045 | | — | | — | | 4,189,045 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 12,166,399 | | — | | — | | 12,166,399 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 555,884,828 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 555,884,828 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $391,071,303) including securities on loan of $5,012,020 | $547,907,474 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $7,977,354) | 7,977,354 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 2,145,485 |
Dividends and interest | 878,518 |
Securities lending | 1,437 |
Portfolio shares sold | 256 |
Other assets | 3,873 |
Total assets | 558,914,397 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 4,189,045 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 594,875 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 332,475 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 262,733 |
Professional fees | 57,459 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 47,791 |
Shareholder communication | 33,910 |
Custodian | 6,675 |
Trustees | 911 |
Accrued expenses | 733 |
Total liabilities | 5,526,607 |
Net assets | $553,387,790 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 39,797 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 339,692,318 |
| 339,732,115 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 213,655,675 |
Net assets | $553,387,790 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $324,377,865 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 23,288,277 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 13.93 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $229,009,925 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 16,509,065 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 13.87 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $227,415) | $ 12,548,921 |
Interest | 34,060 |
Securities lending | 16,334 |
Dividends-affiliated | 584 |
Other | 1,270 |
Total income | 12,601,169 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 3,908,401 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 581,532 |
Professional fees | 101,676 |
Shareholder communication | 37,666 |
Custodian | 27,888 |
Trustees | 11,754 |
Miscellaneous | 29,344 |
Total expenses | 4,698,261 |
Net investment income (loss) | 7,902,908 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 58,107,694 |
Foreign currency transactions | 4,913 |
Foreign currency forward transactions | 288 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 58,112,895 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | 56,573,738 |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (1,492) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 56,572,246 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 114,685,141 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $122,588,049 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 7,902,908 | $ 12,775,127 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 58,112,895 | 2,096,702 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 56,572,246 | (30,283,571) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 122,588,049 | (15,411,742) |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (12,318,709) | (35,016,325) |
Service Class | (8,560,289) | (22,876,840) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (20,878,998) | (57,893,165) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 11,605,051 | 38,760,574 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 20,878,998 | 57,893,165 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (110,225,246) | (220,766,449) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (77,741,197) | (124,112,710) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 23,967,854 | (197,417,617) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 529,419,936 | 726,837,553 |
End of year | $ 553,387,790 | $ 529,419,936 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.56 | | $ 12.89 | | $ 11.39 | | $ 14.10 | | $ 12.99 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.21 | | 0.25 | | 0.29 | | 0.29 | | 0.24 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.71 | | (0.33) | | 2.58 | | (1.40) | | 1.83 |
Total from investment operations | 2.92 | | (0.08) | | 2.87 | | (1.11) | | 2.07 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.34) | | (0.40) | | (0.31) | | (0.29) | | (0.30) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.21) | | (0.85) | | (1.06) | | (1.31) | | (0.66) |
Total distributions | (0.55) | | (1.25) | | (1.37) | | (1.60) | | (0.96) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 13.93 | | $ 11.56 | | $ 12.89 | | $ 11.39 | | $ 14.10 |
Total investment return (b) | 25.49% | | 0.96% | | 26.36%(c) | | (9.38)% | | 16.20% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.57% | | 2.32% | | 2.30% | | 2.11% | | 1.78% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.76% | | 0.76% | | 0.75% | | 0.77% | | 0.77% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 18% | | 28% | | 16% | | 22% | | 24% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 324,378 | | $ 302,584 | | $ 464,120 | | $ 431,672 | | $ 469,556 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In 2019, the Portfolio’s total investment return includes impact of payments from affiliates due to trade communications error. Excluding these items, total return would have been 26.36%. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.51 | | $ 12.83 | | $ 11.34 | | $ 14.04 | | $ 12.94 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.17 | | 0.22 | | 0.26 | | 0.25 | | 0.21 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.71 | | (0.33) | | 2.56 | | (1.39) | | 1.82 |
Total from investment operations | 2.88 | | (0.11) | | 2.82 | | (1.14) | | 2.03 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.31) | | (0.36) | | (0.27) | | (0.25) | | (0.27) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.21) | | (0.85) | | (1.06) | | (1.31) | | (0.66) |
Total distributions | (0.52) | | (1.21) | | (1.33) | | (1.56) | | (0.93) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 13.87 | | $ 11.51 | | $ 12.83 | | $ 11.34 | | $ 14.04 |
Total investment return (b) | 25.18% | | 0.71% | | 26.04%(c) | | (9.61)% | | 15.91% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.32% | | 2.05% | | 2.05% | | 1.84% | | 1.54% |
Net expenses (d) | 1.01% | | 1.01% | | 1.00% | | 1.02% | | 1.02% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 18% | | 28% | | 16% | | 22% | | 24% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 229,010 | | $ 226,836 | | $ 262,717 | | $ 257,159 | | $ 348,450 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In 2019, the Portfolio’s total investment return includes impact of payments from affiliates due to trade communications error. Excluding these items, total return would have been 26.04%. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | February 17, 2012 |
Service Class | February 17, 2012 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek a high level of dividend income and long-term capital growth primarily through investments in stocks.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
18 | MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio |
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The
Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and
distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method and includes any realized gains and losses from repayments of principal on mortgage-backed securities. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Foreign Currency Forward Contracts. The Portfolio may enter into foreign currency forward contracts, which are agreements to buy or sell foreign currencies on a specified future date at a specified rate. The Portfolio is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the normal course of investing in these transactions. During the period the forward contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. Cash movement occurs on the settlement date.
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When the forward contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract. The Portfolio may purchase and sell foreign currency forward contracts for purposes of seeking to enhance portfolio returns and manage portfolio risk more efficiently. Foreign currency forward contracts may also be used to gain exposure to a particular currency or to hedge against the risk of loss due to changing currency exchange rates. Foreign currency forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency may also be used in anticipation of future purchases or sales of securities denominated in foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected.
The use of foreign currency forward contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, including counterparty risk, market risk and illiquidity risk. Counterparty risk is heightened for these instruments because foreign currency forward contracts are not exchange-traded and therefore no clearinghouse or exchange stands ready to meet the obligations under such contracts. Thus, the Portfolio faces the risk that its counterparties under such contracts may not perform their obligations. Market risk is the risk that the value of a foreign currency forward contract will depreciate due to unfavorable changes in exchange rates. Illiquidity risk arises because the secondary market for foreign currency forward contracts may have less liquidity relative to markets for other securities and financial instruments. Risks also arise from the possible movements in the foreign exchange rates underlying these instruments. While the Portfolio may enter into forward contracts to reduce currency exchange risks, changes in currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance for the Portfolio than if it had not engaged in such transactions. Exchange rate movements can be large, depending on the currency, and can last for extended periods of time, affecting the value of the Portfolio's assets. Moreover, there may be an imperfect correlation between the Portfolio's holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Portfolio from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward contracts also reflects the Portfolio's exposure at the valuation date to credit loss in the event of a counterparty’s failure to perform its obligations. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not hold any foreign currency forward contracts.
(H) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(I) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(J) Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Convertible securities may be subordinate to other securities. In part, the total return for a convertible security depends upon the performance of the underlying stock into which it can be converted. Also, issuers of convertible securities are often not as strong financially as those issuing securities with higher credit ratings, are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and typically are more vulnerable to changes in the economy, such as a recession or a sustained period of rising interest rates, which could affect their ability to make interest and principal payments.
The Portfolio invests in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(K) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(L) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio entered into foreign currency forward contracts to .
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Total |
Forward Contracts | $288 | $288 |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $288 | $288 |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager pursuant to an Amended
and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe” or “Subadvisor”), a registered investment adviser, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and T. Rowe, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.725% up to $500 million; 0.70% from $500 million to $1 billion; and 0.675% in excess of $1 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.72%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $3,908,401 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $1,611,888.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service
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fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 4,433 | $ 104,720 | $ (101,176) | $ — | $ — | $ 7,977 | $ 1 | $ — | 7,977 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $403,784,043 | $157,053,719 | $(4,952,934) | $152,100,785 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$13,899,834 | $47,597,781 | $58,662 | $152,099,398 | $213,655,675 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments, cumulative convertible bond adjustments, and debt to equity adjustments. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs").
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $14,172,080 | $19,264,249 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 6,706,918 | 38,628,916 |
Total | $20,878,998 | $57,893,165 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $4,050 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $95,214 and $187,978, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 677,739 | $ 9,236,783 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 926,930 | 12,318,709 |
Shares redeemed | (4,493,782) | (57,536,915) |
Net increase (decrease) | (2,889,113) | $ (35,981,423) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 3,081,157 | $ 28,201,342 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 3,500,827 | 35,016,325 |
Shares redeemed | (16,423,541) | (175,944,865) |
Net increase (decrease) | (9,841,557) | $(112,727,198) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 178,175 | $ 2,368,268 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 646,396 | 8,560,289 |
Shares redeemed | (4,014,733) | (52,688,331) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,190,162) | $ (41,759,774) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 1,070,152 | $ 10,559,232 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,294,568 | 22,876,840 |
Shares redeemed | (4,138,334) | (44,821,584) |
Net increase (decrease) | (773,614) | $ (11,385,512) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global
economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified, other than the following:
At meetings held on December 8-9, 2021, the Board considered and approved, among other related proposals, to be effective on or about May 1, 2022: (i) terminating T. Rowe as the Portfolio's Subadvisor; (ii) appointing American Century Investment Management, Inc. as the Portfolio's Subadvisor and the related Subadvisory Agreement; (iii) changing the Portfolio's name, modifying its non-fundamental "names rule" investment policy and reducing its management fee; (iv) changing the Portfolio's investment objective; (v) changing the Portfolio's primary benchmark; and (vi) modifying the Portfolio's principal investment strategies and investment process.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or T. Rowe that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and T. Rowe personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New
York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. The Board also took into account New York Life Investments’ proposal and the Board’s approval to terminate the Subadvisory Agreement, approve a new subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and American Century Investment Management, Inc. with respect to the Portfolio and reposition the Portfolio, effective on or about May 1, 2022. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio manager of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and T. Rowe; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
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The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and T. Rowe. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and T. Rowe resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of T. Rowe, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of T. Rowe and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, T. Rowe with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as T. Rowe’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory
services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that T. Rowe provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated T. Rowe’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and T. Rowe’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at T. Rowe and New York Life Investments’ and T. Rowe’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and T. Rowe and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed T. Rowe’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio manager, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the method for compensating the portfolio manager.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited) (continued)
considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to T. Rowe as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or T. Rowe had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and T. Rowe due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that T. Rowe’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of T. Rowe’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and T. Rowe, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and T. Rowe’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the
Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and T. Rowe and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and T. Rowe must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and T. Rowe to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to T. Rowe from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to T. Rowe in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between T. Rowe and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board
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observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to T. Rowe, the Board considered that any profits realized by T. Rowe due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and T. Rowe, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to T. Rowe by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to T. Rowe is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and T. Rowe on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in
proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments regarding the management fee and total net expenses paid by the Portfolio.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Board Consideration and Approval of Subadvisory Agreement with American Century Investment Management Company, Inc. (Unaudited)
The Subadvisory Agreement (“New Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and American Century Investment Management Company, Inc. (“American Century”) with respect to the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio (formerly known as the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio) (“Portfolio”), must be approved initially and, following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8-9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the New Subadvisory Agreement for an initial two-year period.
At a meeting held on December 8-9, 2021, the Board considered and approved New York Life Investments’ recommendations to appoint American Century as the subadvisor to the Portfolio, to approve the New Subadvisory Agreement, to approve the related changes to the Portfolio’s investment objective, principal investment strategies, name, investment process and primary benchmark and to approve the reduction of the Portfolio’s contractual management fee (the “Repositioning”), all effective on or about May 1, 2022. The Board noted that the material terms of the New Subadvisory Agreement are substantially identical to the terms of the then-current subadvisory agreement with T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe”) with respect to the Portfolio, but that the proposed subadvisory fee under the New Subadvisory Agreement with American Century is lower than the subadvisory fee paid to T. Rowe at every level of assets under the then-current subadvisory agreement.
In reaching the decisions to approve the Repositioning and New Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered information furnished by New York Life Investments and American Century in connection with meetings of the Board and its Contracts, Investment and Risk and Compliance Oversight Committees held on December 8-9, 2021, as well as other information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant by the Trustees. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to another investment advisory client of American Century that follows investment strategies similar to those proposed for the Portfolio, as repositioned, and the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s proposed subadvisory fee and the fees charged to such other investment advisory client. In addition, the Board considered information previously provided to the Board in connection with its review of the subadvisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, as deemed relevant to each Trustee. The Board also considered information furnished by American Century in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below.
The Board took into account information provided in connection with its meetings throughout the year, including, among other items, information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its
consideration of the New Subadvisory Agreement and investment performance reports on the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and American Century personnel. The contract review process, including the structure and format for materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for a portion thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
In considering the Repositioning and the New Subadvisory Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided to the Portfolio by American Century; (ii) the investment performance of the Portfolio, the qualifications of the proposed portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of another investment advisory client managed by such portfolio managers with investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, as repositioned; (iii) the anticipated costs of the services to be provided, and profits expected to be realized, by American Century from its relationship with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s proposed subadvisory fee to be paid by New York Life Investments to American Century and estimated total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s proposed fees and estimated expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s proposed fees and estimated total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).
Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently, the Board’s decisions to approve the Repositioning and the New Subadvisory Agreement were based on a consideration of the information provided to the Trustees throughout the year, such as a presentation from American Century personnel, as well as information furnished specifically in connection with the contract review process for the Portfolio, in each case as deemed relevant to each Trustee. The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees would be afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and American Century. The Board took note of New York Life Investments’ belief that American Century, with its resources and historical investment performance track record for strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, as repositioned, is well qualified to serve as the Portfolio’s subadvisor. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable
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annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to the Portfolio’s shareholders, and such shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decisions to approve the Repositioning and the New Subadvisory Agreement are summarized in more detail below, and the Board did not consider any factor or information controlling in reaching such decisions.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services to be Provided by American Century
In considering the Repositioning and the New Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities as manager of the Portfolio, noting that New York Life Investments is responsible for supervising the Portfolio’s subadvisor. The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services that American Century proposed to provide to the Portfolio. Further, the Board evaluated and/or examined the following with regard to American Century:
• experience in providing investment advisory services;
• experience in serving as advisor to another investment advisory client with similar strategies as those of the Portfolio, as repositioned, and the performance track record of such investment advisory client;
• experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel;
• overall legal and compliance environment, resources and history and policies and procedures in place with respect to matters that may involve conflicts of interest between the Portfolio’s investments and those of other accounts managed by American Century;
• New York Life Investments’ and American Century’s belief that their respective compliance policies, procedures and systems are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws and their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the MainStay Group of Funds generally and the Portfolio specifically;
• ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio;
• portfolio construction and risk management processes;
• experience of the Portfolio’s proposed portfolio managers, including with respect to investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, as repositioned, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers; and
• overall reputation, financial condition and assets under management.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely benefit from the nature, extent and quality of the proposed investment advisory services to be provided by American Century.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board
considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance and other alternatives to the Repositioning and the New Subadvisory Agreement considered by New York Life Investments. In addition, the Board considered discussions between the Portfolio’s current portfolio management team and the Investment Committee of the Board. The Board further considered that shareholders may benefit from American Century’s investment process, including its portfolio construction and risk management processes. The Board noted that the Repositioning had not yet been implemented so an investment performance track record for the Portfolio, as repositioned, was not available.
The Board evaluated the Portfolio’s proposed portfolio management team, investment process, strategies and risks. The Board noted that American Century currently manages another investment advisory client with investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, as repositioned. Additionally, the Board considered the historical performance of such investment advisory client. Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio was likely to be managed responsibly and capably by American Century.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the selection of American Century as the subadvisor to the Portfolio is likely to benefit the Portfolio’s long-term investment performance.
Costs of the Services to be Provided, and Profits to be Realized, by American Century
The Board considered the anticipated costs of the services to be provided by American Century under the New Subadvisory Agreement and the profits expected to be realized by American Century due to its relationship with the Portfolio. The Board considered that American Century’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that these fees would be paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and would be lower than the subadvisory fee paid to T. Rowe under the then-current subadvisory agreement at every level of assets.
In evaluating the anticipated costs of the services to be provided by American Century and profits expected to be realized by American Century, the Board considered, among other factors, American Century’s investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel, systems, equipment and other resources and infrastructure to support and further enhance the services proposed to be provided to the Portfolio, and that New York
Board Consideration and Approval of Subadvisory Agreement with American Century Investment Management Company, Inc. (Unaudited) (continued)
Life Investments would be responsible for paying the subadvisory fee to American Century. The Board also considered the financial resources of American Century and acknowledged that American Century must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for American Century to be able to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board also considered that New York Life Investments proposed to reduce the contractual management fee for the Portfolio in connection with the Repositioning.
In considering anticipated costs and profitability, the Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by American Century due to its relationship with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the potential benefits to American Century from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers would provide research and other services to American Century in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities.
The Board took into account the fact that the Portfolio would undergo changes to its principal investment strategies in connection with the Repositioning. The Board noted estimates from New York Life Investments and American Century that a significant portion of the holdings of the Portfolio would be sold to align the Portfolio’s holdings with the strategies that would be pursued by American Century. Additionally, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ representation that New York Life Investments would work closely with American Century to seek to execute the optimal transition strategy and that New York Life Investments would make every effort to minimize potential direct and indirect costs associated with the Repositioning.
The Board considered that any profits realized by American Century due to its relationship with the Portfolio would be the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and American Century, acknowledging that any such profits would be based on fees paid to American Century by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Subadvisory Fee and Estimated Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee to be paid under the New Subadvisory Agreement and the Portfolio’s estimated total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee to be paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee to be paid to American Century would be paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee to be paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee expected to be retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s proposed fees and estimated expenses, the Board considered information provided by ISS on fees and expenses of peer funds, and the Board considered information provided by American Century on fees charged to another investment advisory client that follows investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, as repositioned. The Board considered the similarities and
differences in the contractual fee schedules of the Portfolio and such investment advisory client, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules and noted that New York Life Investments proposed to reduce the Portfolio’s contractual management fee. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s proposed expense structure would permit economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s proposed expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the Repositioning and the New Subadvisory Agreement.
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Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
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| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
36 | MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI531
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
(formerly known as MainStay VP Mellon Natural Resources Portfolio)
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 20211 |
Class | Inception Date2 | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio3 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 38.02% | 4.05% | -0.43% | 0.86% |
1. | The Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment strategies as of November 30, 2018. Therefore, the performance information shown in this report prior to November 30, 2018 reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor, investment objective and principal investment strategies. |
2. | Effective September 1, 2021, due to an organizational restructuring, the portfolio managers from Mellon Investments Corporation who managed the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio transitioned to Newton Investment Management North America, LLC. Both entities under the common control of The Bank of New York Mellon. The transition of the portfolio managers from Mellon Investments Corporation to Newton Investment Management North America, LLC did not impact the investment strategies or risks of the Portfolio. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor. |
3. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
S&P Global Natural Resources Index1 | 25.20% | 9.64% | 3.59% |
Morningstar Natural Resources Category Average2 | 29.37 | 9.15 | 3.01 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Portfolio has selected the S&P Global Natural Resources Index as its primary benchmark. The S&P Global Natural Resources Index includes 90 of the largest publicly-traded companies in natural resources and commodities businesses that meet specific investability requirements, offering investors diversified and investable equity exposure across 3 primary commodity-related sectors: agribusiness, energy, and metals & mining. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Natural Resources Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily on commodity-based industries such as energy, chemicals, minerals, and forest products in the United States or outside of the United States. Some funds invest across this spectrum to offer broad natural-resources exposure. Others concentrate heavily or even exclusively in specific industries. Funds that concentrate primarily in energy-related industries are part of the equity energy category. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,103.10 | $4.45 | $1,020.97 | $4.28 | 0.84% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
Country Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
United States | 82.7% |
Canada | 5.1 |
Norway | 4.8 |
South Africa | 4.0 |
Zambia | 2.8 |
Australia | 0.6% |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.0‡ |
| 100.0% |
‡ | Less than one–tenth of a percent. |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. |
2. | Devon Energy Corp. |
3. | Alcoa Corp. |
4. | Valero Energy Corp. |
5. | Mosaic Co. (The) |
6. | Marathon Petroleum Corp. |
7. | Occidental Petroleum Corp. |
8. | Hess Corp. |
9. | Bunge Ltd. |
10. | Nutrien Ltd. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio manager Albert Chu, CFA, Brock Campbell, CFA, and David S. Intoppa, CFA of Newton Investment Management North America, LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio returned 38.02% for Initial Class shares. Over the same period, Initial Class shares of the Portfolio outperformed the 25.20% return of the S&P Global Natural Resources Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark, and the 29.37% return of the Morningstar Natural Resources Category Average.1
Were there any changes to the Portfolio during the reporting period?
Effective May 1, 2021, the Portfolio name changed to MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio.
Additionally, effective September 1, 2021, Newton Investment Management North America, LLC assumed subadvisory responsibilities for the Portfolio and the portfolio managers from Mellon Investments Corporation who managed the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio transitioned to Newton Investment Management North America, LLC. For more information on this change, please refer to the supplement dated September 1, 2021.
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic materially affected the Portfolio’s performance during the reporting period. The Portfolio outperformed the Index largely due to an overweight position and favorable stock selection in the U.S. onshore upstream subsector. Gains in this area more than made up for relatively weak stock selection in precious metals, where gold prices lagged, and in out-of-benchmark positions in next-gen energy names, where renewable energy equities were undermined, by rate increases.
Which sectors were the strongest contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance and which sectors were particularly weak?
The U.S. onshore upstream subsector and the metals & mining subsector made the strongest contributions to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index. (Contributions take weightings
and total returns into account.) The integrated energy and next-gen energy subsectors detracted most from relative returns.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
The strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance came from oil & gas exploration company Devon Energy, agricultural chemicals producer The Mosaic Company and aluminum producer Alcoa. Devon Energy shares benefited from higher oil prices, a strengthening supply/demand outlook and the company’s favorable cash-return program. The Mosaic Company shares rose as global potash and phosphate prices reached multi-year highs as a result of robust demand and disciplined supply. Alcoa outperformed as commodity prices rallied on news of Chinese production rationalization.
The most significant detractors from the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the same period included positions in precious metals miners Coeur Mining and Kinross Gold, and Brazilian state oil & gas company Petróleo Brasileiro (Petrobras). Coeur Mining and Kinross Gold shares lagged as gold prices fell due to higher interest rates, the rising U.S. dollar and increased investor optimism on economic reopening. Petrobras stock price suffered because of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s decision to restructure the company’s highly regarded management team and pressure the company to lower domestic diesel prices.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
Key additions to the Portfolio during the reporting period included positions in aluminum producer Alcoa, oil & gas exploration and production company Occidental Petroleum, and agricultural chemical producer Nutrien. In our view, Alcoa’s asset portfolio is situated in relatively low-priced natural gas regions, and the company is well positioned to gain market share from increased Chinese rationalization. We believe Occidental Petroleum's acquisition of Anadarko added very attractive assets to the company’s portfolio, particularly given prevailing high crude prices. Nutrien appears likely to benefit from record fertilizer prices and the positive agriculture environment.
During the same period, the Portfolio eliminated its entire positions in oil & gas exploration and production company
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
ConocoPhillips, precious metals miner Barrick Gold and steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal, in favor of more compelling risk/reward opportunities.
How did the Portfolio’s subsector and subindustry weightings change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio exited the forest products, steel and precious metals subsectors, and increased its exposure to industrials and energy services.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, we maintain a high conviction in the natural resources sector and foresee a tight supply/demand environment in the coming years. Inflation has started to permeate the global economy, and we believe the supply response will take some time to alleviate inflationary pressures. The rise of environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are likely to continue to distort price signals to commodity producers, thereby exacerbating supply shortfalls. In this environment, the Portfolio’s investment process and style remains unchanged. We continue to seek investments in areas where the commodity macroeconomic and company-specific factors are aligned. In our opinion, the natural resources sector remains one of the best sources of overall portfolio diversification, inflation protection and dividend yield generation.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 99.1% |
Australia 0.6% |
OZ Minerals Ltd. (Metals & Mining) | 80,122 | $ 1,645,022 |
Canada 5.1% |
Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (Commercial Services & Supplies) (a) | 91,745 | 913,780 |
Nutrien Ltd. (Chemicals) | 164,795 | 12,392,584 |
Tourmaline Oil Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 43,562 | 1,406,437 |
| | 14,712,801 |
Norway 4.8% |
Equinor ASA (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 421,824 | 11,129,463 |
Norsk Hydro ASA (Metals & Mining) | 379,378 | 2,988,155 |
| | 14,117,618 |
South Africa 4.0% |
Anglo American plc (Metals & Mining) | 255,984 | 10,450,052 |
Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. (Metals & Mining) | 426,801 | 1,315,088 |
| | 11,765,140 |
United States 81.8% |
Alcoa Corp. (Metals & Mining) | 230,088 | 13,708,643 |
Archaea Energy, Inc. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) (a) | 77,463 | 1,416,024 |
Bunge Ltd. (Food Products) | 133,429 | 12,456,931 |
California Resources Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 35,951 | 1,535,467 |
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (Chemicals) | 166,729 | 11,801,078 |
Chesapeake Energy Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 83,923 | 5,414,712 |
Comstock Resources, Inc. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) (a) | 387,641 | 3,136,016 |
Corteva, Inc. (Chemicals) | 112,797 | 5,333,042 |
Darling Ingredients, Inc. (Food Products) (a) | 43,706 | 3,028,389 |
Devon Energy Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 311,706 | 13,730,649 |
Diamondback Energy, Inc. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 50,011 | 5,393,686 |
EQT Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) (a) | 547,527 | 11,941,564 |
Fluor Corp. (Construction & Engineering) (a) | 476,187 | 11,795,152 |
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. (Metals & Mining) | 382,431 | 15,958,846 |
Hess Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 172,124 | 12,742,340 |
HollyFrontier Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 220,937 | 7,242,315 |
| Shares | Value |
|
United States (continued) |
Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A (Energy Equipment & Services) (a) | 148,721 | $ 1,442,594 |
Marathon Petroleum Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 207,599 | 13,284,260 |
Mosaic Co. (The) (Chemicals) | 339,124 | 13,324,182 |
MP Materials Corp. (Metals & Mining) (a)(b) | 53,326 | 2,422,067 |
NextEra Energy Partners LP (Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers) | 32,569 | 2,748,823 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 454,712 | 13,182,101 |
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (Energy Equipment & Services) | 176,966 | 1,495,363 |
Phillips 66 (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 130,205 | 9,434,654 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 60,518 | 11,007,014 |
Range Resources Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) (a) | 213,818 | 3,812,375 |
Schlumberger NV (Energy Equipment & Services) | 286,914 | 8,593,074 |
Stem, Inc. (Electrical Equipment) (a) | 53,472 | 1,014,364 |
Sunnova Energy International, Inc. (Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers) (a) | 55,429 | 1,547,578 |
Tronox Holdings plc, Class A (Chemicals) | 246,398 | 5,920,944 |
Valero Energy Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 179,265 | 13,464,594 |
| | 239,328,841 |
Zambia 2.8% |
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (Metals & Mining) | 344,932 | 8,254,153 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $215,374,131) | | 289,823,575 |
Short-Term Investments 0.9% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.9% |
United States 0.9% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (c) | 2,646,050 | 2,646,050 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investments (continued) |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 0.0% ‡ |
United States 0.0% ‡ |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (c)(d) | 40,469 | | $ 40,469 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $2,686,519) | | | 2,686,519 |
Total Investments (Cost $218,060,650) | 100.0% | | 292,510,094 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.0‡ | | 73,174 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 292,583,268 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $160,015; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $177,706. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $137,237. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $40,469. (See Note 2(I)) |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | |
Norway | $ — | | $ 14,117,618 | | $ — | | $ 14,117,618 |
All Other Countries | 275,705,957 | | — | | — | | 275,705,957 |
Total Common Stocks | 275,705,957 | | 14,117,618 | | — | | 289,823,575 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 2,646,050 | | — | | — | | 2,646,050 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 40,469 | | — | | — | | 40,469 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 2,686,519 | | — | | — | | 2,686,519 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 278,392,476 | | $ 14,117,618 | | $ — | | $ 292,510,094 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The table below sets forth the diversification of the Portfolio’s investments by industry.
Industry Diversification
| Value | | Percent † |
Chemicals | $ 48,771,830 | | 16.7% |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 913,780 | | 0.3 |
Construction & Engineering | 11,795,152 | | 4.0 |
Electrical Equipment | 1,014,364 | | 0.4 |
Energy Equipment & Services | 11,531,031 | | 3.9 |
Food Products | 15,485,320 | | 5.3 |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers | 4,296,401 | | 1.4 |
Metals & Mining | 56,742,026 | | 19.4 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 139,273,671 | | 47.7 |
| 289,823,575 | | 99.1 |
Short-Term Investments | 2,686,519 | | 0.9 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 73,174 | | 0.0‡ |
Net Assets | $292,583,268 | | 100.0% |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $215,414,600) including securities on loan of $160,015 | $ 289,864,044 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $2,646,050) | 2,646,050 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies (identified cost $304,847) | 303,133 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 335,312 |
Portfolio shares sold | 32,579 |
Securities lending | 1,182 |
Other assets | 2,359 |
Total assets | 293,184,659 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 40,469 |
Payables: | |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 302,593 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 190,396 |
Professional fees | 46,013 |
Shareholder communication | 14,528 |
Custodian | 7,148 |
Trustees | 244 |
Total liabilities | 601,391 |
Net assets | $ 292,583,268 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 32,763 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 401,534,448 |
| 401,567,211 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | (108,983,943) |
Net assets | $ 292,583,268 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $292,583,268 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 32,762,787 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 8.93 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $213,205) | $ 6,311,200 |
Securities lending | 171,879 |
Dividends-affiliated | 353 |
Total income | 6,483,432 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 2,128,813 |
Professional fees | 80,702 |
Custodian | 31,002 |
Shareholder communication | 19,144 |
Trustees | 5,491 |
Miscellaneous | 16,277 |
Total expenses | 2,281,429 |
Net investment income (loss) | 4,202,003 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 39,973,215 |
Foreign currency transactions | (24,544) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 39,948,671 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | 41,659,252 |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (15,861) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 41,643,391 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 81,592,062 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $85,794,065 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 4,202,003 | $ 3,497,346 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 39,948,671 | 1,573,874 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 41,643,391 | 11,424,951 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 85,794,065 | 16,496,171 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (3,323,461) | (5,462,396) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 39,038,894 | 21,659,133 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 3,323,461 | 5,462,396 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (71,157,994) | (48,522,616) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (28,795,639) | (21,401,087) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 53,674,965 | (10,367,312) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 238,908,303 | 249,275,615 |
End of year | $292,583,268 | $238,908,303 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 6.55 | | $ 6.29 | | $ 5.43 | | $ 7.61 | | $ 7.67 |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.12(a) | | 0.09(a) | | 0.13(a) | | 0.04 | | (0.01) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.36 | | 0.32 | | 0.78 | | (2.22) | | (0.05) |
Total from investment operations | 2.48 | | 0.41 | | 0.91 | | (2.18) | | (0.06) |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.10) | | (0.15) | | (0.05) | | — | | — |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 8.93 | | $ 6.55 | | $ 6.29 | | $ 5.43 | | $ 7.61 |
Total investment return (b) | 38.02% | | 6.89% | | 16.62% | | (28.65)%(c) | | (0.78)%(c) |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.56% | | 1.68% | | 2.17% | | 0.59% | | (0.10)% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.85% | | 0.86% | | 0.96% | | 0.94% | | 0.94% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 72% | | 68% | | 87% | | 78% | | 17% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 292,583 | | $ 238,908 | | $ 249,276 | | $ 240,067 | | $ 379,253 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Mellon Natural Resources Portfolio) (the "Portfolio"), a "non-diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time. However, due to its principal investment strategies and investment processes, the Portfolio has historically operated as a "diversified" portfolio. Therefore, the Portfolio will not operate as "non-diversified" portfolio without first obtaining shareholder approval.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share class that has been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | February 17, 2012 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although
the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Certain securities held by the Portfolio may principally trade in foreign markets. Events may occur between the time the foreign markets close and the time at which the Portfolio's NAVs are calculated. These events may include, but are not limited to, situations relating to a single issuer in a market sector, significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets, natural disasters, armed conflicts, governmental actions or other developments not tied directly to the securities markets. Should the Manager or the Subadvisor conclude that such events may have affected the accuracy of the last price of such securities reported on the local foreign market, the Subcommittee may, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, adjust the value of the local price to reflect the estimated impact on the price of such securities as a result of such events. In this instance, securities are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Additionally, certain foreign equity securities are also fair valued whenever the movement of a particular index exceeds certain thresholds. In such cases, the securities are fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No foreign equity securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021 were fair valued in such a manner.
If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
18 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax
returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
The Portfolio may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Portfolio's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(I) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on
securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(J) Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(K) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio.
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The Portfolio's subadvisor changed effective September 1, 2021 due to organizational restructuring whereby the portfolio managers from Mellon Investments Corporation, the Portfolio's former subadvisor, who managed the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio transitioned to Newton Investment Management North America, LLC (“Newton” or the “Subadvisor”), a registered investment adviser. Newton is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and Newton, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.79% up to $1 billion; and 0.78% in excess of $1 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.79%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $2,128,813 and paid the Subadvisor and former subadvisor aggregate fees of $1,018,658.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 1,065 | $ 82,762 | $ (81,181) | $ — | $ — | $ 2,646 | $ —(a) | $ — | 2,646 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $218,843,191 | $77,911,103 | $(4,244,200) | $73,666,903 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$4,222,963 | $(186,874,754) | $1 | $73,667,847 | $(108,983,943) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $186,874,754, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $28,653 | $158,222 |
The Portfolio utilized $38,799,418 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $3,323,461 | $5,462,396 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $5,621 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio
and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $189,306 and $218,867, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 4,898,908 | $ 39,038,894 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 391,318 | 3,323,461 |
Shares redeemed | (9,026,803) | (71,157,994) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,736,577) | $(28,795,639) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 4,689,954 | $ 21,659,133 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 997,534 | 5,462,396 |
Shares redeemed | (8,836,986) | (48,522,616) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,149,498) | $(21,401,087) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Mellon Natural Resources Portfolio)
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and transfer agents. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Newton Investment Management North America, LLC (“Newton”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Newton in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Newton in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or Newton that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and Newton personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New
York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the share class of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and Newton; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and Newton; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and Newton with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and Newton. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and Newton resulting from, among other things, the Board’s
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consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and Newton
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of Newton, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of Newton and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, Newton with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as Newton’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program;
(iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that Newton provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated Newton’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and Newton’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at Newton and New York Life Investments’ and Newton’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and Newton and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed Newton’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Newton regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to Newton as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or Newton had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolio, the Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended July 31, 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments and Newton regarding the Portfolio’s investment performance.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and Newton
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Newton due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that Newton’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of Newton’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and Newton and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Newton, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and Newton’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial
resources of New York Life Investments and Newton and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and Newton must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and Newton to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to Newton from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to Newton in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between Newton and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn
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revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to Newton, the Board considered that any profits realized by Newton due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and Newton, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to Newton by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to Newton is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Newton on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net
management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
28 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
30 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
32 | MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI533
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 1/29/1993 | 28.55% | 18.27% | 16.28% | 0.20% |
Service Class Shares | 6/5/2003 | 28.23 | 17.98 | 15.99 | 0.45 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
S&P 500® Index1 | 28.71% | 18.47% | 16.55% |
Morningstar Large Blend Category Average2 | 25.37 | 15.96 | 14.27 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. S&P 500® is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Large Blend Category Average is representative of funds that represent the overall U.S. stock market in size, growth rates and price. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap. The blend style is assigned to portfolios where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. These portfolios tend to invest across the spectrum of U.S. industries, and owing to their broad exposure, the portfolios' returns are often similar to those of the S&P 500® Index. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,116.20 | $0.64 | $1,024.60 | $0.61 | 0.12% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,114.80 | $1.97 | $1,023.34 | $1.89 | 0.37% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Software | 9.5% |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 7.2 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 6.4 |
Interactive Media & Services | 6.3 |
IT Services | 4.5 |
Banks | 4.0 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 3.8 |
Pharmaceuticals | 3.7 |
Capital Markets | 3.0 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 2.9 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 2.8 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts | 2.7 |
Automobiles | 2.5 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 2.5 |
Specialty Retail | 2.4 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 2.0 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 2.0 |
Insurance | 1.8 |
Biotechnology | 1.8 |
Chemicals | 1.8 |
Entertainment | 1.7 |
Electric Utilities | 1.6 |
Machinery | 1.5 |
Beverages | 1.4 |
Food & Staples Retailing | 1.4 |
Household Products | 1.4 |
Diversified Financial Services | 1.4 |
Aerospace & Defense | 1.3 |
Media | 1.0 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 1.0 |
Industrial Conglomerates | 1.0 |
Communications Equipment | 0.9 |
Road & Rail | 0.9 |
Food Products | 0.9 |
Multi–Utilities | 0.7% |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 0.7 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 0.7 |
Air Freight & Logistics | 0.6 |
Tobacco | 0.6 |
Consumer Finance | 0.5 |
Electrical Equipment | 0.5 |
Building Products | 0.5 |
Multiline Retail | 0.5 |
Professional Services | 0.4 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 0.4 |
Household Durables | 0.4 |
Metals & Mining | 0.4 |
Containers & Packaging | 0.3 |
Personal Products | 0.2 |
Energy Equipment & Services | 0.2 |
Trading Companies & Distributors | 0.2 |
Airlines | 0.2 |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | 0.2 |
Distributors | 0.1 |
Auto Components | 0.1 |
Construction Materials | 0.1 |
Real Estate Management & Development | 0.1 |
Water Utilities | 0.1 |
Health Care Technology | 0.1 |
Construction & Engineering | 0.0‡ |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers | 0.0‡ |
Gas Utilities | 0.0‡ |
Leisure Products | 0.0‡ |
Short–Term Investments | 0.2 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.0‡ |
| 100.0% |
‡ | Less than one–tenth of a percent. |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 9 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Apple, Inc. |
2. | Microsoft Corp. |
3. | Alphabet, Inc. |
4. | Amazon.com, Inc. |
5. | Tesla, Inc. |
6. | Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A |
7. | NVIDIA Corp. |
8. | Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B |
9. | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. |
10. | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio manager Francis J. Ok of MacKay Shields LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500® Index Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500® Index Portfolio returned 28.55% for Initial Class shares and 28.23% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 28.71% return of the S&P 500® Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark. Although the Portfolio seeks investment results that correspond to the total return performance of common stocks in the aggregate as represented by the S&P 500® Index, the Portfolio’s net performance will typically lag that of the Index because the Portfolio incurs operating expenses that the Index does not. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the 25.37% return of the Morningstar Large Blend Category Average.1
During the reporting period, which S&P 500® industries had the highest total returns and which industries had the lowest total returns?
The Index industry groups with the highest total returns during the reporting period included real estate management & development; construction & engineering; and oil, gas & consumable fuels. Conversely, the industry groups that had the lowest total returns were wireless telecommunication services, diversified telecommunication services and entertainment.
During the reporting period, which S&P 500® industries made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which industries made the weakest contributions?
The Index industries that made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the reporting period included software, interactive media & services and technology hardware storage & peripherals. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) During the same period, the industries that made the weakest contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance included entertainment, diversified telecommunications services and wireless telecommunication services.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks in the S&P 500® Index had the highest total returns and which individual stocks had the lowest total returns?
The Index stocks with the highest total returns during the reporting period were oil & gas exploration & production companies Devon Energy and Marathon Oil, and cybersecurity
company Fortinent. Conversely, the stocks with the lowest total returns were resort & casino operator Penn National Gaming, digital payment company Global Payments and resort & casino operator Las Vegas Sands.
During the reporting period, which S&P 500® stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which S&P 500® stocks made the weakest contributions?
The Index stocks that made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the reporting period included software company Microsoft, consumer electronics & services firm Apple and graphics semiconductor maker NVIDIA. The stocks making the weakest contributions were entertainment firm The Walt Disney Company and electronic payments companies PayPal Holdings and Global Payments.
Were there any changes in the S&P 500® Index during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, there were twenty-four additions to and twenty-four deletions from the S&P 500® Index. In terms of Index weight, significant additions to the S&P 500® Index included biotechnology company Moderna, Inc., manufacturer of custom software and consulting provider EPAM Systems and energy technology company Enphase Energy Inc.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio manager as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
8 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 99.8% |
Aerospace & Defense 1.3% |
Boeing Co. (The) (a) | 52,113 | $ 10,491,389 |
General Dynamics Corp. | 21,862 | 4,557,571 |
Howmet Aerospace, Inc. | 36,271 | 1,154,506 |
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | 3,779 | 705,691 |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | 18,510 | 3,947,072 |
Lockheed Martin Corp. | 23,154 | 8,229,163 |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | 14,058 | 5,441,430 |
Raytheon Technologies Corp. | 141,196 | 12,151,328 |
Textron, Inc. | 20,793 | 1,605,220 |
TransDigm Group, Inc. (a) | 4,939 | 3,142,587 |
| | 51,425,957 |
Air Freight & Logistics 0.6% |
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc. | 12,262 | 1,319,759 |
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. | 15,980 | 2,145,954 |
FedEx Corp. | 23,055 | 5,962,945 |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 68,784 | 14,743,163 |
| | 24,171,821 |
Airlines 0.2% |
Alaska Air Group, Inc. (a) | 11,820 | 615,822 |
American Airlines Group, Inc. (a)(b) | 61,082 | 1,097,032 |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (a) | 60,374 | 2,359,416 |
Southwest Airlines Co. (a) | 55,838 | 2,392,100 |
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (a) | 30,546 | 1,337,304 |
| | 7,801,674 |
Auto Components 0.1% |
Aptiv plc (a) | 25,518 | 4,209,194 |
BorgWarner, Inc. | 22,618 | 1,019,393 |
| | 5,228,587 |
Automobiles 2.5% |
Ford Motor Co. | 370,294 | 7,691,006 |
General Motors Co. (a) | 136,958 | 8,029,848 |
Tesla, Inc. (a) | 76,685 | 81,039,174 |
| | 96,760,028 |
Banks 4.0% |
Bank of America Corp. | 679,386 | 30,225,883 |
Citigroup, Inc. | 187,182 | 11,303,921 |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 40,205 | 1,899,686 |
Comerica, Inc. | 12,372 | 1,076,364 |
Fifth Third Bancorp | 64,501 | 2,809,018 |
First Republic Bank | 16,910 | 3,492,084 |
Huntington Bancshares, Inc. | 136,449 | 2,104,044 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 278,779 | 44,144,655 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Banks (continued) |
KeyCorp | 87,830 | $ 2,031,508 |
M&T Bank Corp. | 12,139 | 1,864,308 |
People's United Financial, Inc. | 40,376 | 719,500 |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | 39,869 | 7,994,532 |
Regions Financial Corp. | 89,926 | 1,960,387 |
Signature Bank | 5,720 | 1,850,248 |
SVB Financial Group (a) | 5,536 | 3,754,737 |
Truist Financial Corp. | 125,924 | 7,372,850 |
U.S. Bancorp | 127,288 | 7,149,767 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 376,128 | 18,046,621 |
Zions Bancorp NA | 14,760 | 932,242 |
| | 150,732,355 |
Beverages 1.4% |
Brown-Forman Corp., Class B | 17,238 | 1,255,961 |
Coca-Cola Co. (The) | 366,718 | 21,713,373 |
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A | 15,496 | 3,889,031 |
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B | 17,773 | 823,778 |
Monster Beverage Corp. (a) | 35,440 | 3,403,658 |
PepsiCo, Inc. | 130,430 | 22,656,995 |
| | 53,742,796 |
Biotechnology 1.8% |
AbbVie, Inc. | 166,769 | 22,580,523 |
Amgen, Inc. | 53,135 | 11,953,781 |
Biogen, Inc. (a) | 13,857 | 3,324,571 |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 118,330 | 8,591,941 |
Incyte Corp. (a) | 17,712 | 1,300,061 |
Moderna, Inc. (a) | 33,275 | 8,451,185 |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 9,973 | 6,298,149 |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 23,984 | 5,266,886 |
| | 67,767,097 |
Building Products 0.5% |
Allegion plc | 8,461 | 1,120,575 |
AO Smith Corp. | 12,564 | 1,078,619 |
Carrier Global Corp. | 81,748 | 4,434,012 |
Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. | 12,804 | 1,368,748 |
Johnson Controls International plc | 66,854 | 5,435,899 |
Masco Corp. | 23,025 | 1,616,815 |
Trane Technologies plc | 22,408 | 4,527,088 |
| | 19,581,756 |
Capital Markets 3.0% |
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | 10,555 | 3,184,021 |
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The) | 71,670 | 4,162,594 |
BlackRock, Inc. | 13,471 | 12,333,509 |
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | 10,060 | 1,311,824 |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | 141,819 | 11,926,978 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
9
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Capital Markets (continued) |
CME Group, Inc. | 33,903 | $ 7,745,479 |
FactSet Research Systems, Inc. | 3,551 | 1,725,822 |
Franklin Resources, Inc. | 26,508 | 887,753 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | 32,022 | 12,250,016 |
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | 53,148 | 7,269,052 |
Invesco Ltd. | 32,195 | 741,129 |
MarketAxess Holdings, Inc. | 3,587 | 1,475,225 |
Moody's Corp. | 15,257 | 5,959,079 |
Morgan Stanley | 135,418 | 13,292,631 |
MSCI, Inc. | 7,777 | 4,764,890 |
Nasdaq, Inc. | 11,042 | 2,318,930 |
Northern Trust Corp. | 19,589 | 2,343,040 |
Raymond James Financial, Inc. | 17,471 | 1,754,088 |
S&P Global, Inc. | 22,734 | 10,728,857 |
State Street Corp. | 34,491 | 3,207,663 |
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | 21,201 | 4,168,965 |
| | 113,551,545 |
Chemicals 1.8% |
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. | 20,882 | 6,353,557 |
Albemarle Corp. | 11,035 | 2,579,652 |
Celanese Corp. | 10,270 | 1,725,976 |
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. | 20,232 | 1,432,021 |
Corteva, Inc. | 68,760 | 3,250,973 |
Dow, Inc. | 69,770 | 3,957,354 |
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. | 48,874 | 3,948,042 |
Eastman Chemical Co. | 12,682 | 1,533,381 |
Ecolab, Inc. | 23,518 | 5,517,088 |
FMC Corp. | 11,957 | 1,313,955 |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | 24,010 | 3,617,106 |
Linde plc | 48,351 | 16,750,237 |
LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A | 24,800 | 2,287,304 |
Mosaic Co. (The) | 34,942 | 1,372,871 |
PPG Industries, Inc. | 22,395 | 3,861,794 |
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) | 22,755 | 8,013,401 |
| | 67,514,712 |
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.4% |
Cintas Corp. | 8,292 | 3,674,766 |
Copart, Inc. (a) | 20,130 | 3,052,111 |
Republic Services, Inc. | 19,742 | 2,753,022 |
Rollins, Inc. | 21,352 | 730,452 |
Waste Management, Inc. | 36,304 | 6,059,137 |
| | 16,269,488 |
Communications Equipment 0.9% |
Arista Networks, Inc. (a) | 21,161 | 3,041,894 |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 397,861 | 25,212,452 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Communications Equipment (continued) |
F5, Inc. (a) | 5,689 | $ 1,392,155 |
Juniper Networks, Inc. | 30,675 | 1,095,404 |
Motorola Solutions, Inc. | 15,933 | 4,328,996 |
| | 35,070,901 |
Construction & Engineering 0.0% ‡ |
Quanta Services, Inc. | 13,442 | 1,541,260 |
Construction Materials 0.1% |
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | 5,885 | 2,592,460 |
Vulcan Materials Co. | 12,518 | 2,598,487 |
| | 5,190,947 |
Consumer Finance 0.5% |
American Express Co. | 59,184 | 9,682,502 |
Capital One Financial Corp. | 40,150 | 5,825,364 |
Discover Financial Services | 27,647 | 3,194,887 |
Synchrony Financial | 51,625 | 2,394,884 |
| | 21,097,637 |
Containers & Packaging 0.3% |
Amcor plc | 144,628 | 1,736,982 |
Avery Dennison Corp. | 7,810 | 1,691,412 |
Ball Corp. | 30,554 | 2,941,434 |
International Paper Co. | 36,532 | 1,716,273 |
Packaging Corp. of America | 8,961 | 1,220,040 |
Sealed Air Corp. | 13,976 | 942,961 |
Westrock Co. | 25,187 | 1,117,295 |
| | 11,366,397 |
Distributors 0.1% |
Genuine Parts Co. | 13,435 | 1,883,587 |
LKQ Corp. | 25,297 | 1,518,579 |
Pool Corp. | 3,782 | 2,140,612 |
| | 5,542,778 |
Diversified Financial Services 1.4% |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B (a) | 172,759 | 51,654,941 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.0% |
AT&T, Inc. | 673,632 | 16,571,347 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | 86,928 | 1,090,946 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 390,554 | 20,293,186 |
| | 37,955,479 |
Electric Utilities 1.6% |
Alliant Energy Corp. | 23,617 | 1,451,737 |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | 47,511 | 4,227,054 |
Duke Energy Corp. | 72,563 | 7,611,859 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Electric Utilities (continued) |
Edison International | 35,838 | $ 2,445,944 |
Entergy Corp. | 18,959 | 2,135,731 |
Evergy, Inc. | 21,631 | 1,484,103 |
Eversource Energy | 32,432 | 2,950,663 |
Exelon Corp. | 92,288 | 5,330,555 |
FirstEnergy Corp. | 51,357 | 2,135,938 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 185,094 | 17,280,376 |
NRG Energy, Inc. | 23,096 | 994,976 |
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | 10,643 | 751,289 |
PPL Corp. | 70,817 | 2,128,759 |
Southern Co. (The) | 99,975 | 6,856,285 |
Xcel Energy, Inc. | 50,815 | 3,440,175 |
| | 61,225,444 |
Electrical Equipment 0.5% |
AMETEK, Inc. | 21,822 | 3,208,707 |
Eaton Corp. plc | 37,601 | 6,498,205 |
Emerson Electric Co. | 56,392 | 5,242,764 |
Generac Holdings, Inc. (a) | 5,951 | 2,094,276 |
Rockwell Automation, Inc. | 10,941 | 3,816,768 |
| | 20,860,720 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.7% |
Amphenol Corp., Class A | 56,414 | 4,933,968 |
CDW Corp. | 12,803 | 2,621,798 |
Corning, Inc. | 72,454 | 2,697,462 |
IPG Photonics Corp. (a) | 3,369 | 579,940 |
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a) | 17,376 | 3,588,318 |
TE Connectivity Ltd. | 30,782 | 4,966,368 |
Teledyne Technologies, Inc. (a) | 4,401 | 1,922,753 |
Trimble, Inc. (a) | 23,678 | 2,064,485 |
Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A (a) | 5,041 | 3,000,403 |
| | 26,375,495 |
Energy Equipment & Services 0.2% |
Baker Hughes Co. | 82,453 | 1,983,819 |
Halliburton Co. | 84,439 | 1,931,120 |
Schlumberger NV | 132,315 | 3,962,834 |
| | 7,877,773 |
Entertainment 1.7% |
Activision Blizzard, Inc. | 73,475 | 4,888,292 |
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 26,678 | 3,518,828 |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (a) | 12,743 | 1,525,210 |
Netflix, Inc. (a) | 41,785 | 25,172,955 |
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (a) | 10,877 | 1,933,061 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) (a) | 171,415 | 26,550,469 |
| | 63,588,815 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 2.7% |
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | 13,303 | $ 2,966,037 |
American Tower Corp. | 42,961 | 12,566,092 |
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | 13,182 | 3,329,641 |
Boston Properties, Inc. | 13,409 | 1,544,449 |
Crown Castle International Corp. | 40,771 | 8,510,539 |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | 26,770 | 4,734,810 |
Duke Realty Corp. | 35,927 | 2,358,248 |
Equinix, Inc. | 8,494 | 7,184,565 |
Equity Residential | 32,193 | 2,913,466 |
Essex Property Trust, Inc. | 6,140 | 2,162,692 |
Extra Space Storage, Inc. | 12,630 | 2,863,600 |
Federal Realty Investment Trust | 6,604 | 900,257 |
Healthpeak Properties, Inc. | 50,852 | 1,835,249 |
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (a) | 67,357 | 1,171,338 |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | 27,314 | 1,429,342 |
Kimco Realty Corp. | 58,150 | 1,433,398 |
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. | 10,861 | 2,491,948 |
Prologis, Inc. | 69,743 | 11,741,931 |
Public Storage | 14,391 | 5,390,293 |
Realty Income Corp. | 53,370 | 3,820,758 |
Regency Centers Corp. | 14,536 | 1,095,288 |
SBA Communications Corp. | 10,262 | 3,992,123 |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 30,999 | 4,952,710 |
UDR, Inc. | 27,416 | 1,644,686 |
Ventas, Inc. | 37,655 | 1,924,924 |
Vornado Realty Trust | 14,999 | 627,858 |
Welltower, Inc. | 41,061 | 3,521,802 |
Weyerhaeuser Co. | 70,660 | 2,909,779 |
| | 102,017,823 |
Food & Staples Retailing 1.4% |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | 41,679 | 23,661,168 |
Kroger Co. (The) | 63,836 | 2,889,218 |
Sysco Corp. | 48,360 | 3,798,678 |
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. | 67,774 | 3,535,092 |
Walmart, Inc. | 134,154 | 19,410,742 |
| | 53,294,898 |
Food Products 0.9% |
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. | 52,774 | 3,566,995 |
Campbell Soup Co. | 19,094 | 829,825 |
Conagra Brands, Inc. | 45,251 | 1,545,322 |
General Mills, Inc. | 57,137 | 3,849,891 |
Hershey Co. (The) | 13,715 | 2,653,441 |
Hormel Foods Corp. | 26,614 | 1,299,029 |
J M Smucker Co. (The) | 10,222 | 1,388,352 |
Kellogg Co. | 24,134 | 1,554,712 |
Kraft Heinz Co. (The) | 66,971 | 2,404,259 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Food Products (continued) |
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | 13,779 | $ 873,313 |
McCormick & Co., Inc. (Non-Voting) | 23,522 | 2,272,460 |
Mondelez International, Inc., Class A | 131,592 | 8,725,866 |
Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A | 27,811 | 2,424,007 |
| | 33,387,472 |
Gas Utilities 0.0% ‡ |
Atmos Energy Corp. | 12,492 | 1,308,787 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 2.9% |
Abbott Laboratories | 166,808 | 23,476,558 |
ABIOMED, Inc. (a) | 4,292 | 1,541,558 |
Align Technology, Inc. (a) | 6,918 | 4,546,371 |
Baxter International, Inc. | 47,232 | 4,054,395 |
Becton Dickinson and Co. | 27,092 | 6,813,096 |
Boston Scientific Corp. (a) | 134,424 | 5,710,332 |
Cooper Cos., Inc. (The) | 4,651 | 1,948,490 |
Dentsply Sirona, Inc. | 20,622 | 1,150,502 |
Dexcom, Inc. (a) | 9,143 | 4,909,334 |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (a) | 58,895 | 7,629,847 |
Hologic, Inc. (a) | 23,912 | 1,830,703 |
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (a) | 7,999 | 5,267,022 |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a) | 33,674 | 12,099,068 |
Medtronic plc | 126,954 | 13,133,391 |
ResMed, Inc. | 13,746 | 3,580,558 |
STERIS plc | 9,435 | 2,296,573 |
Stryker Corp. | 31,672 | 8,469,726 |
Teleflex, Inc. | 4,419 | 1,451,553 |
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | 19,707 | 2,503,577 |
| | 112,412,654 |
Health Care Providers & Services 2.8% |
AmerisourceBergen Corp. | 14,113 | 1,875,476 |
Anthem, Inc. | 22,896 | 10,613,212 |
Cardinal Health, Inc. | 26,582 | 1,368,707 |
Centene Corp. (a) | 55,044 | 4,535,626 |
Cigna Corp. | 31,265 | 7,179,382 |
CVS Health Corp. | 124,525 | 12,845,999 |
DaVita, Inc. (a) | 6,152 | 699,851 |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 22,592 | 5,804,337 |
Henry Schein, Inc. (a) | 13,082 | 1,014,247 |
Humana, Inc. | 12,125 | 5,624,302 |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (a) | 9,028 | 2,836,688 |
McKesson Corp. | 14,403 | 3,580,154 |
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. | 11,572 | 2,002,072 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 88,848 | 44,614,135 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Health Care Providers & Services (continued) |
Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B | 6,898 | $ 894,395 |
| | 105,488,583 |
Health Care Technology 0.1% |
Cerner Corp. | 27,755 | 2,577,607 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.0% |
Booking Holdings, Inc. (a) | 3,874 | 9,294,617 |
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (a) | 20,166 | 1,886,126 |
Carnival Corp. (a) | 75,887 | 1,526,846 |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (a) | 2,654 | 4,639,855 |
Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 12,243 | 1,844,285 |
Domino's Pizza, Inc. | 3,432 | 1,936,781 |
Expedia Group, Inc. (a) | 13,773 | 2,489,057 |
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (a) | 26,293 | 4,101,445 |
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (a) | 32,431 | 1,220,703 |
Marriott International, Inc., Class A (a) | 25,807 | 4,264,349 |
McDonald's Corp. | 70,490 | 18,896,254 |
MGM Resorts International | 36,718 | 1,647,904 |
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (a) | 34,906 | 723,950 |
Penn National Gaming, Inc. (a) | 15,671 | 812,541 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (a) | 21,151 | 1,626,512 |
Starbucks Corp. | 111,313 | 13,020,282 |
Wynn Resorts Ltd. (a) | 9,928 | 844,277 |
Yum! Brands, Inc. | 27,652 | 3,839,757 |
| | 74,615,541 |
Household Durables 0.4% |
DR Horton, Inc. | 30,748 | 3,334,621 |
Garmin Ltd. | 14,332 | 1,951,588 |
Lennar Corp., Class A | 25,645 | 2,978,923 |
Mohawk Industries, Inc. (a) | 5,175 | 942,781 |
Newell Brands, Inc. | 35,715 | 780,016 |
NVR, Inc. (a) | 309 | 1,825,841 |
PulteGroup, Inc. | 23,884 | 1,365,209 |
Whirlpool Corp. | 5,730 | 1,344,602 |
| | 14,523,581 |
Household Products 1.4% |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | 23,031 | 2,360,677 |
Clorox Co. (The) | 11,590 | 2,020,832 |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | 79,508 | 6,785,213 |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | 31,764 | 4,539,711 |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | 228,281 | 37,342,206 |
| | 53,048,639 |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 0.0% ‡ |
AES Corp. (The) | 62,893 | 1,528,300 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Industrial Conglomerates 1.0% |
3M Co. | 54,360 | $ 9,655,967 |
General Electric Co. | 103,591 | 9,786,241 |
Honeywell International, Inc. | 64,941 | 13,540,848 |
Roper Technologies, Inc. | 9,951 | 4,894,499 |
| | 37,877,555 |
Insurance 1.8% |
Aflac, Inc. | 57,412 | 3,352,287 |
Allstate Corp. (The) | 27,043 | 3,181,609 |
American International Group, Inc. | 78,325 | 4,453,559 |
Aon plc, Class A | 20,785 | 6,247,140 |
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | 19,553 | 3,317,558 |
Assurant, Inc. | 5,375 | 837,748 |
Brown & Brown, Inc. | 22,113 | 1,554,102 |
Chubb Ltd. | 40,633 | 7,854,765 |
Cincinnati Financial Corp. | 14,137 | 1,610,628 |
Everest Re Group Ltd. | 3,714 | 1,017,339 |
Globe Life, Inc. | 8,764 | 821,362 |
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | 32,107 | 2,216,667 |
Lincoln National Corp. | 16,024 | 1,093,798 |
Loews Corp. | 18,905 | 1,091,953 |
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | 47,628 | 8,278,699 |
MetLife, Inc. | 67,447 | 4,214,763 |
Principal Financial Group, Inc. | 23,254 | 1,681,962 |
Progressive Corp. (The) | 55,191 | 5,665,356 |
Prudential Financial, Inc. | 35,658 | 3,859,622 |
Travelers Cos., Inc. (The) | 23,207 | 3,630,271 |
W R Berkley Corp. | 13,164 | 1,084,582 |
Willis Towers Watson plc | 11,754 | 2,791,457 |
| | 69,857,227 |
Interactive Media & Services 6.3% |
Alphabet, Inc. (a) | | |
Class A | 28,358 | 82,154,260 |
Class C | 26,359 | 76,272,139 |
|
Match Group, Inc. (a) | 26,704 | 3,531,604 |
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A (a) | 223,071 | 75,029,931 |
Twitter, Inc. (a) | 75,430 | 3,260,085 |
| | 240,248,019 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 3.8% |
Amazon.com, Inc. (a) | 41,116 | 137,094,723 |
eBay, Inc. | 59,053 | 3,927,025 |
Etsy, Inc. (a) | 11,960 | 2,618,522 |
| | 143,640,270 |
| Shares | Value |
|
IT Services 4.5% |
Accenture plc, Class A | 59,585 | $ 24,700,962 |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a) | 15,327 | 1,793,872 |
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | 39,750 | 9,801,555 |
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 10,997 | 2,010,471 |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A | 49,549 | 4,395,987 |
DXC Technology Co. (a) | 23,794 | 765,929 |
EPAM Systems, Inc. (a) | 5,347 | 3,574,202 |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | 57,443 | 6,269,903 |
Fiserv, Inc. (a) | 56,054 | 5,817,845 |
FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a) | 7,660 | 1,714,614 |
Gartner, Inc. (a) | 7,758 | 2,593,655 |
Global Payments, Inc. | 27,371 | 3,700,012 |
International Business Machines Corp. | 84,598 | 11,307,369 |
Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. | 6,985 | 1,166,425 |
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 81,833 | 29,404,234 |
Paychex, Inc. | 30,274 | 4,132,401 |
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (a) | 110,835 | 20,901,264 |
VeriSign, Inc. (a) | 9,116 | 2,313,823 |
Visa, Inc., Class A | 158,196 | 34,282,655 |
| | 170,647,178 |
Leisure Products 0.0% ‡ |
Hasbro, Inc. | 12,232 | 1,244,973 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 2.0% |
Agilent Technologies, Inc. | 28,557 | 4,559,125 |
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A (a) | 2,038 | 1,539,852 |
Bio-Techne Corp. | 3,707 | 1,917,780 |
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (a) | 4,760 | 1,793,473 |
Danaher Corp. | 59,993 | 19,738,297 |
Illumina, Inc. (a) | 14,744 | 5,609,207 |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc. (a) | 18,021 | 5,084,445 |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | 2,168 | 3,679,551 |
PerkinElmer, Inc. | 11,905 | 2,393,619 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 37,172 | 24,802,645 |
Waters Corp. (a) | 5,758 | 2,145,431 |
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | 6,988 | 3,277,442 |
| | 76,540,867 |
Machinery 1.5% |
Caterpillar, Inc. | 51,029 | 10,549,735 |
Cummins, Inc. | 13,493 | 2,943,363 |
Deere & Co. | 26,617 | 9,126,703 |
Dover Corp. | 13,583 | 2,466,673 |
Fortive Corp. | 33,826 | 2,580,586 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Machinery (continued) |
IDEX Corp. | 7,172 | $ 1,694,887 |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | 26,945 | 6,650,026 |
Ingersoll Rand, Inc. | 38,449 | 2,378,840 |
Otis Worldwide Corp. | 40,070 | 3,488,895 |
PACCAR, Inc. | 32,750 | 2,890,515 |
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 12,178 | 3,874,065 |
Pentair plc | 15,610 | 1,139,998 |
Snap-on, Inc. | 5,068 | 1,091,546 |
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. | 15,379 | 2,900,787 |
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. | 17,623 | 1,623,255 |
Xylem, Inc. | 17,011 | 2,039,959 |
| | 57,439,833 |
Media 1.0% |
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A (a) | 11,670 | 7,608,490 |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 430,109 | 21,647,386 |
Discovery, Inc., Class A (a)(b) | 15,962 | 375,745 |
Discovery, Inc., Class C (a) | 28,652 | 656,131 |
DISH Network Corp., Class A (a) | 23,556 | 764,157 |
Fox Corp. | | |
Class A | 30,219 | 1,115,081 |
Class B | 13,872 | 475,393 |
|
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The) | 37,144 | 1,391,043 |
News Corp. | | |
Class A | 37,076 | 827,166 |
Class B | 11,487 | 258,457 |
|
Omnicom Group, Inc. | 20,051 | 1,469,137 |
ViacomCBS, Inc. | 57,232 | 1,727,262 |
| | 38,315,448 |
Metals & Mining 0.4% |
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. | 138,526 | 5,780,690 |
Newmont Corp. | 75,224 | 4,665,392 |
Nucor Corp. | 26,960 | 3,077,484 |
| | 13,523,566 |
Multiline Retail 0.5% |
Dollar General Corp. | 22,009 | 5,190,382 |
Dollar Tree, Inc. (a) | 21,217 | 2,981,413 |
Target Corp. | 46,038 | 10,655,035 |
| | 18,826,830 |
Multi-Utilities 0.7% |
Ameren Corp. | 24,301 | 2,163,032 |
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. | 59,323 | 1,655,705 |
CMS Energy Corp. | 27,328 | 1,777,686 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Multi-Utilities (continued) |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | 33,370 | $ 2,847,128 |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | 76,401 | 6,002,063 |
DTE Energy Co. | 18,275 | 2,184,594 |
NiSource, Inc. | 37,045 | 1,022,812 |
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | 47,701 | 3,183,088 |
Sempra Energy | 30,124 | 3,984,803 |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 29,756 | 2,888,415 |
| | 27,709,326 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 2.5% |
APA Corp. | 34,269 | 921,494 |
Chevron Corp. | 181,844 | 21,339,393 |
ConocoPhillips | 124,420 | 8,980,636 |
Coterra Energy, Inc. | 76,747 | 1,458,193 |
Devon Energy Corp. | 59,393 | 2,616,262 |
Diamondback Energy, Inc. | 16,065 | 1,732,610 |
EOG Resources, Inc. | 55,193 | 4,902,794 |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | 399,365 | 24,437,144 |
Hess Corp. | 26,004 | 1,925,076 |
Kinder Morgan, Inc. | 183,948 | 2,917,415 |
Marathon Oil Corp. | 73,442 | 1,205,918 |
Marathon Petroleum Corp. | 58,070 | 3,715,899 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | 83,700 | 2,426,463 |
ONEOK, Inc. | 42,067 | 2,471,857 |
Phillips 66 | 41,334 | 2,995,062 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | 21,418 | 3,895,506 |
Valero Energy Corp. | 38,567 | 2,896,767 |
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) | 114,617 | 2,984,627 |
| | 93,823,116 |
Personal Products 0.2% |
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A | 21,857 | 8,091,461 |
Pharmaceuticals 3.7% |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 209,386 | 13,055,217 |
Catalent, Inc. (a) | 16,149 | 2,067,556 |
Eli Lilly and Co. | 74,898 | 20,688,326 |
Johnson & Johnson | 248,341 | 42,483,695 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 238,280 | 18,261,779 |
Organon & Co. | 23,918 | 728,303 |
Pfizer, Inc. | 529,479 | 31,265,735 |
Viatris, Inc. | 114,086 | 1,543,584 |
Zoetis, Inc. | 44,631 | 10,891,303 |
| | 140,985,498 |
Professional Services 0.4% |
Equifax, Inc. | 11,509 | 3,369,720 |
IHS Markit Ltd. | 37,624 | 5,000,982 |
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. | 12,293 | 1,711,555 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Professional Services (continued) |
Leidos Holdings, Inc. | 13,239 | $ 1,176,947 |
Nielsen Holdings plc | 33,847 | 694,202 |
Robert Half International, Inc. | 10,502 | 1,171,183 |
Verisk Analytics, Inc. | 15,203 | 3,477,382 |
| | 16,601,971 |
Real Estate Management & Development 0.1% |
CBRE Group, Inc., Class A (a) | 31,570 | 3,425,661 |
Road & Rail 0.9% |
CSX Corp. | 209,229 | 7,867,010 |
JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc. | 7,925 | 1,619,870 |
Norfolk Southern Corp. | 22,955 | 6,833,933 |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | 8,788 | 3,149,444 |
Union Pacific Corp. | 60,644 | 15,278,043 |
| | 34,748,300 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 6.4% |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a) | 113,917 | 16,392,656 |
Analog Devices, Inc. | 50,696 | 8,910,836 |
Applied Materials, Inc. | 85,176 | 13,403,295 |
Broadcom, Inc. | 38,829 | 25,837,205 |
Enphase Energy, Inc. (a) | 12,727 | 2,328,277 |
Intel Corp. | 383,652 | 19,758,078 |
KLA Corp. | 14,303 | 6,151,863 |
Lam Research Corp. | 13,282 | 9,551,750 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. | 52,343 | 4,556,982 |
Micron Technology, Inc. | 105,523 | 9,829,467 |
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 4,087 | 2,016,240 |
NVIDIA Corp. | 235,677 | 69,314,963 |
NXP Semiconductors NV | 25,086 | 5,714,089 |
Qorvo, Inc. (a) | 10,398 | 1,626,143 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 105,653 | 19,320,764 |
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. | 15,579 | 2,416,926 |
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (a) | 4,954 | 1,389,944 |
Teradyne, Inc. | 15,377 | 2,514,601 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 87,119 | 16,419,318 |
Xilinx, Inc. | 23,383 | 4,957,898 |
| | 242,411,295 |
Software 9.5% |
Adobe, Inc. (a) | 44,884 | 25,451,921 |
ANSYS, Inc. (a) | 8,231 | 3,301,619 |
Autodesk, Inc. (a) | 20,739 | 5,831,599 |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (a) | 26,144 | 4,871,934 |
Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc. (a) | 12,848 | 1,342,102 |
Citrix Systems, Inc. | 11,765 | 1,112,851 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Software (continued) |
Fortinet, Inc. (a) | 12,801 | $ 4,600,679 |
Intuit, Inc. | 26,712 | 17,181,693 |
Microsoft Corp. | 707,782 | 238,041,241 |
NortonLifeLock, Inc. | 54,879 | 1,425,757 |
Oracle Corp. | 152,147 | 13,268,740 |
Paycom Software, Inc. (a) | 4,541 | 1,885,378 |
PTC, Inc. (a) | 9,966 | 1,207,381 |
salesforce.com, Inc. (a) | 92,352 | 23,469,414 |
ServiceNow, Inc. (a) | 18,772 | 12,185,093 |
Synopsys, Inc. (a) | 14,386 | 5,301,241 |
Tyler Technologies, Inc. (a) | 3,865 | 2,079,177 |
| | 362,557,820 |
Specialty Retail 2.4% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | 5,943 | 1,425,607 |
AutoZone, Inc. (a) | 1,978 | 4,146,659 |
Bath & Body Works, Inc. | 24,939 | 1,740,493 |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 20,882 | 2,121,611 |
CarMax, Inc. (a) | 15,293 | 1,991,607 |
Gap, Inc. (The) | 20,223 | 356,936 |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 99,555 | 41,316,321 |
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | 65,319 | 16,883,655 |
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a) | 6,356 | 4,488,798 |
Ross Stores, Inc. | 33,523 | 3,831,008 |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | 113,439 | 8,612,289 |
Tractor Supply Co. | 10,737 | 2,561,848 |
Ulta Beauty, Inc. (a) | 5,128 | 2,114,480 |
| | 91,591,312 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 7.2% |
Apple, Inc. (c) | 1,469,309 | 260,905,199 |
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. | 123,392 | 1,945,892 |
HP, Inc. | 108,721 | 4,095,520 |
NetApp, Inc. | 21,096 | 1,940,621 |
Seagate Technology Holdings plc | 19,322 | 2,183,000 |
Western Digital Corp. (a) | 29,396 | 1,916,913 |
| | 272,987,145 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.7% |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | 120,539 | 20,090,235 |
PVH Corp. | 6,703 | 714,875 |
Ralph Lauren Corp. | 4,597 | 546,399 |
Tapestry, Inc. | 25,955 | 1,053,773 |
Under Armour, Inc. (a) | | |
Class A | 17,796 | 377,097 |
Class C | 20,288 | 365,996 |
|
VF Corp. | 30,753 | 2,251,735 |
| | 25,400,110 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Tobacco 0.6% |
Altria Group, Inc. | 173,289 | $ 8,212,166 |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | 146,860 | 13,951,700 |
| | 22,163,866 |
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.2% |
Fastenal Co. | 54,257 | 3,475,703 |
United Rentals, Inc. (a) | 6,829 | 2,269,208 |
WW Grainger, Inc. | 4,082 | 2,115,456 |
| | 7,860,367 |
Water Utilities 0.1% |
American Water Works Co., Inc. | 17,125 | 3,234,227 |
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.2% |
T-Mobile US, Inc. (a) | 55,379 | 6,422,856 |
Total Common Stocks (d) (Cost $1,058,781,865) | | 3,806,276,385 |
|
Short-Term Investments 0.2% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.0% ‡ |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (e) | 73,463 | 73,463 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 0.1% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, 0.025% (e)(f) | 300,000 | 300,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (e)(f) | 1,114,637 | 1,114,637 |
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies (Cost $1,414,637) | | 1,414,637 |
|
| Principal Amount | | Value |
U.S. Treasury Debt 0.1% |
U.S. Treasury Bills | | | |
0.055%, due 3/17/22 (c)(g) | $ 3,700,000 | | $ 3,699,585 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $5,187,675) | | | 5,187,685 |
Total Investments (Cost $1,063,969,540) | 100.0% | | 3,811,464,070 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.0‡ | | 1,119,177 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 3,812,583,247 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $1,362,478. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $1,414,637. (See Note 2(H)) |
(c) | Represents a security, or portion thereof, which was maintained at the broker as collateral for futures contracts. |
(d) | The combined market value of common stocks and notional value of Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures contracts represents 99.9% of the Portfolio’s net assets. |
(e) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(f) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
(g) | Interest rate shown represents yield to maturity. |
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)1 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
S&P 500 E-Mini Index | 15 | March 2022 | $ 3,473,932 | $ 3,568,875 | $ 94,943 |
1. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 3,806,276,385 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 3,806,276,385 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 73,463 | | — | | — | | 73,463 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 1,414,637 | | — | | — | | 1,414,637 |
U.S. Treasury Debt | — | | 3,699,585 | | — | | 3,699,585 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 1,488,100 | | 3,699,585 | | — | | 5,187,685 |
Total Investments in Securities | 3,807,764,485 | | 3,699,585 | | — | | 3,811,464,070 |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | 94,943 | | — | | — | | 94,943 |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ 3,807,859,428 | | $ 3,699,585 | | $ — | | $ 3,811,559,013 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $1,063,896,077) including securities on loan of $1,362,478 | $3,811,390,607 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $73,463) | 73,463 |
Cash | 11,154 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends and interest | 2,302,579 |
Portfolio shares sold | 1,754,250 |
Securities lending | 301 |
Other assets | 131,713 |
Total assets | 3,815,664,067 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 1,414,637 |
Payables: | |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 764,692 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 430,249 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 251,420 |
Shareholder communication | 108,336 |
Professional fees | 64,912 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 26,144 |
Custodian | 14,946 |
Trustees | 5,484 |
Total liabilities | 3,080,820 |
Net assets | $3,812,583,247 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 42,704 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 939,748,873 |
| 939,791,577 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 2,872,791,670 |
Net assets | $3,812,583,247 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $1,745,640,082 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 19,446,871 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 89.76 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $2,066,943,165 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 23,256,952 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 88.87 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $6,675) | $ 50,842,220 |
Interest | 11,088 |
Securities lending | 8,291 |
Dividends-affiliated | 22 |
Total income | 50,861,621 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 5,697,657 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 4,613,101 |
Professional fees | 218,362 |
Shareholder communication | 191,741 |
Custodian | 93,576 |
Trustees | 76,223 |
Miscellaneous | 299,240 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 11,189,900 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (2,218,668) |
Net expenses | 8,971,232 |
Net investment income (loss) | 41,890,389 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 95,982,876 |
Futures transactions | 7,797,555 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 103,780,431 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | 764,798,601 |
Futures contracts | (295,796) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 764,502,805 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 868,283,236 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $910,173,625 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 41,890,389 | $ 39,963,323 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 103,780,431 | 34,324,525 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 764,502,805 | 469,492,808 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 910,173,625 | 543,780,656 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (37,666,492) | (32,014,852) |
Service Class | (39,080,413) | (28,858,985) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (76,746,905) | (60,873,837) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 364,010,795 | 717,352,187 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 76,746,905 | 60,873,837 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (831,676,688) | (356,638,845) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (390,918,988) | 421,587,179 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 442,507,732 | 904,493,998 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 3,370,075,515 | 2,465,581,517 |
End of year | $3,812,583,247 | $3,370,075,515 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 71.41 | | $ 61.70 | | $ 48.11 | | $ 52.02 | | $ 44.05 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 1.03 | | 1.00 | | 1.01 | | 1.04 | | 0.80 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 19.19 | | 10.13 | | 13.88 | | (3.15) | | 8.60 |
Total from investment operations | 20.22 | | 11.13 | | 14.89 | | (2.11) | | 9.40 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (1.01) | | (0.91) | | (1.00) | | (0.78) | | (0.70) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.86) | | (0.51) | | (0.30) | | (1.02) | | (0.73) |
Total distributions | (1.87) | | (1.42) | | (1.30) | | (1.80) | | (1.43) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 89.76 | | $ 71.41 | | $ 61.70 | | $ 48.11 | | $ 52.02 |
Total investment return (b) | 28.55% | | 18.24% | | 31.25% | | (4.52)% | | 21.49% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.28% | | 1.61% | | 1.80% | | 1.95% | | 1.65% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.12% | | 0.13% | | 0.16% | | 0.16% | | 0.22% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.18% | | 0.20% | | 0.19% | | 0.19% | | 0.23% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 3% | | 2% | | 7% | | 9% | | 3% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 1,745,640 | | $ 1,749,834 | | $ 1,123,943 | | $ 1,001,911 | | $ 1,156,346 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 70.76 | | $ 61.19 | | $ 47.74 | | $ 51.66 | | $ 43.80 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.83 | | 0.83 | | 0.86 | | 0.90 | | 0.67 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 18.99 | | 10.03 | | 13.77 | | (3.13) | | 8.54 |
Total from investment operations | 19.82 | | 10.86 | | 14.63 | | (2.23) | | 9.21 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.85) | | (0.78) | | (0.88) | | (0.67) | | (0.62) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.86) | | (0.51) | | (0.30) | | (1.02) | | (0.73) |
Total distributions | (1.71) | | (1.29) | | (1.18) | | (1.69) | | (1.35) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 88.87 | | $ 70.76 | | $ 61.19 | | $ 47.74 | | $ 51.66 |
Total investment return (b) | 28.23% | | 17.95% | | 30.92% | | (4.76)% | | 21.19% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.03% | | 1.37% | | 1.54% | | 1.70% | | 1.40% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.37% | | 0.38% | | 0.41% | | 0.41% | | 0.47% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.43% | | 0.45% | | 0.44% | | 0.44% | | 0.48% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 3% | | 2% | | 7% | | 9% | | 3% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 2,066,943 | | $ 1,620,242 | | $ 1,341,639 | | $ 920,531 | | $ 897,611 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | January 29, 1993 |
Service Class | June 5, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the total return performance (reflecting reinvestment of dividends) of common stocks in the aggregate, as represented by the S&P 500® Index.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
22 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to
calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to
three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
24 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
(G) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities
lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(I) Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
(J) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(K) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The Portfolio entered into futures contracts to manage its exposure to the securities markets or to movements in interest rates and currency values.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Asset Derivatives | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts (a) | $94,943 | $94,943 |
Total Fair Value | $94,943 | $94,943 |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $7,797,555 | $7,797,555 |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $7,797,555 | $7,797,555 |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $(295,796) | $(295,796) |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $(295,796) | $(295,796) |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Futures Contracts Long | $26,093,688 |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory
Agreement") between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.16% up to $2.5 billion; and 0.15% in excess of $2.5 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.16% (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements).
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments, and acquired (underlying) portfolio/fund fees and expenses) of Initial Class shares and Service Class shares do not exceed 0.12% and 0.37%, respectively, of the Portfolio's average daily net assets. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $5,697,657 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $2,218,668 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $1,740,529.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service
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fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 1,897 | $ 54,159 | $ (55,983) | $ — | $ — | $ 73 | $ —(a) | $ — | 73 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $1,081,200,267 | $2,743,557,760 | $(13,293,957) | $2,730,263,803 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$89,260,487 | $53,061,761 | $205,619 | $2,730,263,803 | $2,872,791,670 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments and mark to market of futures contracts. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $56,145,964 | $47,539,689 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 20,600,941 | 13,334,148 |
Total | $76,746,905 | $60,873,837 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $8,289 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $99,147 and $493,076, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 1,447,144 | $ 111,542,140 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 455,821 | 37,666,492 |
Shares redeemed | (6,961,317) | (569,084,066) |
Net increase (decrease) | (5,058,352) | $(419,875,434) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 7,686,597 | $ 453,164,433 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 490,124 | 32,014,852 |
Shares redeemed | (1,887,708) | (114,377,735) |
Net increase (decrease) | 6,289,013 | $ 370,801,550 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 3,147,547 | $ 252,468,655 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 477,391 | 39,080,413 |
Shares redeemed | (3,266,373) | (262,592,622) |
Net increase (decrease) | 358,565 | $ 28,956,446 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 4,480,239 | $ 264,187,754 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 445,605 | 28,858,985 |
Shares redeemed | (3,954,679) | (242,261,110) |
Net increase (decrease) | 971,165 | $ 50,785,629 |
Note 10-Litigation
The Portfolio has been named as a defendant in the case entitled Kirschner v. FitzSimons, No. 12-2652 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “FitzSimons action”) as a result of its ownership of shares in the Tribune Company (“Tribune”) in 2007 when Tribune effected a leveraged buyout transaction (“LBO”) by which Tribune converted to a privately-held company. In its complaint, the plaintiff asserts claims against certain insiders, shareholders, professional advisers, and others involved in the LBO.
Separately, the complaint also seeks to obtain from former Tribune shareholders, including the Portfolio, any proceeds they received in connection with the LBO. The sole claim and cause of action brought against the Portfolio is for fraudulent conveyance pursuant to United States Bankruptcy Code Section 548(a)(1)(A).
In June 2011, certain Tribune creditors filed numerous additional actions asserting state law constructive fraudulent conveyance claims (the “SLCFC actions”) against specifically-named former Tribune shareholders and, in some cases, putative defendant classes comprised of former Tribune shareholders. One of the SLCFC actions, entitled Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas v. Blackrock Institutional Trust Co., No. 11-9319 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “Deutsche Bank action”), named the Portfolio as a defendant.
The FitzSimons action and Deutsche Bank action have been consolidated with the majority of the other Tribune LBO-related lawsuits in a multidistrict litigation proceeding entitled In re Tribune Co. Fraudulent Conveyance Litig., No. 11-md-2296 (S.D.N.Y.) (the “MDL Proceeding”).
On September 23, 2013, the District Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the SLCFC actions, including the Deutsche Bank action, on the basis that the plaintiffs did not have standing to pursue their claims. On September 30, 2013, the plaintiffs in the SLCFC actions filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On October 28, 2013, the defendants filed a joint notice of cross-appeal of that same order. On November 5, 2014, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held an oral argument on appeal. On March 29, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its opinion on the appeal of the SLCFC actions. The appeals court affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of those lawsuits, but on different grounds than the District Court. The appeals court held that while the plaintiffs have standing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, their claims were pre-empted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code—the statutory safe harbor for settlement payments. On April 12, 2016, the plaintiffs in the SLCFC actions filed a petition seeking rehearing en banc before the appeals court. On July 22, 2016, the appeals court denied the petition. On September 9, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Second Circuit’s decision that the safe harbor of Section 546(e) applied to their claims. Certain shareholder defendants filed a joint brief in opposition to the petition for certiorari on October 24, 2016. The plaintiffs filed a reply in support of the petition on November 4, 2016. On April 3, 2018, Justice Kennedy and Justice Thomas issued a “Statement” related to the petition for certiorari
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suggesting that the Second Circuit and/or District Court may want to take steps to reexamine the application of the Section 546(e) safe harbor to the previously dismissed state law constructive fraudulent transfer claims based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Merit Management Group LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc. On April 10, 2018, the plaintiffs filed in the Second Circuit a motion for that court to recall its mandate, vacate its prior decision, and remand to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with Merit Management. On April 20, 2018, the shareholder defendants filed a response to the plaintiffs’ motion to recall the mandate. On May 15, 2018, the Second Circuit issued an order recalling the mandate “in anticipation of further panel review.” On December 19, 2019, the Second Circuit issued an amended opinion that again affirmed the district court’s ruling on the basis that plaintiffs’ claims were preempted by Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code. Plaintiffs filed a motion for rehearing and rehearing en banc on January 2, 2020, which was denied on February 6, 2020. Plaintiffs filed a new petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court on July 6, 2020. In that petition, plaintiffs stated that “[t]o make it more likely that there will be a quorum for this petition,” they have “abandon[ed] the case and let the judgment below stand” with respect to certain defendants. That list did not include the Portfolio. Defendants filed an opposition to the certiorari petition on August 26, 2020. Plaintiffs filed a reply in support of the petition for certiorari on September 8, 2020. On March 12, 2021, the Solicitor General filed an amicus brief recommending that certiorari be denied. Plaintiffs filed a supplemental brief in response to the Solicitor General’s amicus brief on March 31, 2021, and Defendants filed a supplemental brief on April 1, 2021. The Supreme Court denied the petition for certiorari on April 19, 2021.
On August 2, 2013, the plaintiff in the FitzSimons action filed a Fifth Amended Complaint. On May 23, 2014, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the FitzSimons action, including a global motion to dismiss Count I, which is the claim brought against former Tribune shareholders for intentional fraudulent conveyance under U.S. federal law. On January 6, 2017, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the shareholder defendants’ motion to dismiss the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim in the FitzSimons action. In dismissing the intentional fraudulent conveyance claim, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request to amend the complaint. The Court’s order is not immediately appealable, but the plaintiff has asked the Court to direct entry of a final judgment in order to make the order immediately appealable. On February 23, 2017, the Court issued an order stating that it intends to permit an interlocutory appeal of the dismissal order, but will wait to do so until it has resolved outstanding motions to dismiss filed by other defendants.
On July 18, 2017, the plaintiff submitted a letter to the District Court seeking leave to amend its complaint to add a constructive fraudulent transfer claim. The shareholder defendants opposed that request.
On August 24, 2017, the Court denied the plaintiff’s request without prejudice to renewal of the request in the event of an intervening change in the law. On March 8, 2018, the plaintiff renewed his request for leave to file a motion to amend the complaint to assert a constructive
fraudulent transfer claim based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Merit Management. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On June 18, 2018, the District Court ordered that the request would be stayed pending further action by the Second Circuit in the still-pending appeal, discussed above. On December 18, 2018, the plaintiff filed a letter with the District Court requesting that the stay be dissolved in order to permit briefing on the motion to amend the complaint and indicating the plaintiff’s intention to file another motion to amend the complaint to reinstate claims for intentional fraudulent transfer. The shareholder defendants opposed that request. On January 14, 2019, the Court held a case management conference, during which the Court stated that it would not lift the stay prior to further action from the Second Circuit. The Court stated that it would allow the plaintiff to file a motion to amend to try to reinstate its intentional fraudulent transfer claim. On January 23, 2019, the Court ordered the parties still facing pending claims to participate in a mediation. On March 27, 2019, the Court held a telephone conference and decided to allow the plaintiff to file a motion for leave to amend. On April 4, 2019, the plaintiff filed a motion to amend the Fifth Amended Complaint to assert a federal constructive fraudulent transfer claim against certain shareholder defendants. On April 10, 2019, the shareholder defendants filed a brief in opposition to the plaintiff’s motion to amend. On April 12, 2019, the plaintiff filed a reply brief. The Court denied leave to amend the complaint on April 23, 2019. On June 13, 2019, the Court entered judgment pursuant to Rule 54(b), which would permit an appeal of the Court’s dismissal of the claim against the shareholder defendants. On July 15, 2019, the Trustee filed a notice of appeal to the Second Circuit. Appellant filed his brief on January 7, 2020. The shareholder defendants filed an opposition brief on April 27, 2020, and Appellant filed a reply brief on May 18, 2020. The Court held oral argument on August 24, 2020 and, on August 20, 2021, affirmed the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s intentional fraudulent conveyance claims and denial of leave to amend. Plaintiff filed a petition for rehearing en banc on September 3, 2021. The petition was denied on October 7, 2021. On January 5, 2022, Plaintiff filed a petition for certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, the District Court has entered two bar orders in connection with the plaintiff’s settlement with certain non-shareholder defendants. The orders bar claims against the settling defendants, but contain a judgment reduction provision that preserves the value of any potential claim by a shareholder defendant against a settling defendant. Specifically, the judgment reduction provision reduces the amount of money recoverable against a shareholder defendant to the extent the shareholder defendant could have recovered on a claim against a settling defendant.
The value of the proceeds received by the Portfolio in connection with the LBO and the Portfolio's cost basis in shares of Tribune was as follows:
Portfolio | Proceeds | Cost Basis |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio | $682,856 | $527,309 |
At this stage of the proceedings, the Portfolio does not believe a loss is probable; however, it is difficult to assess with any reasonable certainty the outcome of the pending litigation or the effect, if any, on the Portfolio's net asset value.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 11–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 12–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers; when replies were not received from broker, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or MacKay that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and MacKay personnel. In
addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and MacKay; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio manager of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and MacKay; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and MacKay. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
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Investments and MacKay resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of MacKay, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of MacKay and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated MacKay’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay and New York Life Investments’ and MacKay’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed MacKay’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio manager, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the method for compensating the portfolio manager.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to MacKay as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or MacKay had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including MacKay, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and MacKay must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and MacKay to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board
recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the
34 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to MacKay is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints, voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that
addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
36 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
38 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
40 | MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI529
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1 | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio2 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/1/2015 | 15.29% | -3.75% | -3.05% | 1.62% |
Service Class Shares | 5/1/2015 | 15.00 | -3.99 | -3.29 | 1.87 |
1. | Effective February 28, 2020, the Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment strategies. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
2. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (Net)1 | 14.88% | 9.41% | 7.01% |
Morningstar Infrastructure Category Average2 | 14.86 | 9.54 | 6.15 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (Net) is the Portfolio’s primary broad-based securities market index for comparison purposes. The FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (Net) gives participants an industry-defined interpretation of infrastructure and adjusts the exposure to certain infrastructure sub-sectors. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Infrastructure Category Average is representative of funds that invest more than 60% of their assets in stocks of companies engaged in infrastructure activities. Industries considered to be part of the infrastructure sector include: oil & gas midstream; waste management; airports; integrated shipping; railroads; shipping & ports; trucking; engineering & construction; infrastructure operations; and the utilities sector. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,062.10 | $4.94 | $1,020.42 | $4.84 | 0.95% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,060.80 | $6.23 | $1,019.16 | $6.11 | 1.20% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
Country Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
United States | 53.2% |
France | 9.5 |
Australia | 8.8 |
Spain | 6.3 |
Italy | 5.8 |
Canada | 4.4 |
United Kingdom | 3.6 |
Portugal | 2.9 |
Germany | 1.4 |
Japan | 1.3% |
China | 1.2 |
New Zealand | 0.9 |
Mexico | 0.9 |
Denmark | 0.7 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –0.9 |
| 100.0% |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | NextEra Energy, Inc. |
2. | American Electric Power Co., Inc. |
3. | Union Pacific Corp. |
4. | Vinci SA |
5. | Cellnex Telecom SA |
6. | Cheniere Energy, Inc. |
7. | Transurban Group |
8. | National Grid plc |
9. | Crown Castle International Corp. |
10. | Atlas Arteria Ltd. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers T. Ritson Ferguson, CFA1, Jeremy Anagnos, CFA, Daniel Foley, CFA, and Hinds Howard of CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC (“CBRE” and formerly known as CBRE Clarion Securities LLC), the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio returned 15.29% for Initial Class shares and 15.00% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the 14.88% return of the FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (Net) (“Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes also outperformed the 14.86% return of the Morningstar Infrastructure Category Average.2
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio outperformed the Index during the reporting period due to both stock selection and sector allocation. Stock selection was the most positive influence on relative performance. Global transports made the strongest contributions to stock selection, followed by the midstream sector. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The Portfolio’s utilities selections proved particularly strong in North America but were more than offset by underperforming stock selection from Continental Europe. The Portfolio’s relative performance was further supported by underweight exposure to emerging markets, as well as utilities positioning globally. Positioning across transports was a net negative contributor to sector allocation, as was overweight exposure to underperforming communications stocks.
During the reporting period, which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
The sectors providing the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index included North America utilities, North America rail and Asia-Pacific transports. Relative performance from North America utilities benefited significantly from strong stock selection and modestly from sector allocation. North America rail bolstered performance entirely due to positive stock selection, which benefitted from mergers and acquisitions in the sector. Asia-Pacific transports benefitted nearly equally from positive stock selection and sector allocation.
The weakest contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance were Continental European utilities, among which stock selection was a significant drag. Key holdings in this sector were affected by negative investor sentiment and concerns regarding the potential for renewable development returns to erode amid growing competition, supply-chain issues and rising inflation. The next two weakest sector contributions proved far less impactful; Japan rail holdings suffered due to weak stock selections and
overweight exposure to the sector which had negative returns. European communications holdings detracted from performance as overweight exposure to this underperforming sector more than offset positive stock selection.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
The holdings that contributed most to the Portfolio’s absolute returns included Cheniere Energy, Crown Castle and American Tower. Cheniere Energy is a U.S. midstream company with a set of unique, fully contracted, natural gas export assets. The company benefited from improvement in the global liquid natural gas market. Crown Castle, a U.S.-based tower company that also owns a large, small-cell and fiber portfolio, appears uniquely positioned to benefit from the rollout of 5G wireless communications in North America. American Tower is a U.S.-based, global owner of cellular towers actively expanding into Europe and furthering its growth ambitions around the world. Another positive contributor, U.S. integrated utility Exelon, benefitted from a plan to simplify its business into a pure, regulated enterprise by spinning out its competitive power generation business. The company’s power generation business benefited from growing policy support aimed at keeping nuclear plants profitable as a means of achieving state and federal decarbonization/net zero goals.
The holdings that detracted the most from the Portfolio’s absolute returns were European integrated utilities and renewable developers Enel (Italy) and EDP/Energias de Portugal (Portugal), as well as Japanese passenger rail stock West Japan Railway Company (Japan), all of which posted negative returns for the year. Holdings in Enel and EDP suffered as unfavorable sentiment drove shares lower among companies exposed to decarbonization due to the potential for development returns to erode, as well as supply-chain-related inflation concerns. JR West posted negative returns on weaker-than-expected operating results and an unexpected equity issuance that weighed on the share price.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s most significant purchases during the reporting period included new positions in Australian toll road company Transurban Group, and U.S. utilities Dominion Energy and WEC Energy Group. The purchase of Transurban shares reflected improvements in the company’s underlying fundamentals as traffic continued to recover, as well as our opinion that the stock was attractively valued. Dominion was added to the Portfolio
1. | Mr. Ferguson served as a portfolio manager until his retirement December 31, 2021. |
2. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
following significant underperformance versus its peer group that left the company attractively valued despite its strong growth outlook tied to decarbonization investments, including onshore and offshore renewable developments. WEC, a high-quality regulated utility, was added to the Portfolio following weakness in shares despite best-in-class regulation and management, and a compelling long-term growth outlook.
The Portfolio’s most significant sales during the same period included its entire positions in U.K. water services company United Utilities, U.S. regulated utility Essential Utilities and U.S. rail company Kansas City Southern. We sold the Portfolio’s United Utilities position following a period of meaningful outperformance that left its valuation uncompelling. Essential Utilities, a water and gas utility, was sold on concerns regarding its asset mix and less compelling valuation. Kansas City Southern was sold following a significant run-up in the stock price leading into its acquisition by listed peer Canadian Pacific.
How did the Portfolio’s sector/subsector weightings change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio increased its sector exposure most significantly to Asia-Pacific and Continental European transports. The additions were predominantly driven by added exposure to toll roads in each region and, to a lesser extent, airports. We looked for continued improvement in underlying operating fundamentals as global economies continued to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and saw strong valuation support and the gradual resumption in traffic as tailwinds to these areas of the investment universe.
During the same period, the Portfolio’s most significant reductions in sector weightings were among utilities in the U.K. and Asia-Pacific regions. The reduction in U.K. exposure followed strong outperformance by one of the Portfolio’s utility holdings in the region. The decline in utility weightings in Asia-Pacific further reinforced the Portfolio’s existing underweight position in the region, where we saw a lack of catalysts and less attractive valuations.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held overweight exposure to transportation and communications globally. We believe transports represent an attractively valued area of the investment universe where recovery in traffic volumes across rails, toll roads and airports is likely to continue, providing a tailwind to underlying growth estimates. Communications continues to experience strong growth driven by trends in data usage and the need for
new infrastructure to support the digital economy. We see communications infrastructure companies as among the best positioned entities across the globe to benefit from the positive trends in this sector. We believe that both the transportation and communications sectors are particularly desirable in the private infrastructure market, where transaction activity is supportive of valuations.
As of the same date, the Portfolio held significantly underweight exposure to emerging markets, which we believed to be a highly volatile segment of the investment universe where regulatory and policy risks appeared elevated and where pandemic-related risks continued to pose a threat. The Portfolio also held net underweight exposure to global utilities, particularly those in Asia and water utilities globally. We are cautious regarding utilities that lack a unique growth story, with inferior regulatory environments, high carbon intensity or are at risk of severe weather and/or rate shocks to consumers. The Portfolio’s utility holdings continue to reflect a bias towards names with strong growth and regulation as well as investment opportunities tied to decarbonization.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 98.9% |
Australia 8.8% |
Atlas Arteria Ltd. (Transportation) | 187,159 | $ 942,279 |
Aurizon Holdings Ltd. (Transportation) | 94,586 | 240,168 |
NEXTDC Ltd. (Communications) (a) | 21,475 | 199,833 |
Transurban Group (Transportation) | 97,608 | 981,423 |
| | 2,363,703 |
Canada 4.4% |
Canadian National Railway Co. (Transportation) | 4,896 | 601,399 |
Pembina Pipeline Corp. (Midstream / Pipelines) | 11,013 | 334,060 |
TC Energy Corp. (Midstream / Pipelines) (b) | 5,457 | 253,793 |
| | 1,189,252 |
China 1.2% |
Guangdong Investment Ltd. (Utilities) | 248,038 | 315,235 |
Denmark 0.7% |
Orsted A/S (Utilities) | 1,477 | 189,668 |
France 9.5% |
Eiffage SA (Transportation) | 5,549 | 571,484 |
Engie SA (Utilities) | 60,697 | 899,313 |
Vinci SA (Transportation) | 10,229 | 1,082,004 |
| | 2,552,801 |
Germany 1.4% |
Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (Transportation) (a) | 5,373 | 361,157 |
Italy 5.8% |
Atlantia SpA (Transportation) (a) | 6,681 | 132,717 |
Enel SpA (Utilities) | 100,928 | 803,787 |
Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA (Communications) | 30,805 | 372,971 |
Terna - Rete Elettrica Nazionale (Utilities) | 30,362 | 244,971 |
| | 1,554,446 |
Japan 1.3% |
Central Japan Railway Co. (Transportation) | 677 | 90,320 |
West Japan Railway Co. (Transportation) | 5,896 | 246,002 |
| | 336,322 |
Mexico 0.9% |
Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura SAB de CV (Transportation) | 30,979 | 242,077 |
| Shares | Value |
|
New Zealand 0.9% |
Infratil Ltd. (Diversified) | 44,977 | $ 246,438 |
Portugal 2.9% |
EDP - Energias de Portugal SA (Utilities) | 139,225 | 765,909 |
Spain 6.3% |
Aena SME SA (Transportation) (a) | 2,533 | 400,106 |
Cellnex Telecom SA (Communications) | 18,491 | 1,073,589 |
Ferrovial SA (Transportation) | 7,083 | 222,139 |
| | 1,695,834 |
United Kingdom 3.6% |
National Grid plc (Utilities) | 67,933 | 974,494 |
United States 51.2% |
AES Corp. (The) (Utilities) | 32,987 | 801,584 |
Alliant Energy Corp. (Utilities) | 4,372 | 268,747 |
Ameren Corp. (Utilities) | 8,792 | 782,576 |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. (Utilities) | 13,140 | 1,169,066 |
American Tower Corp. (Communications) | 2,761 | 807,592 |
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (Midstream / Pipelines) | 9,750 | 988,845 |
CMS Energy Corp. (Utilities) | 10,234 | 665,722 |
Crown Castle International Corp. (Communications) | 4,650 | 970,641 |
Dominion Energy, Inc. (Utilities) | 9,023 | 708,847 |
Equinix, Inc. (Communications) | 153 | 129,413 |
Exelon Corp. (Utilities) | 12,041 | 695,488 |
FirstEnergy Corp. (Utilities) | 18,251 | 759,059 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. (Utilities) | 12,914 | 1,205,650 |
NiSource, Inc. (Utilities) | 8,766 | 242,029 |
Norfolk Southern Corp. (Transportation) | 1,274 | 379,283 |
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. (Utilities) | 10,505 | 700,999 |
Union Pacific Corp. (Transportation) | 4,509 | 1,135,952 |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. (Utilities) | 7,195 | 698,419 |
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) (Midstream / Pipelines) | 24,268 | 631,939 |
| | 13,741,851 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $23,273,332) | | 26,529,187 |
Short-Term Investments 2.0% |
Affiliated Investment Company 1.1% |
United States 1.1% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (c) | 301,635 | 301,635 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investments (continued) |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 0.9% |
United States 0.9% |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (c)(d) | 237,399 | | $ 237,399 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $539,034) | | | 539,034 |
Total Investments (Cost $23,812,366) | 100.9% | | 27,068,221 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (0.9) | | (228,689) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 26,839,532 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $228,353. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $237,399. (See Note 2(I)) |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | |
Denmark | $ — | | $ 189,668 | | $ — | | $ 189,668 |
Germany | — | | 361,157 | | — | | 361,157 |
Italy | — | | 1,554,446 | | — | | 1,554,446 |
Japan | — | | 336,322 | | — | | 336,322 |
Spain | — | | 1,695,834 | | — | | 1,695,834 |
All Other Countries | 22,391,760 | | — | | — | | 22,391,760 |
Total Common Stocks | 22,391,760 | | 4,137,427 | | — | | 26,529,187 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 301,635 | | — | | — | | 301,635 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 237,399 | | — | | — | | 237,399 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 539,034 | | — | | — | | 539,034 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 22,930,794 | | $ 4,137,427 | | $ — | | $ 27,068,221 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The table below sets forth the diversification of the Portfolio’s investments by sector.
Sector Diversification
| Value | | Percent † |
Utilities | $12,891,563 | | 48.1% |
Transportation | 7,628,510 | | 28.4 |
Communications | 3,554,039 | | 13.2 |
Midstream / Pipelines | 2,208,637 | | 8.3 |
Diversified | 246,438 | | 0.9 |
| 26,529,187 | | 98.9 |
Short-Term Investments | 539,034 | | 2.0 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (228,689) | | (0.9) |
Net Assets | $26,839,532 | | 100.0% |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $23,510,731) including securities on loan of $228,353 | $ 26,766,586 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $301,635) | 301,635 |
Receivables: | |
Portfolio shares sold | 79,418 |
Dividends | 45,358 |
Securities lending | 40 |
Other assets | 95 |
Total assets | 27,193,132 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 237,399 |
Payables: | |
Shareholder communication | 31,423 |
Professional fees | 24,261 |
Investment securities purchased | 20,424 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 18,456 |
Custodian | 8,399 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 5,087 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 3,938 |
Trustees | 21 |
Accrued expenses | 4,192 |
Total liabilities | 353,600 |
Net assets | $ 26,839,532 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 3,634 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 59,175,338 |
| 59,178,972 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | (32,339,440) |
Net assets | $ 26,839,532 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 1,898,919 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 254,148 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 7.47 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $24,940,613 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 3,379,613 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 7.38 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $42,055) | $ 706,113 |
Securities lending | 1,140 |
Dividends-affiliated | 22 |
Total income | 707,275 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 200,728 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 55,313 |
Professional fees | 50,354 |
Custodian | 30,926 |
Shareholder communication | 28,632 |
Trustees | 477 |
Miscellaneous | 6,594 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 373,024 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (93,431) |
Net expenses | 279,593 |
Net investment income (loss) | 427,682 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 1,111,889 |
Foreign currency transactions | (5,675) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 1,106,214 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | 1,768,592 |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 1,300 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 1,769,892 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2,876,106 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $3,303,788 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 427,682 | $ 129,325 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 1,106,214 | (4,887,575) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 1,769,892 | 2,070,360 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 3,303,788 | (2,687,890) |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | — | (524,797) |
Service Class | — | (1,333,105) |
Total distributions to shareholders | — | (1,857,902) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 7,248,924 | 11,782,193 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | — | 1,857,902 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (4,776,219) | (11,837,646) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 2,472,705 | 1,802,449 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 5,776,493 | (2,743,343) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 21,063,039 | 23,806,382 |
End of year | $26,839,532 | $ 21,063,039 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 6.48 | | $ 8.01 | | $ 7.61 | | $ 10.52 | | $ 9.75 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.15 | | 0.03 | | 0.03 | | (0.07) | | (0.05) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.84 | | (1.08) | | 0.37 | | (2.84) | | 0.82 |
Total from investment operations | 0.99 | | (1.05) | | 0.40 | | (2.91) | | 0.77 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | — | | (0.48) | | — | | — | | — |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 7.47 | | $ 6.48 | | $ 8.01 | | $ 7.61 | | $ 10.52 |
Total investment return (b) | 15.28%(c) | | (12.81)% | | 5.26%(c) | | (27.66)%(c) | | 7.90% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.08% | | 0.41% | | 0.33% | | (0.66)% | | (0.49)% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.95% | | 1.05% | | 1.21% | | 1.21% | | 1.31% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (d) | 1.32% | | 1.44% | | 1.21% | | 1.21% | | 1.31% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 43% | | 163% | | 119% | | 162% | | 116% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 1,899 | | $ 1,022 | | $ 1,009 | | $ 90,681 | | $ 158,846 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 6.42 | | $ 7.93 | | $ 7.55 | | $ 10.47 | | $ 9.73 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.12 | | 0.04 | | 0.01 | | (0.09) | | (0.07) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.84 | | (1.09) | | 0.37 | | (2.83) | | 0.81 |
Total from investment operations | 0.96 | | (1.05) | | 0.38 | | (2.92) | | 0.74 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | — | | (0.46) | | — | | — | | — |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 7.38 | | $ 6.42 | | $ 7.93 | | $ 7.55 | | $ 10.47 |
Total investment return (b) | 14.95%(c) | | (13.03)% | | 5.03%(c) | | (27.89)%(c) | | 7.61%(c) |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.79% | | 0.62% | | 0.11% | | (0.91)% | | (0.74)% |
Net expenses (d) | 1.20% | | 1.52% | | 1.62% | | 1.46% | | 1.56% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (d) | 1.60% | | 1.95% | | 1.62% | | 1.46% | | 1.56% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 43% | | 163% | | 119% | | 162% | | 116% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 24,941 | | $ 20,041 | | $ 22,798 | | $ 22,133 | | $ 32,457 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "non-diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time. However, due to its principal investment strategies and investment processes, the Portfolio has historically operated as a "diversified" portfolio. Therefore, the Portfolio will not operate as "non-diversified" portfolio without first obtaining shareholder approval.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 1, 2015 |
Service Class | May 1, 2015 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek total return.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to
calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Certain securities held by the Portfolio may principally trade in foreign markets. Events may occur between the time the foreign markets close and the time at which the Portfolio's NAVs are calculated. These events may include, but are not limited to, situations relating to a single issuer in a market sector, significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets, natural disasters, armed conflicts, governmental actions or other developments not tied directly to the securities markets. Should the Manager or the Subadvisor conclude that such events may have affected the accuracy of the last price of such securities reported on the local foreign market, the Subcommittee may, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, adjust the value of the local price to reflect the estimated impact on the price of such securities as a result of such events. In this instance, securities are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Additionally, certain foreign equity securities are also fair valued whenever the movement of a particular index exceeds certain thresholds. In such cases, the securities are fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No foreign equity securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021 were fair valued in such a manner.
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If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax
liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
The Portfolio may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Portfolio's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The Portfolio may also invest up to 25% of its net assets in master limited partnerships.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and
liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(I) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(J) Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(K) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would
20 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC ("CBRE" or the "Subadvisor") a registered investment adviser, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and CBRE, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of 0.85% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments, and acquired (underlying) portfolio/fund fees and expenses) of Initial Class shares and Service Class shares do not exceed 0.95% and 1.20%, respectively, of the Portfolio's average daily net
assets. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $200,728 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $93,431 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $53,660.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 303 | $ 6,695 | $ (6,696) | $ — | $ — | $ 302 | $ —(a) | $ — | 302 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $24,046,853 | $3,206,351 | $(184,983) | $3,021,368 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$441,041 | $(35,807,617) | $3,838 | $3,023,298 | $(32,339,440) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
The following table discloses the current year reclassifications between total distributable earnings (loss) and additional paid-in capital arising from permanent differences; net assets as of December 31, 2021 were not affected.
| Total Distributable Earnings (Loss) | Additional Paid-In Capital |
| $2,280,957 | $(2,280,957) |
The reclassifications for the Portfolio are primarily due to different book and tax treatment of reclassification of partnerships and a net operating losses.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $35,807,617, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $33,709 | $2,099 |
The Portfolio utilized $1,036,403 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $— | $1,857,902 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $6,557 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio
22 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $12,957 and $10,046, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 123,981 | $ 868,975 |
Shares redeemed | (27,600) | (198,987) |
Net increase (decrease) | 96,381 | $ 669,988 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 1,086,806 | $ 6,916,396 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 85,297 | 524,797 |
Shares redeemed | (1,140,203) | (7,053,406) |
Net increase (decrease) | 31,900 | $ 387,787 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 921,622 | $ 6,379,949 |
Shares redeemed | (665,037) | (4,577,232) |
Net increase (decrease) | 256,585 | $ 1,802,717 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 785,805 | $ 4,865,797 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 218,703 | 1,333,105 |
Shares redeemed | (754,887) | (4,784,240) |
Net increase (decrease) | 249,621 | $ 1,414,662 |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global
economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and broker; when replies were not received from broker, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
24 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC (“CBRE”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and CBRE in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and CBRE in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or CBRE that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and CBRE personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New
York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and CBRE; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and CBRE; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and CBRE with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and CBRE. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and CBRE resulting from, among other things, the Board’s
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of CBRE, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of CBRE and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, CBRE with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as CBRE’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program;
(iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that CBRE provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated CBRE’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and CBRE’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at CBRE and New York Life Investments’ and CBRE’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and CBRE and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed CBRE’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment
26 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to CBRE as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or CBRE had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and CBRE
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and CBRE due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that CBRE’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of CBRE’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and CBRE, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and CBRE’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and CBRE and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and CBRE must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and CBRE to continue to provide
high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to CBRE from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to CBRE in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between CBRE and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates and considered the existence of a strategic partnership between New York Life Investments and CBRE that relates to certain current and future products that represents a conflict of interest associated with New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the Subadvisory Agreement. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to CBRE, the Board considered that any profits realized by CBRE due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and CBRE, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to CBRE by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to CBRE is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
28 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
30 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
32 | MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI514
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio*
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
* Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1 | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio2 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 17.24% | 10.73% | 9.02% | 0.67% |
Service Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 16.95 | 10.46 | 8.75 | 0.92 |
1. | The Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment strategies and changed its classification from a diversified fund to a non-diversified fund as of November 30, 2018. Therefore, the performance information shown in this report prior to November 30, 2018 reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor, principal investment strategies and diversification status. |
2. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
MSCI USA IMI Utilities 25/50 Index (Gross)1 | 17.48% | 11.40% | 11.55% |
Morningstar Utilities Category Average2 | 15.47 | 10.63 | 9.82 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The MSCI USA IMI Utilities 25/50 Index (Gross) is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The MSCI USA IMI Utilities 25/50 Index (Gross) is a modified market capitalization weighted index of stocks designed to measure the performance of utilities companies in the MSCI U.S. Investable Market 2500 Index. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Utilities Category Average is representative of funds that seek capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of U.S. or non-U.S. public utilities including electric, gas, and telephone-service providers. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,146.00 | $3.57 | $1,021.88 | $3.36 | 0.66% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,144.60 | $4.92 | $1,020.62 | $4.63 | 0.91% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Electric Utilities | 65.6% |
Multi–Utilities | 24.5 |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers | 9.6 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.3 |
| 100.0% |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | NextEra Energy, Inc. |
2. | Exelon Corp. |
3. | Southern Co. (The) |
4. | Sempra Energy |
5. | Dominion Energy, Inc. |
6. | FirstEnergy Corp. |
7. | Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. |
8. | PG&E Corp. |
9. | Edison International |
10. | AES Corp. (The) |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio manager Douglas Simmons of FIAM LLC (“FIAM”) the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio1 perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio returned 17.24% for Initial Class shares and 16.95% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 17.48% return of the MSCI USA IMI Utilities 25/50 Index (Gross), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the 15.47% return of the Morningstar Utilities Category Average.2
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio underperformed the Index primarily due to underweight exposure to water utilities, the best performing subsector during the reporting period. Favorable security selection, particularly in electric utilities and multi-utilities, partly offset this allocation effect.
Which subsectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which subsectors were particularly weak?
The strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s relative performance from a subsector standpoint came from electric utilities, the largest subsector in the benchmark, followed by multi-utilities and renewable electricity. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Conversely, the most significant detractor from relative performance was water utilities, followed by renewable electricity and gas utilities.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
On an absolute return basis, the three largest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s overall performance were Exelon, NextEra and FirstEnergy. Exelon benefitted significantly from nuclear production tax credits, as the company is the largest competitive generator of nuclear power in the United States. The company is a strong generator of free cash flow and, in our opinion, should continue to grow earnings per share at an attractive rate. NextEra is the largest utility in the United States. In addition to being the largest player in renewable energy within the sector, we believe the company has one of the best management teams in the industry. NextEra shares benefited from the company’s leadership position as well as heightened awareness and attention being paid to renewables. We believe FirstEnergy is a best-in-class utility with a premier renewable business and transmission system. Decreasing
regulatory risk in their home state of Ohio seems to be becoming better understood by the market and, as a result, the stock price traded higher on increased optimism.
The three most significant detractors from absolute performance during the reporting period were Sunnova Energy, PG&E and Pinnacle West Capital. Shares in residential solar installer Sunnova Energy languished in 2021, along with the broader solar and other alternative energy market,after an extremely strong performance year in 2020. Electric utility PG&E faced difficulties related to its ongoing involvement in the California wildfire controversy, despite regulation passed in the state that truncates the utility’s downside risk from major fires. The company appointed a new chief operating officer in 2021 who we believe is a differentiated talent. Despite electric utility Pinnacle West’s extremely stable cash flow generation, the company’s shares lagged as earnings growth disappointed relative to other utility peers.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
Most notably, the Portfolio increased its holdings in electric utility Dominion Energy. Dominion stock, which the Portfolio had trimmed during the prior reporting period, was selling at what we viewed as a very attractive valuation after execution and management missteps last year. During the reporting period, the company appeared to have fixed some issues, and their massive offshore wind development project remained promising. The Portfolio also added meaningfully to its holdings in electric utility The Southern Company. The company has nuclear plants coming online in the intermediate future and has one of the biggest rerating opportunities in the sector once investors have clear line of sight into the timeline of the plants. The company also pays what we view as a healthy dividend that should offer downside protection while paying investors to wait.
The Portfolio significantly decreased its position in multi-utility The AES Corporation. AES was a meaningful contributor to performance during the first six months of 2021. The Portfolio took the opportunity to reduce its holdings on relative strength. In addition, the Portfolio sold its position in Pinnacle West Capital. As mentioned above, the company’s lack of progress in accelerating EPS growth caused us to reevaluate the stock; we ultimately decided to redeploy the capital to more attractive opportunities. Lastly, the Portfolio exited its position in Clearway Energy. We began gradually trimming the position early in the year as valuations continued to become stretched.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
The biggest change in the Portfolio’s subsector positioning relative to the Index during the reporting period involved decreased
1. | Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trademark of FMR LLC. Used with permission. |
2. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
exposure to independent power producers & energy traders (IPPs). This group had been a strong contributor to Portfolio performance, but valuations started to appear stretched earlier in the reporting period. As a result, we reduced the Portfolio’s stakes in IPPs AES and Vistra, and ultimately exited the position in Clearway Energy. Conversely, the Portfolio increased its exposure to multi-utilities, which had been the Portfolio’s largest underweight at the beginning of the year. Specifically, we increased the Portfolio’s position sizes in a few existing names, including Dominion, Sempra, Public Service Enterprise and NiSource.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio’s most overweight industry positions relative to the Index were in electric utilities and IPPs. As of the same date, the most significant industry underweight positions were in water utilities and gas utilities, with the Portfolio holding no exposure to either industry.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio manager as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 99.7% |
Electric Utilities 65.6% |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | 544,548 | $ 48,448,436 |
Duke Energy Corp. | 402,045 | 42,174,520 |
Edison International | 844,837 | 57,660,125 |
Entergy Corp. | 250,200 | 28,185,030 |
Evergy, Inc. | 635,721 | 43,616,818 |
Exelon Corp. | 2,151,398 | 124,264,748 |
FirstEnergy Corp. | 1,415,041 | 58,851,555 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 1,905,532 | 177,900,468 |
NRG Energy, Inc. | 312,195 | 13,449,361 |
OGE Energy Corp. | 434,400 | 16,672,272 |
PG&E Corp. (a) | 4,778,999 | 58,017,048 |
Southern Co. (The) | 1,668,482 | 114,424,496 |
| | 783,664,877 |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 9.6% |
AES Corp. (The) | 2,287,479 | 55,585,740 |
NextEra Energy Partners LP | 221,603 | 18,703,293 |
Sunnova Energy International, Inc. (a) | 316,385 | 8,833,469 |
Vistra Corp. | 1,377,630 | 31,368,635 |
| | 114,491,137 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Multi-Utilities 24.5% |
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. | 1,549,398 | | $ 43,243,698 |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | 957,043 | | 75,185,298 |
NiSource, Inc. | 1,341,784 | | 37,046,656 |
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | 879,031 | | 58,657,739 |
Sempra Energy | 594,243 | | 78,606,464 |
| | | 292,739,855 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $977,202,564) | | | 1,190,895,869 |
Total Investments (Cost $977,202,564) | 99.7% | | 1,190,895,869 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.3 | | 3,391,644 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 1,194,287,513 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ 1,190,895,869 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,190,895,869 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in securities, at value (identified cost $977,202,564) | $1,190,895,869 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 4,745,370 |
Dividends | 1,541,534 |
Portfolio shares sold | 155,795 |
Securities lending | 492 |
Other assets | 5,139 |
Total assets | 1,197,344,199 |
Liabilities |
Due to custodian | 102,117 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 1,526,087 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 626,192 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 463,642 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 202,153 |
Professional fees | 64,594 |
Shareholder communication | 55,924 |
Custodian | 6,033 |
Trustees | 1,535 |
Accrued expenses | 8,409 |
Total liabilities | 3,056,686 |
Net assets | $1,194,287,513 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 88,320 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 913,371,831 |
| 913,460,151 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 280,827,362 |
Net assets | $1,194,287,513 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $215,593,592 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 15,881,413 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 13.58 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $978,693,921 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 72,438,580 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 13.51 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated | $ 34,092,507 |
Securities lending | 10,664 |
Dividends-affiliated | 926 |
Total income | 34,104,097 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 7,096,790 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 2,355,052 |
Professional fees | 130,536 |
Shareholder communication | 68,417 |
Custodian | 39,755 |
Trustees | 19,667 |
Miscellaneous | 50,903 |
Total expenses | 9,761,120 |
Net investment income (loss) | 24,342,977 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 72,719,476 |
Foreign currency transactions | 26,296 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 72,745,772 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | 81,887,199 |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (51,502) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 81,835,697 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 154,581,469 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $178,924,446 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 24,342,977 | $ 19,441,319 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 72,745,772 | 23,725,848 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 81,835,697 | (58,306,186) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 178,924,446 | (15,139,019) |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (11,646,224) | (9,132,357) |
Service Class | (54,685,087) | (76,778,772) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (66,331,311) | (85,911,129) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 102,621,118 | 93,346,304 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 66,331,311 | 85,911,129 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (176,726,990) | (207,898,643) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (7,774,561) | (28,641,210) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 104,818,574 | (129,691,358) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 1,089,468,939 | 1,219,160,297 |
End of year | $1,194,287,513 | $1,089,468,939 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 12.35 | | $ 13.49 | | $ 11.68 | | $ 11.75 | | $ 10.66 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.31 | | 0.25 | | 0.31 | | 0.28 | | 0.25 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.73 | | (0.34) | | 2.39 | | (0.18) | | 1.33 |
Total from investment operations | 2.04 | | (0.09) | | 2.70 | | 0.10 | | 1.58 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.28) | | (0.33) | | (0.34) | | (0.15) | | (0.49) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.53) | | (0.72) | | (0.55) | | (0.02) | | — |
Total distributions | (0.81) | | (1.05) | | (0.89) | | (0.17) | | (0.49) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 13.58 | | $ 12.35 | | $ 13.49 | | $ 11.68 | | $ 11.75 |
Total investment return (b) | 17.24% | | (0.38)% | | 23.26% | | 0.80% | | 14.72% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.41% | | 2.06% | | 2.41% | | 2.31% | | 2.11% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.66% | | 0.67% | | 0.68% | | 0.76% | | 0.76% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 34% | | 62% | | 47% | | 84% | | 30% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 215,594 | | $ 135,814 | | $ 97,503 | | $ 81,716 | | $ 83,261 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 12.29 | | $ 13.43 | | $ 11.63 | | $ 11.69 | | $ 10.62 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.27 | | 0.22 | | 0.28 | | 0.25 | | 0.22 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.72 | | (0.35) | | 2.37 | | (0.18) | | 1.31 |
Total from investment operations | 1.99 | | (0.13) | | 2.65 | | 0.07 | | 1.53 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.24) | | (0.29) | | (0.30) | | (0.11) | | (0.46) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.53) | | (0.72) | | (0.55) | | (0.02) | | — |
Total distributions | (0.77) | | (1.01) | | (0.85) | | (0.13) | | (0.46) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 13.51 | | $ 12.29 | | $ 13.43 | | $ 11.63 | | $ 11.69 |
Total investment return (b) | 16.95% | | (0.63)% | | 22.95% | | 0.55% | | 14.44% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.14% | | 1.80% | | 2.15% | | 2.08% | | 1.87% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.91% | | 0.92% | | 0.93% | | 1.01% | | 1.01% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 34% | | 62% | | 47% | | 84% | | 30% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 978,694 | | $ 953,655 | | $ 1,121,657 | | $ 1,066,963 | | $ 1,240,213 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "non-diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | February 17, 2012 |
Service Class | February 17, 2012 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek total return.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio
prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances
and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax
16 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(H) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any portfolio securities on loan.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(I) Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(J) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the
compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. FIAM LLC (“FIAM or the “Subadvisor”) a registered investment adviser, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and FIAM, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.64% up to $1 billion; 0.61% from $1 billion to $3 billion; and 0.60% in excess of $3 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.64%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $7,096,790 and paid the Subadvisor in the amount of $2,789,907.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
18 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 19,834 | $ 220,891 | $ (240,725) | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ 1 | $ — | — |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $987,155,656 | $205,656,720 | $(1,916,507) | $203,740,213 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$28,227,797 | $48,863,159 | $203,736,406 | $280,827,362 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
The following table discloses the current year reclassifications between total distributable earnings (loss) and additional paid-in capital arising from permanent differences; net assets as of December 31, 2021 were not affected.
| Total Distributable Earnings (Loss) | Additional Paid-In Capital |
| $52 | $(52) |
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $21,083,694 | $33,504,758 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 45,247,617 | 52,406,371 |
Total | $66,331,311 | $85,911,129 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $4,329 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $376,885 and $407,416, respectively.
The Portfolio may purchase securities from or sell securities to other portfolios managed by the Subadvisor. These interportfolio transactions are primarily used for cash management purposes and are made pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Rule 17a-7 transactions during the year ended December 31, 2021, were as follows:
Purchases (000's) | Sales (000's) | Realized Gain / (Loss) (000's) |
$16,011 | $23,353 | $8,951 |
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 5,619,410 | $ 71,207,565 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 956,844 | 11,646,224 |
Shares redeemed | (1,694,431) | (21,841,993) |
Net increase (decrease) | 4,881,823 | $ 61,011,796 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 3,663,908 | $ 43,908,398 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 771,028 | 9,132,357 |
Shares redeemed | (661,711) | (7,926,284) |
Net increase (decrease) | 3,773,225 | $ 45,114,471 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 2,489,554 | $ 31,413,553 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 4,511,710 | 54,685,087 |
Shares redeemed | (12,158,673) | (154,884,997) |
Net increase (decrease) | (5,157,409) | $ (68,786,357) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 4,130,475 | $ 49,437,906 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 6,508,661 | 76,778,772 |
Shares redeemed | (16,563,106) | (199,972,359) |
Net increase (decrease) | (5,923,970) | $ (73,755,681) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and FIAM LLC (“FIAM”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and FIAM in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and FIAM in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or FIAM that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and FIAM personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New
York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and FIAM; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio manager of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and FIAM; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and FIAM with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and FIAM. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and FIAM resulting from, among other things, the Board’s
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consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and FIAM
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of FIAM, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of FIAM and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, FIAM with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as FIAM’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program;
(iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that FIAM provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated FIAM’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and FIAM’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at FIAM and New York Life Investments’ and FIAM’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and FIAM and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed FIAM’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio manager, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the method for compensating the portfolio manager.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and FIAM regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to FIAM as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or FIAM had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolio, the Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the three- and five-year periods ended July 31, 2021, and performed favorably relative to its peer funds for the one-year period ended July 31, 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments and FIAM regarding the Portfolio’s investment performance.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and FIAM
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and FIAM due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that FIAM’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of FIAM’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and FIAM and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and FIAM, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and FIAM’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that
New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and FIAM and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and FIAM must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and FIAM to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to FIAM from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to FIAM in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between FIAM and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for
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managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to FIAM, the Board considered that any profits realized by FIAM due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and FIAM, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to FIAM by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to FIAM is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and FIAM on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net
management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
26 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
28 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
30 | MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio |
MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI526
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
(formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Small Cap Core Portfolio)
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1, 2 | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio3 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/2/2016 | 18.03% | 8.19% | 10.55% | 0.86% |
Service Class Shares | 5/2/2016 | 17.73 | 7.92 | 10.28 | 1.11 |
1. | Effective January 1, 2018, due to an organizational restructuring, all investment personnel of Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings LLC, the former subadvisor, transitioned to MacKay Shields LLC, a former subadvisor. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
2. | Effective May 1, 2021, the Portfolio replaced its subadvisor and modified its principal investment strategies. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio's prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
3. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
Russell 2000® Index1 | 14.82% | 12.02% | 14.19% |
Morningstar Small Blend Category Average2 | 23.85 | 10.68 | 12.52 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Russell 2000® Index is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark. The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. It is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index and includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Small Blend Category Average is representative of funds that favor U.S. firms at the smaller end of the market-capitalization range. Some aim to own an array of value and growth stocks while others employ a discipline that leads to holdings with valuations and growth rates close to the small-cap averages. Stocks in the bottom 10% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as small cap. The blend style is assigned to portfolios where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,010.30 | $3.75 | $1,021.47 | $3.77 | 0.74% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,009.00 | $5.01 | $1,020.21 | $5.04 | 0.99% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Banks | 8.9% |
Software | 7.1 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 5.0 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts | 4.4 |
Machinery | 4.1 |
Biotechnology | 3.7 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 3.6 |
Trading Companies & Distributors | 3.5 |
Commercial Services & Supplies | 3.2 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 3.2 |
Consumer Finance | 3.0 |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance | 2.9 |
IT Services | 2.3 |
Exchange–Traded Funds | 2.3 |
Household Durables | 2.2 |
Building Products | 2.2 |
Professional Services | 2.2 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 2.1 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 1.9 |
Specialty Retail | 1.9 |
Health Care Technology | 1.7 |
Metals & Mining | 1.7 |
Electrical Equipment | 1.6 |
Capital Markets | 1.5 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 1.5 |
Insurance | 1.4 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 1.4 |
Energy Equipment & Services | 1.3% |
Auto Components | 1.2 |
Chemicals | 1.2 |
Communications Equipment | 1.2 |
Gas Utilities | 1.2 |
Construction & Engineering | 1.1 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 1.1 |
Personal Products | 0.9 |
Media | 0.9 |
Diversified Consumer Services | 0.9 |
Air Freight & Logistics | 0.7 |
Real Estate Management & Development | 0.7 |
Marine | 0.6 |
Entertainment | 0.5 |
Electric Utilities | 0.5 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 0.5 |
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts | 0.5 |
Pharmaceuticals | 0.4 |
Interactive Media & Services | 0.4 |
Household Products | 0.4 |
Paper & Forest Products | 0.4 |
Food Products | 0.4 |
Leisure Products | 0.4 |
Short–Term Investments | 2.3 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –0.2 |
| 100.0% |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Tower Semiconductor Ltd. |
2. | iShares Russell 2000 ETF |
3. | Skyline Champion Corp. |
4. | PRA Group, Inc. |
5. | Synaptics, Inc. |
6. | Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc., Class A |
7. | Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., Class C |
8. | Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. |
9. | Boise Cascade Co. |
10. | MP Materials Corp. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Migene Kim, CFA, and Mona Patni of MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields”), the Portfolio’s former Subadvisor, and Gregg R. Thomas and Roberto J. Isch of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington”), the Portfolio’s current Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio returned 18.03% for Initial Class shares and 17.73% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the 14.82% return of the Russell 2000® Index (the “Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark, and underperformed the 23.85% return of the Morningstar Small Blend Category Average.1
Were there any changes to the Portfolio during the reporting period?
At meetings held on January 21, January 25 and February 3, 2021, the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust considered and approved, among other related proposals: (i) appointing Wellington Management Company LLP as the Portfolio’s subadvisor, and the related subadvisory agreement; (ii) changing the Portfolio’s name; and (iii) modifying the Portfolio’s principal investment strategies and investment process. These changes became effective on May 1, 2021. For more information on these and other changes refer to the supplement dated February 5, 2021.
In the process of implementing the new principal investment strategies and investment process, the Portfolio may have experienced a high level of portfolio turnover. Also, during this transition period, the Portfolio may not have been pursuing its investment objective or may not have been managed consistent with its investment strategies as stated in the Prospectus. This may have impacted the Portfolio’s performance.
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio outperformed the Index helped by both sector allocation and strong stock selection. In terms of stock-selection model efficacy, the combination of signals used by the Portfolio’s quantitative stock selection model was rewarded primarily by valuation measures.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio outperformed the Index. While security selection made positive contributions to the outperformance, sector allocation, a result of our bottom-up stock selection process, was the primary driver of Portfolio’s relatively strong returns. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.)
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the Portfolio used Russell 2000® Index futures to equitize cash. These futures positions detracted slightly from performance.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index were the information technology, financials and industrials sectors. During the same period, the most significant detractors from relative performance were the materials, energy and real estate sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the top performing sector relative to the Index was health care, followed by information technology and financials. The positive relative performance of health care was driven by sector allocation. During the same period, the sector that detracted the most from relative performance was industrials, followed by communication services and real estate. For all three of these sectors, security selection detracted from relative returns.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
MacKay Shields
The stocks providing the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance during the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio included shares in computer game and electronic entertainment retailer GameStop, biotechnology developer Novavax, and electrical components & equipment maker Atkore. During the same period, the most significant detractors from absolute performance were shares in biotechnology firm Amicus Therapeutics, residential solar equipment company Sunrun and biotechnology firm Editas Medicine.
Wellington
The strongest positive contributors to absolute performance during the time Wellington managed the Portfolio were holdings in semiconductor manufacturer Tower Semiconductor, home building company Skyline Champion and human interface semiconductor
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
solutions provider Synaptics. Shares of Tower Semiconductor rose after the company reported third quarter 2021 earnings ahead of consensus estimates and guided expectations for the fourth quarter higher than previous expectations. Shares of Skyline Champion increased after the company reported earnings that exceeded expectations over multiple quarters, driven in part by strong year-over-year increases in sales. Shares of Synaptics rose after the company reported fiscal first-quarter results that beat consensus estimates.
The most significant detractors from the Portfolio’s absolute performance were holdings in marketing and purchase intelligence platform Cardlytics, digital media and promotions technology company Quotient Technology, and alcoholic beverage company The Boston Beer Company. Shares of Cardlytics declined after the company reported below-consensus earnings results for multiple quarters. Revenue also came in below consensus estimates, and platform billings were below guidance due to labor shortages and supply chain challenges. Shares of Quotient Technology lost ground after the company lowered its 2021 revenue guidance, with management highlighting concerns for the remainder of the year, including economic uncertainty and the potential resurgence of the pandemic. Shares of Boston Beer fell after management released lower-than-expected earnings and revenue, and lowered guidance.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
The Portfolio’s largest initial purchase during the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio was in telecommunications services provider Iridium Communications, while the largest increase in position size was in media company TEGNA. The Portfolio's largest full sale was its position in health care management firm HMS Holdings, while its most significantly decreased position size was in Editas Medicine.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, we increased the Portfolio’s positions in commercial office property company Piedmont Office Realty Trust and motion picture technology and presentations company IMAX. We favored Piedmont because of the company’s high-quality fundamentals and attractive valuation. In the case of IMAX, we appreciated the company’s high-quality fundamentals and its strong, asset-light business model.
During the same period, we eliminated the Portfolio’s position in baked goods manufacturer and distributor Hostess Brands and engineering company Lydall. We sold the Portfolio’s position in
Hostess after strong price appreciation led to a less compelling valuation. We eliminated the position in Lydall following news that the company was being acquired.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the largest increases in sector exposures relative to the Index were in the communication services and information technology sectors. Conversely, the Portfolio's largest decreases in relative sector exposures were in the health care and real estate sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the Portfolio, the most notable increases in absolute sector relative exposures were to industrials and financials. On the other hand, notable reductions in the Portfolio’s sector relative exposures included consumer discretionary and consumer staples.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
Wellington
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held its most overweight positions relative to the Index in the industrials and financials sectors, and its most underweight positions in health care and energy sectors.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 95.6% |
Air Freight & Logistics 0.7% |
Hub Group, Inc., Class A (a) | 42,175 | $ 3,552,822 |
Auto Components 1.2% |
Dana, Inc. | 116,918 | 2,668,069 |
Gentherm, Inc. (a) | 42,352 | 3,680,389 |
| | 6,348,458 |
Banks 8.9% |
Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. | 44,294 | 1,869,650 |
Ameris Bancorp | 23,226 | 1,153,868 |
Bank OZK | 63,865 | 2,971,638 |
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. | 101,681 | 2,890,791 |
Cadence Bank | 89,397 | 2,663,137 |
First Hawaiian, Inc. | 73,678 | 2,013,620 |
First Interstate BancSystem, Inc., Class A | 57,279 | 2,329,537 |
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. | 95,330 | 1,952,358 |
FNB Corp. | 176,887 | 2,145,639 |
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. | 76,116 | 2,584,899 |
Home BancShares, Inc. | 105,062 | 2,558,260 |
OFG Bancorp | 120,253 | 3,193,920 |
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. | 62,613 | 2,506,398 |
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. | 62,707 | 3,014,953 |
Synovus Financial Corp. | 33,497 | 1,603,501 |
Umpqua Holdings Corp. | 132,479 | 2,548,896 |
United Community Banks, Inc. | 68,733 | 2,470,264 |
Veritex Holdings, Inc. | 70,793 | 2,816,145 |
Western Alliance Bancorp | 27,368 | 2,946,165 |
| | 46,233,639 |
Biotechnology 3.7% |
ALX Oncology Holdings, Inc. (a) | 7,849 | 168,675 |
Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 190,137 | 2,196,082 |
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 33,365 | 3,100,943 |
Ascendis Pharma A/S, ADR (a) | 8,942 | 1,202,967 |
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 58,374 | 2,255,571 |
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 8,639 | 1,021,475 |
Kodiak Sciences, Inc. (a) | 5,364 | 454,760 |
Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 24,230 | 1,538,363 |
Myovant Sciences Ltd. (a)(b) | 138,654 | 2,158,843 |
REVOLUTION Medicines, Inc. (a) | 24,628 | 619,887 |
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | 13,000 | 283,790 |
Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 43,836 | 1,864,783 |
Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 15,785 | 752,945 |
Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 18,732 | 303,646 |
Zymeworks, Inc. (a) | 89,184 | 1,461,726 |
| | 19,384,456 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Building Products 2.2% |
Apogee Enterprises, Inc. | 48,754 | $ 2,347,505 |
Builders FirstSource, Inc. (a) | 43,290 | 3,710,386 |
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. (a) | 22,289 | 1,486,230 |
Insteel Industries, Inc. | 50,936 | 2,027,762 |
PGT Innovations, Inc. (a) | 83,971 | 1,888,508 |
| | 11,460,391 |
Capital Markets 1.5% |
Greenhill & Co., Inc. | 136,695 | 2,450,941 |
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A | 29,390 | 3,045,392 |
Moelis & Co., Class A | 41,050 | 2,566,036 |
| | 8,062,369 |
Chemicals 1.2% |
Livent Corp. (a) | 148,610 | 3,623,112 |
Minerals Technologies, Inc. | 36,472 | 2,667,927 |
| | 6,291,039 |
Commercial Services & Supplies 3.2% |
BrightView Holdings, Inc. (a) | 185,454 | 2,611,192 |
CoreCivic, Inc. (a) | 158,212 | 1,577,374 |
Deluxe Corp. | 72,014 | 2,312,370 |
Interface, Inc. | 190,948 | 3,045,621 |
Loomis AB | 89,485 | 2,383,560 |
MillerKnoll, Inc. | 65,091 | 2,550,916 |
U.S. Ecology, Inc. (a) | 68,721 | 2,194,949 |
| | 16,675,982 |
Communications Equipment 1.2% |
Calix, Inc. (a) | 44,245 | 3,538,273 |
Plantronics, Inc. (a) | 91,107 | 2,673,079 |
| | 6,211,352 |
Construction & Engineering 1.1% |
Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. (b) | 97,927 | 2,461,045 |
Fluor Corp. (a) | 131,285 | 3,251,930 |
| | 5,712,975 |
Consumer Finance 3.0% |
Enova International, Inc. (a) | 89,981 | 3,685,622 |
Navient Corp. | 119,966 | 2,545,678 |
PRA Group, Inc. (a) | 129,963 | 6,525,442 |
PROG Holdings, Inc. (a) | 60,909 | 2,747,605 |
| | 15,504,347 |
Diversified Consumer Services 0.9% |
Adtalem Global Education, Inc. (a) | 64,492 | 1,906,383 |
H&R Block, Inc. | 112,530 | 2,651,207 |
| | 4,557,590 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Electric Utilities 0.5% |
Portland General Electric Co. | 50,813 | $ 2,689,024 |
Electrical Equipment 1.6% |
Acuity Brands, Inc. | 12,149 | 2,572,186 |
EnerSys | 33,478 | 2,646,771 |
nVent Electric plc | 77,604 | 2,948,952 |
| | 8,167,909 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 2.1% |
FARO Technologies, Inc. (a) | 43,058 | 3,014,921 |
II-VI, Inc. (a) | 40,389 | 2,759,780 |
Knowles Corp. (a)(b) | 139,945 | 3,267,716 |
Novanta, Inc. (a) | 9,555 | 1,684,833 |
| | 10,727,250 |
Energy Equipment & Services 1.3% |
DMC Global, Inc. (a) | 61,353 | 2,430,192 |
Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A (a) | 206,487 | 2,002,924 |
Nabors Industries Ltd. | 27,899 | 2,262,330 |
| | 6,695,446 |
Entertainment 0.5% |
IMAX Corp. (a) | 159,780 | 2,850,475 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 4.4% |
Acadia Realty Trust | 160,551 | 3,504,828 |
Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. | 67,472 | 1,945,218 |
Independence Realty Trust, Inc. | 42,400 | 1,095,192 |
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | 107,136 | 2,396,632 |
Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc., Class A | 300,351 | 5,520,451 |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (a) | 19,910 | 1,830,924 |
Uniti Group, Inc. | 255,136 | 3,574,455 |
Veris Residential, Inc. (a) | 158,675 | 2,916,447 |
| | 22,784,147 |
Food Products 0.4% |
Calavo Growers, Inc. | 45,353 | 1,922,967 |
Gas Utilities 1.2% |
New Jersey Resources Corp. | 79,164 | 3,250,474 |
South Jersey Industries, Inc. | 106,759 | 2,788,545 |
| | 6,039,019 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 3.6% |
Globus Medical, Inc., Class A (a) | 25,197 | 1,819,223 |
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. (a) | 43,816 | 2,935,234 |
Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (a) | 131,639 | 3,803,051 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (continued) |
NuVasive, Inc. (a) | 50,571 | $ 2,653,966 |
Orthofix Medical, Inc. (a) | 85,096 | 2,645,635 |
SI-BONE, Inc. (a) | 94,546 | 2,099,867 |
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (a) | 17,239 | 2,594,814 |
| | 18,551,790 |
Health Care Providers & Services 3.2% |
Accolade, Inc. (a) | 49,455 | 1,303,634 |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (a) | 31,836 | 3,894,498 |
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (a) | 116,750 | 3,240,980 |
LHC Group, Inc. (a) | 18,681 | 2,563,594 |
Premier, Inc., Class A | 70,432 | 2,899,685 |
R1 RCM, Inc. (a) | 104,470 | 2,662,940 |
| | 16,565,331 |
Health Care Technology 1.7% |
Health Catalyst, Inc. (a) | 43,152 | 1,709,682 |
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | 10,738 | 2,470,384 |
NextGen Healthcare, Inc. (a) | 145,739 | 2,592,697 |
Omnicell, Inc. (a) | 12,867 | 2,321,722 |
| | 9,094,485 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.4% |
Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc. (a) | 71,493 | 3,725,500 |
Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A (a) | 17,751 | 1,607,886 |
Wingstop, Inc. | 10,390 | 1,795,392 |
| | 7,128,778 |
Household Durables 2.2% |
Cavco Industries, Inc. (a) | 3,405 | 1,081,598 |
Century Communities, Inc. | 42,312 | 3,460,699 |
Skyline Champion Corp. (a) | 87,957 | 6,946,844 |
| | 11,489,141 |
Household Products 0.4% |
Energizer Holdings, Inc. | 50,712 | 2,033,551 |
Insurance 1.4% |
Lancashire Holdings Ltd. | 335,454 | 2,406,485 |
ProAssurance Corp. | 106,786 | 2,701,686 |
SiriusPoint Ltd. (a) | 301,096 | 2,447,910 |
| | 7,556,081 |
Interactive Media & Services 0.4% |
Ziff Davis, Inc. (a) | 18,629 | 2,065,211 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 1.1% |
Porch Group, Inc. (a)(b) | 86,627 | 1,350,515 |
Revolve Group, Inc. (a) | 27,058 | 1,516,330 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (continued) |
Shutterstock, Inc. | 24,907 | $ 2,761,688 |
| | 5,628,533 |
IT Services 2.3% |
Concentrix Corp. | 8,657 | 1,546,314 |
CSG Systems International, Inc. | 42,031 | 2,421,826 |
LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (a) | 39,678 | 1,902,560 |
Perficient, Inc. (a) | 19,246 | 2,488,316 |
Repay Holdings Corp. (a) | 40,042 | 731,567 |
Verra Mobility Corp. (a) | 175,233 | 2,703,845 |
| | 11,794,428 |
Leisure Products 0.4% |
Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc. | 27,754 | 1,887,827 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 1.5% |
Codexis, Inc. (a)(b) | 119,233 | 3,728,416 |
Medpace Holdings, Inc. (a) | 11,467 | 2,495,678 |
NeoGenomics, Inc. (a) | 47,327 | 1,614,797 |
| | 7,838,891 |
Machinery 4.1% |
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | 67,437 | 3,477,726 |
Astec Industries, Inc. | 51,632 | 3,576,548 |
Colfax Corp. (a) | 68,229 | 3,136,487 |
Kennametal, Inc. | 79,086 | 2,839,978 |
Kornit Digital Ltd. (a) | 14,943 | 2,275,072 |
Middleby Corp. (The) (a) | 17,543 | 3,451,761 |
REV Group, Inc. | 189,946 | 2,687,736 |
| | 21,445,308 |
Marine 0.6% |
Kirby Corp. (a) | 53,482 | 3,177,900 |
Media 0.9% |
Cardlytics, Inc. (a) | 22,818 | 1,508,042 |
Criteo SA, Sponsored ADR (a) | 83,352 | 3,239,892 |
| | 4,747,934 |
Metals & Mining 1.7% |
Carpenter Technology Corp. | 95,984 | 2,801,773 |
Compass Minerals International, Inc. | 35,101 | 1,792,959 |
MP Materials Corp. (a)(b) | 90,275 | 4,100,291 |
| | 8,695,023 |
Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.5% |
New Residential Investment Corp. | 228,038 | 2,442,287 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.5% |
Chesapeake Energy Corp. | 38,931 | $ 2,511,828 |
Paper & Forest Products 0.4% |
Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. | 67,138 | 2,007,426 |
Personal Products 0.9% |
Edgewell Personal Care Co. | 59,663 | 2,727,196 |
Medifast, Inc. | 10,068 | 2,108,541 |
| | 4,835,737 |
Pharmaceuticals 0.4% |
Arvinas, Inc. (a) | 26,401 | 2,168,578 |
Professional Services 2.2% |
ICF International, Inc. | 33,667 | 3,452,551 |
Insperity, Inc. | 26,100 | 3,082,671 |
Kforce, Inc. | 32,859 | 2,471,654 |
Science Applications International Corp. | 27,774 | 2,321,628 |
| | 11,328,504 |
Real Estate Management & Development 0.7% |
Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (a) | 67,746 | 3,486,209 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.0% |
Ichor Holdings Ltd. (a) | 37,795 | 1,739,704 |
MKS Instruments, Inc. | 17,157 | 2,988,235 |
Rambus, Inc. (a) | 105,338 | 3,095,884 |
Silicon Motion Technology Corp., ADR | 30,717 | 2,919,037 |
Synaptics, Inc. (a) | 21,430 | 6,204,199 |
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (a) | 232,811 | 9,237,940 |
| | 26,184,999 |
Software 7.1% |
Agilysys, Inc. (a) | 74,926 | 3,331,210 |
Box, Inc., Class A (a) | 140,474 | 3,679,014 |
Digital Turbine, Inc. (a) | 43,108 | 2,629,157 |
InterDigital, Inc. | 32,347 | 2,317,016 |
Jamf Holding Corp. (a) | 95,214 | 3,619,084 |
Manhattan Associates, Inc. (a) | 11,246 | 1,748,641 |
Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (a)(b) | 72,232 | 2,373,543 |
Mimecast Ltd. (a) | 45,435 | 3,615,263 |
New Relic, Inc. (a) | 20,352 | 2,237,906 |
Rapid7, Inc. (a) | 22,509 | 2,649,084 |
Varonis Systems, Inc. (a) | 56,845 | 2,772,899 |
Veritone, Inc. (a)(b) | 148,041 | 3,327,962 |
Xperi Holding Corp. | 127,367 | 2,408,510 |
| | 36,709,289 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Specialty Retail 1.9% |
Five Below, Inc. (a) | 19,013 | $ 3,933,600 |
Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A (a) | 14,603 | 1,898,536 |
Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. (a) | 165,731 | 2,829,028 |
National Vision Holdings, Inc. (a) | 21,100 | 1,012,589 |
| | 9,673,753 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 1.9% |
Carter's, Inc. | 25,841 | 2,615,626 |
Crocs, Inc. (a) | 19,722 | 2,528,755 |
Kontoor Brands, Inc. | 42,914 | 2,199,342 |
Steven Madden Ltd. | 50,308 | 2,337,813 |
| | 9,681,536 |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 2.9% |
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., Class C | 43,491 | 5,389,840 |
MGIC Investment Corp. | 202,399 | 2,918,594 |
NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A (a) | 79,698 | 1,741,401 |
Radian Group, Inc. | 140,439 | 2,967,476 |
WSFS Financial Corp. | 38,709 | 1,940,095 |
| | 14,957,406 |
Trading Companies & Distributors 3.5% |
Air Lease Corp. | 58,525 | 2,588,561 |
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. | 41,643 | 4,276,736 |
Boise Cascade Co. | 58,204 | 4,144,125 |
McGrath RentCorp | 32,185 | 2,583,168 |
MRC Global, Inc. (a) | 349,636 | 2,405,496 |
WESCO International, Inc. (a) | 18,123 | 2,384,805 |
| | 18,382,891 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $478,154,702) | | 495,942,312 |
Exchange-Traded Funds 2.3% |
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (b) | 36,510 | 8,121,649 |
iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (b) | 5,217 | 1,528,842 |
iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (b) | 14,311 | 2,376,342 |
Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $12,089,762) | | 12,026,833 |
|
| Number of Warrants | | Value |
Warrant 0.0% ‡ |
Energy Equipment & Services 0.0% ‡ |
Nabors Industries Ltd. | | | |
Expires 6/11/26 (a) | 11,300 | | $ 42,149 |
Total Warrant (Cost $0) | | | 42,149 |
|
| Shares | | |
Short-Term Investments 2.3% |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 2.3% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, 0.025% (c)(d) | 5,000,000 | | 5,000,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (c)(d) | 6,848,394 | | 6,848,394 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $11,848,394) | | | 11,848,394 |
Total Investments (Cost $502,092,858) | 100.2% | | 519,859,688 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (0.2) | | (863,144) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 518,996,544 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $19,362,189; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $20,390,867. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $8,542,473. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $11,848,394. (See Note 2(I)) |
(c) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts1:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
Russell 2000 E-Mini Index | 46 | March 2022 | $ 5,168,909 | $ 5,158,440 | $ (10,469) |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $303,600 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions. |
2. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | |
Commercial Services & Supplies | $ 14,292,422 | | $ 2,383,560 | | $ — | | $ 16,675,982 |
All Other Industries | 479,266,330 | | — | | — | | 479,266,330 |
Total Common Stocks | 493,558,752 | | 2,383,560 | | — | | 495,942,312 |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 12,026,833 | | — | | — | | 12,026,833 |
Warrant | 42,149 | | — | | — | | 42,149 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 11,848,394 | | — | | — | | 11,848,394 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 517,476,128 | | $ 2,383,560 | | $ — | | $ 519,859,688 |
Liability Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | $ (10,469) | | $ — | | $ — | | $ (10,469) |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in securities, at value (identified cost $502,092,858) including securities on loan of $19,362,189 | $519,859,688 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies (identified cost $(6,483)) | 2,851 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 303,600 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 11,398,800 |
Dividends and interest | 2,177,123 |
Portfolio shares sold | 147,861 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 11,969 |
Securities lending | 6,562 |
Other assets | 2,430 |
Total assets | 533,910,884 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 11,848,394 |
Due to custodian | 122,638 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 2,398,492 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 310,462 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 89,213 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 64,837 |
Professional fees | 32,368 |
Shareholder communication | 20,778 |
Custodian | 19,935 |
Trustees | 930 |
Accrued expenses | 6,293 |
Total liabilities | 14,914,340 |
Net assets | $518,996,544 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 37,862 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 386,400,298 |
| 386,438,160 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 132,558,384 |
Net assets | $518,996,544 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $206,409,539 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 14,968,528 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 13.79 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $312,587,005 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 22,893,110 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 13.65 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $489,810) | $ 8,517,378 |
Securities lending | 89,959 |
Dividends-affiliated | 628 |
Total income | 8,607,965 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 4,159,709 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 793,418 |
Shareholder communication | 110,185 |
Professional fees | 98,697 |
Custodian | 54,539 |
Trustees | 11,186 |
Miscellaneous | 25,579 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 5,253,313 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (619,623) |
Net expenses | 4,633,690 |
Net investment income (loss) | 3,974,275 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions(a) | 153,604,874 |
Foreign currency transactions | (6,045) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 153,598,829 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (69,628,885) |
Futures contracts | (10,469) |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 9,337 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (69,630,017) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 83,968,812 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 87,943,087 |
(a) | Includes transition cost of $75,985. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 3,974,275 | $ 1,155,825 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 153,598,829 | (4,645,271) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (69,630,017) | 49,572,838 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 87,943,087 | 46,083,392 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (775,143) | (219,144) |
Service Class | (592,973) | — |
Total distributions to shareholders | (1,368,116) | (219,144) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 46,281,087 | 28,506,306 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,368,116 | 219,144 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (117,292,808) | (88,033,138) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (69,643,605) | (59,307,688) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 16,931,366 | (13,443,440) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 502,065,178 | 515,508,618 |
End of year | $ 518,996,544 | $502,065,178 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.73 | | $ 10.65 | | $ 9.82 | | $ 13.16 | | $ 11.73 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.16 | | 0.04 | | 0.05 | | 0.04 | | 0.01 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.95 | | 1.05 | | 1.61 | | (1.71) | | 1.63 |
Total from investment operations | 2.11 | | 1.09 | | 1.66 | | (1.67) | | 1.64 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.05) | | (0.01) | | (0.02) | | — | | — |
From net realized gain on investments | — | | — | | (0.81) | | (1.67) | | (0.21) |
Total distributions | (0.05) | | (0.01) | | (0.83) | | (1.67) | | (0.21) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 13.79 | | $ 11.73 | | $ 10.65 | | $ 9.82 | | $ 13.16 |
Total investment return (b) | 18.03% | | 10.22% | | 17.82% | | (15.11)% | | 13.93% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.93% | | 0.42% | | 0.48% | | 0.33% | | 0.10% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.74% | | 0.75% | | 0.82% | | 0.90% | | 0.90% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.86% | | 0.86% | | 0.86% | | 0.90% | | 0.90% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 83% | | 225% | | 257% | | 161% | | 159% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 206,410 | | $ 197,586 | | $ 198,292 | | $ 123,857 | | $ 180,840 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.61 | | $ 10.56 | | $ 9.76 | | $ 13.11 | | $ 11.72 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.12 | | 0.02 | | 0.02 | | 0.01 | | (0.02) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.95 | | 1.03 | | 1.59 | | (1.69) | | 1.62 |
Total from investment operations | 2.07 | | 1.05 | | 1.61 | | (1.68) | | 1.60 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.03) | | — | | (0.00)‡ | | — | | — |
From net realized gain on investments | — | | — | | (0.81) | | (1.67) | | (0.21) |
Total distributions | (0.03) | | — | | (0.81) | | (1.67) | | (0.21) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 13.65 | | $ 11.61 | | $ 10.56 | | $ 9.76 | | $ 13.11 |
Total investment return (b) | 17.73% | | 9.94%(c) | | 17.53% | | (15.32)% | | 13.64% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.66% | | 0.17% | | 0.22% | | 0.09% | | (0.15)% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.99% | | 1.00% | | 1.07% | | 1.15% | | 1.15% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (d) | 1.11% | | 1.11% | | 1.12% | | 1.15% | | 1.15% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 83% | | 225% | | 257% | | 161% | | 159% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 312,587 | | $ 304,479 | | $ 317,216 | | $ 136,965 | | $ 176,295 |
‡ | Less than one cent per share. |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Small Cap Core Portfolio) (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 2, 2016 |
Service Class | May 2, 2016 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to
calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are
20 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have
not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in ETFs and mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in ETFs and mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of ETFs and mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(I) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(J) Rights and Warrants. Rights are certificates that permit the holder to purchase a certain number of shares, or a fractional share, of a new stock from the issuer at a specific price. Warrants are instruments
22 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time. These investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of these investments do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities.
There is risk involved in the purchase of rights and warrants in that these investments are speculative investments. The Portfolio could also lose the entire value of its investment in warrants if such warrants are not exercised by the date of its expiration. The Portfolio is exposed to risk until the sale or exercise of each right or warrant is completed. Rights and Warrants as of December 31, 2021 are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(K) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(L) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio entered into futures contracts to manage its exposure to the securities markets or to movements in interest rates and currency values.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Liability Derivatives | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts | $(10,469) | $(10,469) |
Total Fair Value | $(10,469) | $(10,469) |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $(10,469) | $(10,469) |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $(10,469) | $(10,469) |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Futures Contracts Long (a) | $5,158,440 |
(a) | Position was open one month during the reporting period. |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. The Portfolio’s subadvisor changed effective May 1, 2021, due to the replacement of MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields") as the Portfolio’s subadvisor and the appointment of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington” or the “Subadvisor”) as the Portfolio’s subadvisor. Wellington, a registered investment adviser, is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and Wellington, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.80% up to $1 billion; 0.775% from $1 billion to $2 billion; and 0.75% in excess of $2 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.80% (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements).
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments and acquired (underlying) portfolio/fund fees and expenses) of of Initial Class shares do not exceed 0.74% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets of its average daily net assets. New York Life Investments will apply an equivalent waiver or reimbursement to Service Class shares. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $4,159,709 and waived
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $619,623 and paid MacKay Shields and Wellington fees of $612,245 and $1,173,842, respectively.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The
Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ — | $ 173,522 | $ (173,522) | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ 1 | $ — | — |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $503,433,350 | $47,858,052 | $(31,431,714) | $16,426,338 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$88,230,463 | $27,744,974 | $146,617 | $16,436,330 | $132,558,384 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
The Portfolio utilized $30,700,225 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $1,368,116 | $219,144 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $10,362 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
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Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month LIBOR, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $419,135 and $464,963, respectively.
The Portfolio may purchase securities from or sell securities to other portfolios managed by the Subadvisor. These interportfolio transactions are primarily used for cash management purposes and are made pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. The Rule 17a-7 transactions during the year ended December 31, 2021, were as follows:
Purchases (000's) | Sales (000's) | Realized Gain / (Loss) (000's) |
$1,835 | $403 | $93 |
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 1,441,213 | $ 19,527,641 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 57,939 | 775,143 |
Shares redeemed | (3,382,279) | (45,833,212) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,883,127) | $(25,530,428) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 549,601 | $ 4,722,504 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 22,016 | 219,144 |
Shares redeemed | (2,337,460) | (23,020,294) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,765,843) | $(18,078,646) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 2,018,860 | $ 26,753,446 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 44,736 | 592,973 |
Shares redeemed | (5,387,047) | (71,459,596) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,323,451) | $(44,113,177) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 3,009,340 | $ 23,783,802 |
Shares redeemed | (6,822,754) | (65,012,844) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,813,414) | $(41,229,042) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio(formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Small Cap Core Portfolio)
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
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Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of the Management Agreement for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management fee and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of the Management Agreement. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of the Management Agreement reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio
turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio and New York Life Investments; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments with respect to its relationship with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments. The Board’s decision with respect to the Management Agreement may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of the Management Agreement in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of the Management Agreement. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and performance in serving as investment adviser to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and New York Life Investments’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at New York Life Investments and New York Life Investments’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and acknowledged New York Life Investments’ commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed New York Life Investments’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments regarding the operations of its business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the
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Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolio, the Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the one- and three-year periods ended July 31, 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments regarding the Portfolio’s investment performance and the Board’s approval to terminate the previous subadvisor, approve a new subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and Wellington Management Company LLP with respect to the Portfolio and reposition the Portfolio, effective May 1, 2021.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under the Management Agreement. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and acknowledged that New York Life Investments must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life
Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management Fee and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under the Management Agreement and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints, voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
30 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
32 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
34 | MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI530
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
(formerly known as MainStay VP Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio)
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1, 2, 3 | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio4 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | -2.00% | 10.96% | 2.38% | 1.19% |
Service Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | -2.25 | 10.69 | 2.12 | 1.44 |
1. | Effective January 13, 2015, the Portfolio changed its subadvisors and revised its principal investment strategies. The performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisors and principal investment strategies. |
2. | Effective January 1, 2018, due to an organizational restructuring, all investment personnel of Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings LLC, the former subadvisor, transitioned to MacKay Shields LLC. |
3. | Effective May 1, 2021, the Portfolio replaced one of its subadvisors and modified its principal investment strategies. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio's prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies. |
4. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net)1 | -2.54% | 9.87% | 3.98% |
Morningstar Diversified Emerging Markets Category Average2 | 0.26 | 9.58 | 3.90 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net) is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net) is a broad-based benchmark that is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Diversified Emerging Markets Category Average is representative of funds that tend to divide their assets among 20 or more nations, although they tend to focus on the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America rather than on those of the Middle East, Africa, or Europe. These funds invest predominantly in emerging market equities, but some funds also invest in both equities and fixed income investments from emerging markets. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $885.80 | $5.23 | $1,019.66 | $5.60 | 1.10% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $884.70 | $6.41 | $1,018.40 | $6.87 | 1.35% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
Country Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
China | 34.0% |
Taiwan | 15.3 |
Republic of Korea | 13.9 |
India | 13.4 |
Brazil | 3.1 |
South Africa | 2.6 |
Russia | 2.5 |
Thailand | 2.1 |
Mexico | 2.0 |
Poland | 1.5 |
Hungary | 1.4 |
Indonesia | 1.1% |
Peru | 0.8 |
Chile | 0.8 |
Argentina | 0.7 |
United States | 0.5 |
Uruguay | 0.3 |
Hong Kong | 0.0‡ |
Greece | 0.0‡ |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 4.0 |
| 100.0% |
‡ | Less than one–tenth of a percent. |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
2. | Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. |
3. | Tencent Holdings Ltd. |
4. | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. |
5. | MediaTek, Inc. |
6. | Infosys Ltd. |
7. | KB Financial Group, Inc. |
8. | Chailease Holding Co. Ltd. |
9. | SK Hynix, Inc. |
10. | Meituan |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Ping Wang, PhD, and Rui Tang, CFA, of MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields”), the Portfolio’s former Subadvisor, and portfolio managers Jan Boudewijns,1 Paulo Salazar, Philip Screve and Lamine Saidi of Candriam Belgium S.A. (“Candriam”), the Portfolio’s current Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio returned −2.00% for Initial Class shares and −2.25% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the −2.54% return of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net) (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark, and underperformed the 0.26% return of the Morningstar Diversified Emerging Markets Category Average.2
Were there any changes to the Portfolio during the reporting period?
At meetings held on January 21, January 25 and February 3, 2021, the Board of Trustees (“Board”) of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Trust”) considered and approved, among other related proposals: (i) changing the Portfolio’s name and modifying its non-fundamental “names rule” investment policy; (ii) removing MacKay Shields as a Subadvisor to the Portfolio; and (iii) modifying the Portfolio’s principal investment strategies and investment process. These changes became effective on May 1, 2021. For more information on these and other changes refer to the supplement dated February 5, 2021.
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
Candriam
During a relatively volatile reporting period, the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by Candriam slightly outperformed the Index due to a combination of thematic stock selection and a balanced portfolio approach combining exposure to structural growth companies in emerging markets and those expected to benefit from economic reopening.
During the reporting period, benchmark heavyweight China imposed significant regulatory restructurings affecting several investment sectors. The Portfolio implemented swift changes in response, including reducing its exposure to offshore H-shares in Chinese mainland companies and eliminating exposure to ADRs (American Depositary Receipts) in Chinese companies that were more exposed to regulatory risks. The Portfolio substituted these holdings with relevant onshore domestic Chinese A-share companies. The Portfolio also took steps to limit the impact of regulatory restrictions in troubled sectors, such as after school tutoring and real estate, by reducing exposure to those sectors and focusing on companies with strong balance sheets and resilient prospects. The Portfolio replaced these holdings with positions in companies that were likely beneficiaries of the
common prosperity theme in China, such as those in the green energy and renewable and electric vehicle areas.
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields co-managed the Portfolio, the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by MacKay Shields outperformed the Index due to strong security selection and positive sector allocation effects. In terms of stock-selection model efficacy, valuation measures provided the most highly rewarded signals used by our quantitative stock selection model.
Which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s relative performance, and which sectors were particularly weak?
Candriam
In the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by Candriam, the strongest positive contributions to relative performance during the reporting period came from the information technology, financials and materials sectors. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) For both information technology and financials, the positive relative return resulted from higher sector allocation as well as positive selection effect. For materials, the positive relative return was primarily due to a higher allocation to the sector. The most significant detractors from relative performance during the same period were energy, industrials and communication services. The negative contribution from the energy sector primarily resulted from negative stock selection. Both the industrials and communication services sectors delivered negative total return for the reporting period.
MacKay Shields
In the portion of the Portfolio subadvised by MacKay Shields, the sectors that made the most substantial positive contributions to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index included materials, information technology and financials. During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the utilities sector produced a negative contribution to return, while the consumer staples sector was a weak contributor to the Portfolio’s performance.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
Candriam
In the Candriam portion of the Portfolio, the strongest positive contributions to absolute performance came from holdings in Russian fintech company TCS Group, financial leasing company Chailease Holding and Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer Mediatek. TCS delivered strong results as the company continued
1. | Mr. Boudewijns will serve as a portfolio manager for the Portfolio until on or about April 1, 2022. |
2. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
to execute its strategy of expanding product offerings and entering new markets. Chailease shares rose on the company’s increased operating efficiency and lower credit cost, as well as a demand recovery in key segments. Mediatek benefited from growing demand for 5G process semiconductor chips, which drove earnings growth for the company.
The most substantial detractors from absolute performance in the Candriam portion of the Portfolio were Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding, Chinese food delivery company Meituan and Chinese insurer Ping An Insurance. All three posted negative total returns for the reporting period. Both Alibaba and Meituan faced headwinds from tightening regulatory conditions in China, even as the companies saw a conclusion of ongoing antitrust investigations. The Portfolio held underweight exposure to Alibaba relative to the Index.
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the stocks that made the most substantial positive contributions to the absolute performance of the MacKay Shields portion of the Portfolio included global semiconductor manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Chinese interactive media & value-added Internet services provider Tencent, and semiconductor maker Novatek Microelectronics. Over the same period, the stocks that detracted the most from absolute performance were Pinduoduo, technology hardware storage & peripherals maker Xiaomi, and oil & gas refining & marketing firm Reliance Industries.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
Candriam
The most significant purchases in the Candriam portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period included shares in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD, Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturing company United Microelectronics (UMC) and Chinese financial company Postal Savings Bank of China. BYD has emerged not only as a leading player in the EV landscape in China, but also as a company relatively insulated from semiconductor shortages due to its in-house semiconductor supply capabilities. UMC appears well positioned to take advantage of an ongoing upcycle in the process semiconductor industry. We view Postal Savings Bank of China as a well-managed bank positioned to benefit from possible credit easing and a recovery in consumer credit growth.
During the same period, the most significant sales in the Candriam portion of the Portfolio included positions in Chinese financial institution China Construction Bank and Chinese e-commerce player Pinduoduo. The position in China Construction Bank was sold following the strong performance of the company in the prior period, and in view of an expected slowdown in construction related activities. The position in Pinduoduo was sold
as part of the Portfolio’s wider strategy to remove any exposure to China ADRs given the ongoing regulatory risk for the VIE (variable interest entity) listing structure.
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, the most substantial position initiated in the MacKay Shields portion of the Portfolio was in South Korea-based construction engineering company DL E&C, while the largest increased position size was in Tencent. The most substantial position that the MacKay Shields portion of the Portfolio exited entirely was in South Korean electronics company Samsung Electronics, while the most significantly decreased position size was in China-based multinational e-commerce and Internet services company Alibaba Group Holding.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
Candriam
During the reporting period, the Candriam portion of the Portfolio saw its most substantial weighting increases relative to the Index in the information technology, communication services and energy sectors. While the Portfolio added to its overweight exposure in the information technology sector, the increased weighting in communication services and energy represented reductions in relatively underweight exposures to these sectors. During the same period, the Portfolio decreased its relative weightings in the materials and industrials sectors.
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the Portfolio, in their portion of the Portfolio, the most substantial increases in sector weightings relative to the Index were in financials and energy. Conversely, the Portfolio saw its most substantial decreases in sector weightings relative to the Index in consumer discretionary and health care.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
Candriam
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio maintained a generally balanced investment approach. The most substantially overweight sector positions relative to the Index in the Candriam portion of the Portfolio were in information technology, followed by financials. As of the same date, the sectors that were most substantially underweight relative to the Index were consumer staples and communication services. The underweight position in communication services was driven by regulatory uncertainty regarding benchmark names in the sector in China and Korea.
MacKay Shields
At the end of the period when MacKay Shields managed the portfolio, the sectors in their portion of the Portfolio that were most substantially overweight relative to the Index were materials
and financials. The sectors that were most substantially underweight relative to the Index were information technology and consumer discretionary.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
10 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks 95.2% |
Argentina 0.7% |
MercadoLibre, Inc. (Internet & Direct Marketing Retail) (a) | 1,680 | $ 2,265,312 |
Brazil 3.1% |
Banco Santander Brasil SA (Banks) | 490,000 | 2,648,385 |
Cosan SA (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 1,100,000 | 4,320,869 |
WEG SA (Electrical Equipment) | 450,000 | 2,663,629 |
| | 9,632,883 |
China 34.0% |
Aier Eye Hospital Group Co. Ltd., Class A (Health Care Providers & Services) | 160,057 | 1,061,798 |
Airtac International Group (Machinery) | 57,001 | 2,094,592 |
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (Internet & Direct Marketing Retail) (a) | 550,000 | 8,386,609 |
Asia Cement China Holdings Corp. (Construction Materials) | 15,500 | 9,899 |
Bank of Ningbo Co. Ltd., Class A (Banks) | 439,842 | 2,641,806 |
Beijing United Information Technology Co. Ltd., Class A (Trading Companies & Distributors) | 39,925 | 673,419 |
Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. (Automobiles) (a)(b)(c)(d) | 1,142,000 | 549,302 |
BYD Co. Ltd., Class H (Automobiles) | 122,000 | 4,171,208 |
China Meidong Auto Holdings Ltd. (Specialty Retail) | 210,000 | 1,082,648 |
China Mengniu Dairy Co. Ltd. (Food Products) | 330,000 | 1,870,588 |
China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., Class H (Banks) | 536,000 | 4,162,179 |
China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., Class H (Metals & Mining) | 2,598,660 | 1,369,724 |
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Class H (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 4,700,000 | 2,187,995 |
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., Class A (Electrical Equipment) | 35,506 | 3,275,754 |
Country Garden Services Holdings Co. Ltd. (Real Estate Management & Development) | 178,000 | 1,066,053 |
East Money Information Co. Ltd., Class A (Capital Markets) | 470,118 | 2,737,348 |
Ecovacs Robotics Co. Ltd., Class A (Household Durables) | 25,968 | 615,041 |
ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. (Gas Utilities) | 88,000 | 1,656,725 |
Flat Glass Group Co. Ltd., Class H (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) (e) | 100,000 | 507,852 |
| Shares | Value |
|
China (continued) |
Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., Class A (Metals & Mining) | 83,994 | $ 1,882,612 |
Hundsun Technologies, Inc., Class A (Software) | 215,770 | 2,104,090 |
Jafron Biomedical Co. Ltd., Class A (Health Care Equipment & Supplies) | 106,920 | 894,166 |
JD.com, Inc., Class A (Internet & Direct Marketing Retail) (a) | 108,000 | 3,795,038 |
Lenovo Group Ltd. (Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals) | 2,080,000 | 2,390,084 |
Li Ning Co. Ltd. (Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods) | 286,000 | 3,130,483 |
Longfor Group Holdings Ltd. (Real Estate Management & Development) | 400,000 | 1,882,643 |
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Class A (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 125,600 | 1,698,749 |
Meituan (Internet & Direct Marketing Retail) (a) | 170,000 | 4,914,108 |
NetEase, Inc. (Entertainment) | 124,000 | 2,504,633 |
Ping An Bank Co. Ltd., Class A (Banks) | 639,997 | 1,654,883 |
Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd., Class H (Insurance) | 340,000 | 2,448,333 |
Postal Savings Bank of China Co. Ltd., Class H (Banks) (f) | 4,800,000 | 3,367,211 |
Shandong Sinocera Functional Material Co. Ltd., Class A (Chemicals) | 180,482 | 1,205,507 |
Shanghai Baosight Software Co. Ltd., Class A (Software) | 113,874 | 1,086,863 |
Shenzhen Inovance Technology Co. Ltd., Class A (Machinery) | 148,000 | 1,593,008 |
Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co. Ltd., Class A (Health Care Equipment & Supplies) | 18,964 | 1,133,077 |
Silergy Corp. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 18,400 | 3,324,543 |
Sunny Optical Technology Group Co. Ltd. (Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components) | 80,000 | 2,530,025 |
Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Interactive Media & Services) | 214,000 | 12,536,656 |
Will Semiconductor Co. Ltd. Shanghai, Class A (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 38,006 | 1,853,205 |
Wuxi Biologics Cayman, Inc. (Life Sciences Tools & Services) (a)(f) | 214,000 | 2,539,990 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
China (continued) |
Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd., Class A (Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components) | 175,984 | $ 2,053,540 |
Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 280,000 | 474,713 |
Yantai Jereh Oilfield Services Group Co. Ltd., Class A (Energy Equipment & Services) | 249,899 | 1,568,400 |
Yunnan Energy New Material Co. Ltd. (Containers & Packaging) | 49,916 | 1,961,130 |
| | 106,648,230 |
Greece 0.0% ‡ |
FF Group (Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods) (a)(b)(c)(d) | 19,000 | 0 |
Hong Kong 0.0% ‡ |
China Lumena New Materials Corp. (Chemicals) (a)(b)(c)(d) | 6,500 | 0 |
Hungary 1.4% |
MOL Hungarian Oil & Gas plc (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 252,000 | 1,955,958 |
OTP Bank Nyrt. (Banks) (a) | 50,000 | 2,554,755 |
| | 4,510,713 |
India 13.4% |
Asian Paints Ltd. (Chemicals) | 38,000 | 1,729,346 |
Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Consumer Finance) | 29,000 | 2,722,001 |
Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 142,000 | 736,308 |
Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Wireless Telecommunication Services) (a) | 256,000 | 2,354,897 |
Divi's Laboratories Ltd. (Life Sciences Tools & Services) | 36,000 | 2,265,605 |
GAIL India Ltd. (Gas Utilities) | 940,000 | 1,633,779 |
Graphite India Ltd. (Electrical Equipment) | 36,000 | 246,479 |
HDFC Bank Ltd. (Banks) | 82,000 | 1,631,933 |
ICICI Bank Ltd. (Banks) | 490,000 | 4,878,864 |
Info Edge India Ltd. (Interactive Media & Services) | 21,000 | 1,575,431 |
Infosys Ltd. (IT Services) | 244,000 | 6,196,367 |
JSW Steel Ltd. (Metals & Mining) | 380,000 | 3,353,182 |
Jubilant Foodworks Ltd. (Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure) | 26,000 | 1,256,041 |
Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd. (Auto Components) | 370,000 | 1,111,459 |
| Shares | Value |
|
India (continued) |
Piramal Enterprises Ltd. (Diversified Financial Services) | 35,000 | $ 1,244,847 |
Reliance Industries Ltd. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 140,000 | 4,460,054 |
State Bank of India (Banks) | 530,000 | 3,282,927 |
Tata Consumer Products Ltd. (Food Products) | 134,000 | 1,340,168 |
| | 42,019,688 |
Indonesia 1.1% |
Bank Central Asia Tbk. PT (Banks) | 7,000,000 | 3,547,342 |
Mexico 2.0% |
Alsea SAB de CV (Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure) (a) | 250,000 | 463,359 |
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, Class B (Transportation Infrastructure) | 106,000 | 1,460,719 |
Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O (Banks) | 460,000 | 2,988,411 |
Ternium SA, Sponsored ADR (Metals & Mining) | 29,000 | 1,262,080 |
| | 6,174,569 |
Peru 0.8% |
Credicorp Ltd. (Banks) | 5,000 | 610,350 |
Southern Copper Corp. (Metals & Mining) | 29,000 | 1,789,590 |
| | 2,399,940 |
Poland 1.5% |
Dino Polska SA (Food & Staples Retailing) (a)(f) | 28,000 | 2,552,233 |
Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA (Insurance) | 250,000 | 2,191,667 |
| | 4,743,900 |
Republic of Korea 13.9% |
HYBE Co. Ltd. (Entertainment) (a) | 2,700 | 788,664 |
Kakao Corp. (Interactive Media & Services) | 18,000 | 1,697,712 |
KB Financial Group, Inc. (Banks) | 130,000 | 5,992,401 |
Kia Corp. (Automobiles) | 58,000 | 3,981,895 |
Samsung Biologics Co. Ltd. (Life Sciences Tools & Services) (a)(f) | 4,100 | 3,110,564 |
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals) | 218,000 | 14,311,732 |
Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd. (Construction & Engineering) (a) | 110,000 | 2,112,709 |
Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. (Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components) | 5,100 | 2,793,445 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Republic of Korea (continued) |
SK Hynix, Inc. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 45,000 | $ 4,923,529 |
SK Square Co. Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) (a) | 11,960 | 668,056 |
SK Telecom Co. Ltd. (Wireless Telecommunication Services) | 32,040 | 1,559,865 |
S-Oil Corp. (Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels) | 24,000 | 1,728,364 |
| | 43,668,936 |
Russia 2.5% |
HeadHunter Group plc, ADR (Professional Services) | 18,000 | 919,620 |
Magnit PJSC (Food & Staples Retailing) | 29,000 | 2,100,402 |
Polymetal International plc (Metals & Mining) | 54,000 | 958,597 |
TCS Group Holding plc (Registered), GDR (Banks) | 22,000 | 1,855,040 |
Yandex NV, Class A (Interactive Media & Services) (a) | 33,000 | 1,996,500 |
| | 7,830,159 |
South Africa 2.6% |
Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd. (Banks) | 23,000 | 2,944,173 |
FirstRand Ltd. (Diversified Financial Services) | 440,000 | 1,678,820 |
Naspers Ltd., Class N (Internet & Direct Marketing Retail) | 16,600 | 2,575,162 |
Old Mutual Ltd. (Insurance) | 1,120,000 | 920,740 |
| | 8,118,895 |
Taiwan 15.3% |
Accton Technology Corp. (Communications Equipment) | 120,000 | 1,127,850 |
Alchip Technologies Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 60,000 | 2,207,834 |
ASPEED Technology, Inc. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 25,000 | 3,212,366 |
Chailease Holding Co. Ltd. (Diversified Financial Services) | 610,000 | 5,791,509 |
E.Sun Financial Holding Co. Ltd. (Banks) | 2,700,000 | 2,735,132 |
Globalwafers Co. Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 62,000 | 1,982,517 |
MediaTek, Inc. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 146,000 | 6,242,175 |
Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corp. (Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components) | 66,000 | 1,353,714 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Taiwan (continued) |
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 120,000 | | $ 2,516,211 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 700,000 | | 15,499,929 |
United Microelectronics Corp. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) | 1,640,000 | | 3,831,562 |
Wiwynn Corp. (Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals) | 40,000 | | 1,607,302 |
| | | 48,108,101 |
Thailand 2.1% |
Carabao Group PCL, NVDR (Beverages) | 140,000 | | 499,208 |
Energy Absolute PCL, NVDR (Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers) | 1,100,000 | | 3,161,241 |
Kasikornbank PCL, NVDR (Banks) | 500,000 | | 2,122,788 |
Srisawad Corp. PCL, NVDR (Consumer Finance) | 520,000 | | 960,355 |
| | | 6,743,592 |
United States 0.5% |
Globant SA (IT Services) (a) | 5,000 | | 1,570,450 |
Uruguay 0.3% |
Dlocal Ltd. (IT Services) (a) | 26,000 | | 927,940 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $270,426,047) | | | 298,910,650 |
Preferred Stock 0.8% |
Chile 0.8% |
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA, Sponsored ADR (Chemicals) 0.35% | 47,000 | | 2,370,210 |
Total Preferred Stock (Cost $2,270,247) | | | 2,370,210 |
Total Investments (Cost $272,696,294) | 96.0% | | 301,280,860 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 4.0 | | 12,603,357 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 313,884,217 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
(b) | Fair valued security—Represents fair value as measured in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2021, the total market value was $549,302, which represented 0.2% of the Portfolio’s net assets. |
(c) | Illiquid security—As of December 31, 2021, the total market value deemed illiquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees was $549,302, which represented 0.2% of the Portfolio’s net assets. (Unaudited) |
(d) | Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value. |
(e) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $457,062. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $479,946. (See Note 2(J)) |
(f) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
GDR—Global Depositary Receipt |
NVDR—Non-Voting Depositary Receipt |
PCL—Provision for Credit Losses |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | |
Brazil | $ — | | $ 9,632,883 | | $ — | | $ 9,632,883 |
China | 100,679,793 | | 5,419,135 | | 549,302 | | 106,648,230 |
Hungary | — | | 4,510,713 | | — | | 4,510,713 |
Indonesia | — | | 3,547,342 | | — | | 3,547,342 |
Poland | — | | 4,743,900 | | — | | 4,743,900 |
Republic of Korea | — | | 43,668,936 | | — | | 43,668,936 |
Russia | 5,729,757 | | 2,100,402 | | — | | 7,830,159 |
Taiwan | — | | 48,108,101 | | — | | 48,108,101 |
Thailand | — | | 6,743,592 | | — | | 6,743,592 |
All Other Countries | 63,476,794 | | — | | — | | 63,476,794 |
Total Common Stocks | 169,886,344 | | 128,475,004 | | 549,302 | | 298,910,650 |
Preferred Stock | 2,370,210 | | — | | — | | 2,370,210 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 172,256,554 | | $ 128,475,004 | | $ 549,302 | | $ 301,280,860 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
The table below sets forth the diversification of the Portfolio’s investments by industry.
Industry Diversification
| Value | | Percent † |
Auto Components | $ 1,111,459 | | 0.4% |
Automobiles | 8,702,405 | | 2.8 |
Banks | 49,618,580 | | 15.8 |
Beverages | 499,208 | | 0.1 |
Capital Markets | 2,737,348 | | 0.9 |
Chemicals | 5,305,063 | | 1.8 |
Communications Equipment | 1,127,850 | | 0.4 |
Construction & Engineering | 2,112,709 | | 0.7 |
Construction Materials | 9,899 | | 0.0‡ |
Consumer Finance | 3,682,356 | | 1.2 |
Containers & Packaging | 1,961,130 | | 0.6 |
Diversified Financial Services | 8,715,176 | | 2.8 |
Electrical Equipment | 6,185,862 | | 2.0 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 8,730,724 | | 2.8 |
Energy Equipment & Services | 1,568,400 | | 0.5 |
Entertainment | 3,293,297 | | 1.0 |
Food & Staples Retailing | 4,652,635 | | 1.5 |
Food Products | 3,210,756 | | 1.0 |
Gas Utilities | 3,290,504 | | 1.0 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 2,027,243 | | 0.6 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 1,061,798 | | 0.3 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 1,719,400 | | 0.5 |
Household Durables | 615,041 | | 0.2 |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers | 3,161,241 | | 1.0 |
Insurance | 5,560,740 | | 1.8 |
Interactive Media & Services | 17,806,299 | | 5.6 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 21,936,229 | | 7.0 |
IT Services | 8,694,757 | | 2.8 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 7,916,159 | | 2.5 |
Machinery | 3,687,600 | | 1.2 |
Metals & Mining | 10,615,785 | | 3.4 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 15,389,548 | | 4.8 |
Professional Services | 919,620 | | 0.3 |
Real Estate Management & Development | 2,948,696 | | 0.9 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 48,943,241 | | 15.6 |
Software | 3,190,953 | | 1.1 |
Specialty Retail | 1,082,648 | | 0.3 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 18,309,118 | | 5.9 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 3,130,483 | | 1.0 |
Trading Companies & Distributors | 673,419 | | 0.2 |
Transportation Infrastructure | 1,460,719 | | 0.5 |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | 3,914,762 | | 1.2 |
| Value | | Percent † |
| 301,280,860 | | 96.0 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 12,603,357 | | 4.0 |
Net Assets | $313,884,217 | | 100.0% |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in securities, at value (identified cost $272,696,294) including securities on loan of $457,062 | $301,280,860 |
Cash | 12,694,941 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies (identified cost $968,923) | 970,064 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 614,865 |
Portfolio shares sold | 4,105 |
Securities lending | 3,521 |
Other assets | 5,145 |
Total assets | 315,573,501 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Foreign capital gains tax (See Note 2) | 1,156,517 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 264,788 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 107,376 |
Custodian | 72,026 |
Professional fees | 43,924 |
Shareholder communication | 22,243 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 21,587 |
Trustees | 702 |
Investment securities purchased | 121 |
Total liabilities | 1,689,284 |
Net assets | $313,884,217 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 28,134 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 251,531,773 |
| 251,559,907 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 62,324,310 |
Net assets | $313,884,217 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $211,647,075 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 18,973,035 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 11.16 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $102,237,142 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 9,161,375 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 11.16 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $953,119) | $ 7,443,619 |
Securities lending | 45,924 |
Dividends-affiliated | 82 |
Total income | 7,489,625 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 3,471,689 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 284,317 |
Custodian | 264,042 |
Professional fees | 143,044 |
Shareholder communication | 57,488 |
Trustees | 7,718 |
Miscellaneous | 20,221 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 4,248,519 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (30,108) |
Net expenses | 4,218,411 |
Net investment income (loss) | 3,271,214 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions(a), (b) | 65,011,644 |
Foreign currency transactions | (535,621) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 64,476,023 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments(c) | (69,550,357) |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 73,371 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (69,476,986) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (5,000,963) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ (1,729,749) |
(a) | Realized gain (loss) on security transactions recorded net of foreign capital gains tax in the amount of $(93,221). |
(b) | Includes transition cost of $134,259. |
(c) | Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments recorded net of foreign capital gains tax in the amount of $(1,073,742). |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 3,271,214 | $ 2,436,450 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 64,476,023 | 22,540,454 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (69,476,986) | 50,658,697 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (1,729,749) | 75,635,601 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (2,442,858) | (7,555,963) |
Service Class | (918,257) | (3,147,716) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (3,361,115) | (10,703,679) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 9,154,592 | 2,857,868 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 3,361,115 | 10,703,679 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (71,923,712) | (100,193,578) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (59,408,005) | (86,632,031) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (64,498,869) | (21,700,109) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 378,383,086 | 400,083,195 |
End of year | $313,884,217 | $ 378,383,086 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.51 | | $ 9.46 | | $ 7.99 | | $ 10.22 | | $ 7.22 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.12 | | 0.07 | | 0.19 | | 0.12 | | 0.09 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.34) | | 2.30 | | 1.41 | | (2.21) | | 3.02 |
Total from investment operations | (0.22) | | 2.37 | | 1.60 | | (2.09) | | 3.11 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.13) | | (0.32) | | (0.13) | | (0.14) | | (0.11) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 11.16 | | $ 11.51 | | $ 9.46 | | $ 7.99 | | $ 10.22 |
Total investment return (b) | (2.00)% | | 25.71% | | 20.08% | | (20.55)% | | 43.12% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.02% | | 0.79% | | 2.18% | | 1.27% | | 0.94% |
Net expenses (c)(d) | 1.13% | | 1.18% | | 1.17% | | 1.16% | | 1.24% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 1.14% | | 1.18% | | 1.17% | | 1.16% | | 1.24% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 63% | | 123% | | 121% | | 135% | | 149% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 211,647 | | $ 257,933 | | $ 273,042 | | $ 371,834 | | $ 497,861 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | The expense ratios presented below show the impact of short sales expense: |
Year ended Ended | | Net Expenses (excluding short sale expenses) | | Short Sales Expenses |
December 31, 2021 | | 1.13% | | — |
December 31, 2020 | | 1.18% | | — |
December 31, 2019 | | 1.17% | | — |
December 31, 2018 | | 1.16% | | — |
December 31, 2017 | | 1.24% | | 0.00%(e) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.52 | | $ 9.45 | | $ 7.98 | | $ 10.20 | | $ 7.21 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.09 | | 0.05 | | 0.17 | | 0.10 | | 0.07 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.35) | | 2.31 | | 1.40 | | (2.21) | | 3.01 |
Total from investment operations | (0.26) | | 2.36 | | 1.57 | | (2.11) | | 3.08 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.10) | | (0.29) | | (0.10) | | (0.11) | | (0.09) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 11.16 | | $ 11.52 | | $ 9.45 | | $ 7.98 | | $ 10.20 |
Total investment return (b) | (2.25)% | | 25.40% | | 19.78% | | (20.74)% | | 42.77% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.78% | | 0.57% | | 2.00% | | 1.07% | | 0.73% |
Net expenses (c)(d) | 1.38% | | 1.43% | | 1.42% | | 1.41% | | 1.49% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 1.39% | | 1.43% | | 1.42% | | 1.41% | | 1.49% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 63% | | 123% | | 121% | | 135% | | 149% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 102,237 | | $ 120,450 | | $ 127,042 | | $ 131,498 | | $ 208,590 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | The expense ratios presented below show the impact of short sales expense: |
Year ended Ended | | Net Expenses (excluding short sale expenses) | | Short Sales Expenses |
December 31, 2021 | | 1.38% | | — |
December 31, 2020 | | 1.43% | | — |
December 31, 2019 | | 1.42% | | — |
December 31, 2018 | | 1.41% | | — |
December 31, 2017 | | 1.49% | | 0.00%(e) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio) (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | February 17, 2012 |
Service Class | February 17, 2012 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Benchmark securities |
• Two-sided markets | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Bids/offers | • Monthly payment information |
• Industry and economic events | • Reported trades |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to
calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Certain securities held by the Portfolio may principally trade in foreign markets. Events may occur between the time the foreign markets close and the time at which the Portfolio's NAVs are calculated. These events may include, but are not limited to, situations relating to a single issuer in a market sector, significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets, natural disasters, armed conflicts, governmental actions or other developments not tied directly to the securities markets. Should the Manager or the Subadvisor conclude that such events may have affected the accuracy of the last price of such securities reported on the local foreign market, the Subcommittee may, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, adjust the value of the local price to reflect the estimated impact on the price of such securities as a result of such events. In this instance, securities are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Additionally, certain foreign equity securities are also fair valued whenever the movement of a particular index exceeds certain thresholds. In such cases, the securities are fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No foreign equity securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021 were fair valued in such a manner.
22 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
A portfolio investment may be classified as an illiquid investment under the Portfolio's written liquidity risk management program and related procedures (“Liquidity Program”). Illiquidity of an investment might prevent the sale of such investment at a time when the Manager or the Subadvisor might wish to sell, and these investments could have the effect of decreasing the overall level of the Portfolio's liquidity. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid investments, requiring the Portfolio to rely on judgments that may be somewhat subjective in measuring value, which could vary materially from the amount that the Portfolio could realize upon disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to the Portfolio. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Manager or Subadvisor reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The liquidity classification of each investment will be made using information obtained after reasonable inquiry and taking into account, among other things, relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations in accordance with the Liquidity Program. Illiquid investments are often valued in accordance with methods deemed by the Board in good faith to be reasonable and appropriate to accurately reflect their fair value. The liquidity of the Portfolio's investments was determined as of December 31, 2021, and can change at any time. Illiquid investments as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies
and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
The Portfolio may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Portfolio's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S.
dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(I) Securities Sold Short. The Portfolio may engage in sales of securities it does not own ("short sales") as part of its investment strategies. When the Portfolio enters into a short sale, it must segregate or maintain with a broker the cash proceeds from the security sold short or other securities as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. During the period a short position is open, depending on the nature and type of security, a short position is reflected as a liability and is marked to market in accordance with the valuation methodologies previously detailed (See Note 2(A)). Liabilities for securities sold short are closed out by purchasing the applicable securities for delivery to the counterparty broker. A gain, limited to the price at which the Portfolio sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited as to dollar amount, will be recognized upon termination of a short sale if the market price on the date the short position is closed out is less or greater, respectively, than the proceeds originally received. Any such gain or loss may be offset, completely or in part, by the change in the value of the hedged investments. Interest on short positions held is accrued daily, while dividends declared on short positions existing on the record date are recorded on the ex-dividend date as a dividend expense in the Statement of Operations. Broker fees and other expenses related to securities sold short are disclosed in the Statement of Operations. Short sales involve risk of loss in excess of the related amounts reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not enter into any securities sold short.
(J) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to
24 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(K) Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. For example, the Portfolio has significant investments in the Asia-Pacific region. The development and stability of the Asia-Pacific region can be adversely affected by, among other regional and global developments, trade barriers, exchange controls and other measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. Some Asia-Pacific countries can be characterized as emerging markets or newly industrialized and may experience more volatile economic cycles and less liquid markets than developed countries.
(L) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed
New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields” or “Subadvisor”), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, served as a Subadvisor to the Portfolio, pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields. Candriam Belgium (“Candriam Belgium” or “Subadvisor,” and, together with MacKay Shields, the “Subadvisors”), a registered investment adviser and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as a Subadvisor to the Portfolio, pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium. Effective May 1, 2021, Candriam Belgium became the Portfolio's sole subadvisor. Candriam Belgium is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisors.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 1.00% up to $1 billion; and 0.975% in excess of $1 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 1.00%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $3,471,689 and voluntarily waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $30,108 and paid MacKay Shields and Candriam Belgium fees of $287,543 and $1,449,402, respectively.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 2,098 | $ 39,589 | $ (41,687) | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ —(a) | $ — | — |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $274,418,729 | $48,487,742 | $(21,625,611) | $26,862,131 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$2,204,409 | $34,414,876 | $25,705,025 | $62,324,310 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments and Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) adjustments.
The Portfolio utilized $26,536,664 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $3,361,115 | $10,703,679 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $53,180 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December
26 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $210,907 and $263,312, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 315,010 | $ 3,698,083 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 214,431 | 2,442,858 |
Shares redeemed | (3,958,545) | (49,469,268) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,429,104) | $(43,328,327) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 162,798 | $ 1,486,705 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 768,171 | 7,555,963 |
Shares redeemed | (7,404,710) | (67,849,037) |
Net increase (decrease) | (6,473,741) | $(58,806,369) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 467,105 | $ 5,456,509 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 80,524 | 918,257 |
Shares redeemed | (1,844,742) | (22,454,444) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,297,113) | $(16,079,678) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 164,132 | $ 1,371,163 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 319,740 | 3,147,716 |
Shares redeemed | (3,463,232) | (32,344,541) |
Net increase (decrease) | (2,979,360) | $(27,825,662) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio)
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and broker; when replies were not received from broker, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
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Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium S.A. (“Candriam Belgium”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or Candriam Belgium that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium
personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Investments and Candriam Belgium resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of Candriam Belgium, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of Candriam Belgium and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, Candriam Belgium with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as Candriam Belgium’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as
well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that Candriam Belgium provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated Candriam Belgium’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and Candriam Belgium’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at Candriam Belgium and New York Life Investments’ and Candriam Belgium’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed Candriam Belgium’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports
30 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to Candriam Belgium as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or Candriam Belgium had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including Candriam Belgium, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because Candriam Belgium is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including Candriam Belgium, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium
must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including Candriam Belgium, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to Candriam Belgium is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Candriam Belgium on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund
business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
32 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
34 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
36 | MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI516
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1 | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio2 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/1/2013 | -0.58% | 1.09% | -0.54% | 1.26% |
Service Class Shares | 5/1/2013 | -0.83 | 0.84 | -0.75 | 1.51 |
1. | Effective November 30, 2018, the Portfolio’s predecessor fund, MainStay VP Absolute Return Multi-Strategy Portfolio (the “VP ARMS Portfolio”), was reorganized into the Portfolio. The Portfolio assumed the VP ARMS Portfolio’s historical performance and accounting information. Therefore, the performance information prior to November 30, 2018, shown in this report is that of the VP ARMS Portfolio, which had a different investment objective and different principal investment strategies and subadvisors. Past performance may have been different if the Portfolio’s current subadvisor, investment objective or principal investment strategies had been in place during the periods. |
2. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
S&P Balanced Equity and Bond Conservative Index1 | 4.21% | 7.38% | 5.84% |
HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index2 | 6.53 | 5.78 | 4.26 |
IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Index3 | 0.13 | 3.87 | 3.23 |
Morningstar Multistrategy Category Average4 | 6.72 | 3.25 | 2.71 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Portfolio has selected the S&P Balanced Equity and Bond Conservative Index as its primary benchmark. The S&P Balanced Equity and Bond Conservative Index consists of a position in the S&P 500 Total Return Index (25%) and a position in the S&P U.S. Treasury Bond 7-10 Year Index (75%). Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Portfolio has selected the HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index as its secondary benchmark. The HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index is an equally weighted hedge fund index including over 650 domestic and off-shore fund of funds. The index is rebalanced monthly with performance updates three times per month. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Index seeks to replicate the risk-adjusted return characteristics of the collective hedge funds using various hedge fund investment styles, including long/short equity, global macro, market neutral, event-driven, fixed income arbitrage and emerging markets. |
4. | The Morningstar Multistrategy Category Average is representative of funds that have a majority of their assets exposed to alternative strategies. Funds in this category include both funds with static allocations to alternative strategies and funds tactically allocating among alternative strategies and asset classes. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $982.50 | $3.50 | $1,021.68 | $3.57 | 0.70% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $981.30 | $4.74 | $1,020.42 | $4.84 | 0.95% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Unaffiliated Investment Companies (a) | 25.6% |
Bank Loan Funds | 19.5 |
Investment Grade Corporate Bond Funds | 18.1 |
U.S. Medium Term Treasury Bond Funds | 11.8 |
Convertible Bond Funds | 8.2 |
Affiliated Investment Company | 6.8 |
High Yield Corporate Bond Funds | 5.0 |
Mortgage–Backed Security Funds | 4.9 |
Europe Equity Funds | 4.7 |
Gold Funds | 2.8 |
Floating Rate—Investment Grade Funds | 2.6 |
U.S. Small Cap Growth Funds | 2.4 |
U.S. Large Cap Core Funds | 1.8 |
Silver Funds | 1.8 |
U.S. Dollar Fund | 1.6 |
Japan Equity Fund | 1.4 |
Emerging Bonds—Local Currency Funds | 1.0 |
Municipal Bond Fund | 1.0% |
BRIC Equity Funds | 0.9 |
Emerging Small Cap Equity Fund | 0.7 |
International Small Cap Equity Funds | 0.7 |
U.S. Large Cap Growth Funds | 0.6 |
International Equity Core Funds | 0.5 |
International Large Cap Growth Fund | 0.5 |
U.S. Preferred Funds | 0.2 |
U.S. Large Cap Value Funds | 0.2 |
Volatility | 0.2 |
Emerging Equity Funds | 0.1 |
U.S. Small Cap Value Funds | 0.1 |
Broad Funds | 0.0‡ |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –25.7 |
| 100.0% |
‡ Less than one-tenth of percent.
(a) Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan.
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF |
2. | SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF |
3. | Invesco Senior Loan ETF |
4. | SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF |
5. | IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF |
6. | iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF |
7. | Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF |
8. | Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF |
9. | SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF |
10. | iShares MBS ETF |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Greg Barrato and James Harrison of IndexIQ Advisors LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio returned −0.58% for Initial Class shares and −0.83% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 4.21% return for the S&P Balanced Equity and Bond Conservative Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and the 6.53% return for the HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index, which is the Portfolio’s secondary benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes also underperformed the 0.13% return of the IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Index (“Underlying Index”) and the 6.72% return of the Morningstar Multialternative Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s average asset allocation over the reporting period was 77.3% in fixed-income securities, 18.14% in equities and the remainder in commodities, currencies, volatility and real estate. Although the portfolio’s asset allocation mix was similar to the S&P Balanced Equity and Bond Conservative Index, which allocates 75% to U.S. Treasury bonds and 25% to U.S. equities, the Portfolio was more exposed to credit-related bonds and shorter-duration instruments in its fixed-income holdings and additional geographic risk in its equity holdings, which included international and emerging-market equities that underperformed the U.S. equity market.
During the reporting period, were there any market events that materially impacted the Portfolio’s performance or liquidity?
Inflation increased dramatically in 2021, from 1.4% at the beginning of the year to 6.8% in November – on track to be the largest 12-month increase since June 1982. While the increase was initially deemed by the Fed to be transitory, supply constraints resulting from labor shortage and excess demand turned out to be more impactful and persistent than expected. The economy made progress in its recovery from the impact of pandemic-related shutdowns, supported by increased vaccination and booster
shots. However, the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants slowed the recovery process and weighed on the stock market.
During the reporting period, were there any liquidity events that materially impacted the Portfolio’s performance?
The COVID-19 pandemic remained the most significant factor impacting the global economy during the reporting period, and negatively affected the Portfolio’s performance. During the reporting period, the Portfolio’s long position in equities provided positive returns, while its long position in bonds and its short position in real estate became headwinds, detracting from returns. Broadly speaking, the markets were in expansion mode for much of 2021. However, the strength in the largest companies masked underlying cross currents that saw less robust performance in value stocks and small-cap issues, which were hit hard by the increasing spread of the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19.
In response to a rapid increase in inflation that proved to be more enduring than originally anticipated, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) announced plans to reduce monetary stimulus. In December 2021, the Fed signaled that short-term interest rates could increase as early as 2022 and that they would start to reduce monthly bond purchases. Purchases were projected to initially drop from $120 billion to $105 billion. Expansionary/inflationary fiscal policy coupled with increasingly hawkish monetary policy provided a headwind for bond performance in 2021.
During the reporting period, how did the Portfolio’s performance correlate with traditional equity and fixed-income indices?
The Portfolio maintained a higher correlation to traditional equity indices and a lower correlation to investment-grade fixed income indices. The Portfolio’s correlation to the S&P 500® Index2 was 75.5%. The Portfolio’s correlation to the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index3 was 14.4%.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
2. | “S&P 500®” is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage passthroughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
8 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
During the reporting period, how did the Portfolio’s volatility compare to that of traditional fixed-income indices?
During the reporting period, the annualized daily volatility of the Portfolio was 4.54%, compared to a volatility of 3.52% for the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
During the reporting period, how did the Portfolio use derivatives and how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
The Portfolio seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the performance of its Underlying Index, the IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Index. The Underlying Index is comprised solely ETFs and attempts to replicate the risk-adjusted return characteristics of multiple hedge fund strategies using a long/short investment style. The Portfolio uses total return swaps to replicate that long/short exposure. Derivatives were not used to gain leverage beyond that of the Underlying Index; rather, they were used exclusively to enable the Portfolio to track its Underlying Index.
How did you allocate the Portfolio’s assets among each of the strategies during the reporting period and why?
The Portfolio’s allocations are driven by the weightings of the component securities in the Underlying Index, which uses quantitative models to determine the weights across the various hedge fund investment styles represented in the Underlying Index, as well as the weights of the assets within these styles. Given the rules-based nature of the process, there is no subjectivity involved in the allocation decision process.
How did the tactical allocation among the hedge fund investment styles affect the Portfolio’s performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio allocates its assets among six underlying hedge fund investment styles: emerging markets, market neutral, long/short equity, event-driven, fixed-income arbitrage and global macro. During the reporting period, the Portfolio maintained gross exposure ranging from 100% to 120%, due to periodic short allocations to long/short, event-driven and global macro strategies for several months.
The aggregate performance of the weighted Underlying Index versus an equal-weighted allocation of the same investment styles indicates that the Portfolio experienced a negative allocation effect attributable to weighting changes during the reporting period, particularly in event-driven strategies that saw a massive selloff followed by an almost equally sharp recovery. The Portfolio’s ability to replicate broad hedge funds added value, as measured
by the difference between the equal weighted strategy index and the equal weighted hedge fund strategy indexes.
During the reporting period, how did each investment style either contribute to or detract from the Portfolio’s absolute performance?
During the reporting period, the event-driven investment style provided the strongest positive contribution to the Portfolio's absolute performance for the full year. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) This was closely followed by the global macro style. The Portfolio’s market neutral, fixed-income arbitrage and emerging-market investment styles each made small negative contributions to returns.
How did the Portfolio’s investment style weightings change during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s allocation to its event-driven investment style increased from 5.31% in the beginning of the reporting period to its maximum weight of 33.33% in April 2021, and stayed at 33.33% through the remainder of reporting period. The Portfolio’s allocation to its long/short investment style remained relatively small, at 8.59% in the first quarter of the year, decreasing to approximately 4.62% in the second quarter, and finally hovering above 4.50% until the end of the year. The Portfolio’s allocation to the fixed-income arbitrage investment style was relatively high in the first quarter at 17.13%. After a dramatic decrease in the second and third quarters, it reversed back to 28.17% at year end. The Portfolio’s allocation to its market neutral investment style steadily decreased from 31.46% at the beginning of the year to −2.96% by the end of the year. The Portfolio’s allocation to its emerging-market strategy decreased gradually from 28.36% in the first quarter, to 20.36% in the second and third quarter before dropping to 7.30% at year end. The Portfolio’s allocation to its global macro investment style increased in the first half of the year, remaining above 25.22% in the second half of the year.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Exchange-Traded Funds 93.2% |
Bonds 78.4% |
Affiliated Investment Company 6.3% |
IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF (a) | 487,453 | $ 23,656,094 |
Bank Loan Funds 19.5% |
Invesco Senior Loan ETF (b) | 1,456,022 | 32,178,086 |
SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF | 887,883 | 40,514,101 |
| | 72,692,187 |
Convertible Bond Funds 8.2% |
iShares Convertible Bond ETF | 64,331 | 5,737,039 |
SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF | 300,212 | 24,905,587 |
| | 30,642,626 |
Emerging Bonds—Local Currency Funds 1.0% |
SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF (b) | 39,381 | 962,471 |
VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | 92,303 | 2,639,866 |
| | 3,602,337 |
Floating Rate—Investment Grade Funds 2.6% |
iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF | 141,221 | 7,164,142 |
SPDR Bloomberg Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF | 79,387 | 2,428,448 |
| | 9,592,590 |
High Yield Corporate Bond Funds 5.0% |
iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (b) | 82,166 | 3,722,120 |
iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (b) | 75,188 | 6,542,108 |
SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (b) | 29,317 | 3,182,947 |
SPDR Bloomberg Short Term High Yield Bond ETF | 115,372 | 3,132,350 |
Xtrackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (b) | 57,210 | 2,279,246 |
| | 18,858,771 |
Investment Grade Corporate Bond Funds 18.1% |
SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF | 346,472 | 10,730,238 |
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (b) | 701,997 | 57,044,276 |
| | 67,774,514 |
Mortgage-Backed Security Funds 4.9% |
iShares MBS ETF | 96,404 | 10,356,682 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Mortgage-Backed Security Funds (continued) |
SPDR Portfolio Mortgage-Backed Bond ETF (b) | 66,670 | $ 1,692,085 |
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 116,067 | 6,132,980 |
| | 18,181,747 |
Municipal Bond Fund 1.0% |
VanEck High Yield Muni ETF (b) | 58,385 | 3,644,976 |
U.S. Medium Term Treasury Bond Funds 11.8% |
iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 157,993 | 20,328,959 |
Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 114,116 | 6,406,472 |
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | 262,897 | 17,474,764 |
| | 44,210,195 |
Total Bonds (Cost $294,286,679) | | 292,856,037 |
Equities 14.8% |
BRIC Equity Funds 0.9% |
iShares MSCI China ETF | 41,091 | 2,579,282 |
SPDR S&P China ETF | 6,673 | 688,987 |
| | 3,268,269 |
Emerging Equity Funds 0.1% |
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 3,045 | 182,274 |
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (b) | 3,823 | 189,085 |
| | 371,359 |
Emerging Small Cap Equity Fund 0.7% |
SPDR S&P Emerging Markets SmallCap ETF (b) | 43,429 | 2,575,774 |
Europe Equity Funds 4.7% |
iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (b) | 60,138 | 3,497,626 |
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (b) | 207,704 | 14,173,721 |
| | 17,671,347 |
International Equity Core Funds 0.5% |
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 11,097 | 828,280 |
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 16,841 | 859,902 |
| | 1,688,182 |
International Large Cap Growth Fund 0.5% |
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (b) | 17,825 | 1,965,919 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Equities (continued) |
International Small Cap Equity Funds 0.7% |
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (b) | 19,085 | $ 781,149 |
Vanguard FTSE All World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (b) | 15,140 | 2,028,154 |
| | 2,809,303 |
Japan Equity Fund 1.4% |
iShares MSCI Japan ETF | 78,776 | 5,274,841 |
U.S. Large Cap Core Funds 1.8% |
Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund | 46,863 | 2,600,896 |
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | 63,533 | 2,480,964 |
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (b) | 950 | 133,845 |
Vanguard Energy ETF | 7,637 | 592,708 |
Vanguard Financials ETF (b) | 6,894 | 665,754 |
Vanguard Health Care ETF | 509 | 135,608 |
| | 6,609,775 |
U.S. Large Cap Growth Funds 0.6% |
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (b) | 1,976 | 323,570 |
Vanguard Growth ETF | 5,154 | 1,653,918 |
Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (b) | 988 | 257,631 |
Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (b) | 1,920 | 150,797 |
| | 2,385,916 |
U.S. Large Cap Value Funds 0.2% |
iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF | 993 | 75,806 |
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF (b) | 923 | 67,582 |
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF | 2,105 | 88,410 |
Vanguard Russell 1000 Value | 639 | 47,120 |
Vanguard Value ETF | 4,076 | 599,620 |
| | 878,538 |
U.S. Preferred Funds 0.2% |
Invesco Preferred ETF (b) | 14,611 | 219,165 |
iShares Preferred & Income Securities ETF (b) | 15,078 | 594,526 |
| | 813,691 |
U.S. Small Cap Growth Funds 2.4% |
iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (b) | 10,347 | 3,032,188 |
iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF (b) | 11,728 | 1,627,846 |
Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (b) | 14,783 | 4,165,702 |
| | 8,825,736 |
U.S. Small Cap Value Funds 0.1% |
iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (b) | 438 | 72,730 |
| Shares | Value |
|
U.S. Small Cap Value Funds (continued) |
iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF | 388 | $ 40,542 |
Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF | 680 | 121,618 |
| | 234,890 |
Total Equities (Cost $55,591,419) | | 55,373,540 |
Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $349,878,098) | | 348,229,577 |
Exchange-Traded Note 0.2% |
Volatility 0.2% |
Volatility 0.2% |
iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (b)(c) | 36,581 | 677,846 |
Total Volatility (Cost $968,605) | | 677,846 |
Total Exchange-Traded Note (Cost $968,605) | | 677,846 |
Exchange-Traded Vehicles 6.2% |
Commodities 4.6% |
Broad Funds 0.0% ‡ |
FlexShares Global Upstream Natural Resources Index Fund | 4,241 | 167,477 |
SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF | 1,208 | 65,184 |
| | 232,661 |
Gold Funds 2.8% |
Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF (c) | 38,643 | 678,571 |
Graniteshares Gold Trust (c) | 13,945 | 253,102 |
iShares Gold Trust (c) | 235,149 | 8,185,537 |
SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (b)(c) | 66,925 | 1,216,696 |
| | 10,333,906 |
Silver Funds 1.8% |
Aberdeen Standard Physical Silver Shares ETF (c) | 21,614 | 484,154 |
iShares Silver Trust (c) | 290,260 | 6,243,492 |
| | 6,727,646 |
Total Commodities (Cost $17,720,181) | | 17,294,213 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | | Value |
Currency 1.6% |
U.S. Dollar Fund 1.6% |
Invesco DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish Fund (b) | 232,718 | | $ 5,964,562 |
Total Currency (Cost $5,761,189) | | | 5,964,562 |
Total Exchange-Traded Vehicles (Cost $23,481,370) | | | 23,258,775 |
|
Short-Term Investments 26.1% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.5% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01%, (d) | 1,744,326 | | 1,744,326 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 25.6% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, 0.03%, (d)(e) | 30,000,000 | | 30,000,000 |
HSBC U.S. Government Money Market Fund, 0.02%, (d)(e) | 24,000,000 | | 24,000,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10%, (d)(e) | 41,763,438 | | 41,763,438 |
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies (Cost $95,763,438) | | | 95,763,438 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $97,507,764) | | | 97,507,764 |
Total Investments (Cost $471,835,837) | 125.7% | | 469,673,962 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (25.7) | | (95,913,186) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 373,760,776 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio's ownership exceeds 5% of the outstanding shares of the Underlying Portfolio's share class. |
(b) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $93,845,220. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $95,763,438. (See Note 2(J)) |
(c) | Non-income producing security. |
(d) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(e) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
Swap Contracts
Open OTC total return equity swap contracts as of December 31, 2021 were as follows1:
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 22 | $ — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 22 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Aberdeen Standard Physical Silver Shares ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 16 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Aberdeen Standard Physical Silver Shares ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 16 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.05% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (388) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (388) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 85 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 85 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Fidelity MSCI Real Estate Index ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 37.53% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (102) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Fidelity MSCI Real Estate Index ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (102) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 81 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 81 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | FlexShares Global Upstream Natural Resources Index Fund | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 5 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | FlexShares Global Upstream Natural Resources Index Fund | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 5 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Graniteshares Gold Trust | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 8 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Graniteshares Gold Trust | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 8 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 4 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 4 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 195 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 195 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Invesco KBW Bank ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 2.93% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (321) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Invesco KBW Bank ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (321) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Invesco Preferred ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 7 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Invesco Preferred ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 7 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Invesco Senior Loan ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 1,050 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Invesco Senior Loan ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 1,050 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 22 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 22 | — |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 772 | $ — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 772 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 121 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 121 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.63% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (1,157) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (1,157) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 663 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 663 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 2.43% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (37) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (37) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Convertible Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 187 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Convertible Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 187 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 27 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 27 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 6 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 6 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 114 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 114 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 2 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 2 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 2.93% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (124) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (124) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 234 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 234 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Gold Trust | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 267 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Gold Trust | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 267 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 1.53% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (206) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (206) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 213 | — |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 213 | $ — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (551) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (551) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares MBS ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 338 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares MBS ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 338 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares MSCI China ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 84 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares MSCI China ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 84 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 64 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 64 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (688) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (688) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares MSCI Japan ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 172 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares MSCI Japan ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 172 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (602) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (602) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Preferred & Income Securities ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 19 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Preferred & Income Securities ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 19 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 99 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 99 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 2 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 2 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 53 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 53 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 1 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 1 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares Silver Trust | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 204 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares Silver Trust | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 204 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | iShares TIPS Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (1,645) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | iShares TIPS Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (1,645) | — |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 209 | $ — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 209 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 25 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 25 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 10 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 10 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 2 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 2 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.58% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (960) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (960) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 1,322 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 1,322 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 812 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 812 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 31 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 31 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 104 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 104 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Bloomberg International Treasury Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 5.48% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (1,052) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Bloomberg International Treasury Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (1,052) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Bloomberg Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 79 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Bloomberg Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 79 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Bloomberg Short Term High Yield Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 102 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Bloomberg Short Term High Yield Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 102 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (101) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (101) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 40 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 40 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (328) | — |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (328) | $ — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Portfolio Mortgage-Backed Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 55 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Portfolio Mortgage-Backed Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 55 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 3 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 3 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 350 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 350 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR S&P Bank ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.63% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (378) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR S&P Bank ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (378) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR S&P China ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 23 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR S&P China ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 23 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR S&P Emerging Markets SmallCap ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 84 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR S&P Emerging Markets SmallCap ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 84 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 2 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 2 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.05% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (176) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (176) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | VanEck High Yield Muni ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 119 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | VanEck High Yield Muni ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 119 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 86 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 86 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 12.98% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (121) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (121) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (86) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (86) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Energy ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 19 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Energy ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 19 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Financials ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 22 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Financials ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 22 | — |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard FTSE All World ex-US Small-Cap ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 66 | $ — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard FTSE All World ex-US Small-Cap ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 66 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 28 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 28 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 6 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 6 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 462 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 462 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (565) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (565) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Growth ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 54 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Growth ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 54 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Health Care ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 5 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Health Care ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 5 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.78% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (39) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (39) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.35% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (256) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (256) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 570 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 570 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 1.53% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (184) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (184) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 8 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 8 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 200 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 200 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Real Estate ETF | Federal Fund Rate minus 0.15% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | (2,225) | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Real Estate ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate | 3/2/23 | Overnight | (2,225) | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 5 | — |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 5 | $ — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 2 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 2 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 1,861 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 1,861 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 136 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 136 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 4 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 4 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Vanguard Value ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 20 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Vanguard Value ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 20 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Xtrackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Fund Rate plus 0.50% | 9/14/22 | Monthly | 74 | — |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Xtrackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | Federal Funds Composite Interest Rate plus 0.50% | 3/2/23 | Overnight | 74 | — |
| | | | | | $ — |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount $280,188 was pledged to brokers for OTC swap contracts. |
2. | Portfolio pays or receives the floating rate and receives or pays the total return of the referenced entity. |
3. | Notional amounts reflected as a positive value indicate a long position held by the Portfolio or Index and a negative value indicates a short position. |
4. | Reflects the value at reset date as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
BRIC—Brazil, Russia, India and China |
DB—Deutsche Bank |
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East |
EM—Emerging Markets |
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund |
ETN—Exchange-Traded Note |
FTSE—Financial Times Stock Exchange |
KBW—Keefe, Bruyette & Woods |
MBS—Mortgage-Backed Security |
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International |
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust |
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt |
TIPS—Treasury Inflation-Protected Security |
USD—United States Dollar |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
VIX—CBOE Volatility Index |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Exchange-Traded Funds | $ 348,229,577 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 348,229,577 |
Exchange-Traded Note | 677,846 | | — | | — | | 677,846 |
Exchange-Traded Vehicles | 23,258,775 | | — | | — | | 23,258,775 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 1,744,326 | | — | | — | | 1,744,326 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 95,763,438 | | — | | — | | 95,763,438 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 97,507,764 | | — | | — | | 97,507,764 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 469,673,962 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 469,673,962 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $445,899,430) including securities on loan of $93,845,220 | $444,273,542 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $25,936,407) | 25,400,420 |
Cash | 7,936 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies (identified cost $4,888) | 4,825 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 280,188 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends and interest | 106,024 |
Securities lending | 54,549 |
Portfolio shares sold | 18,414 |
Other assets | 302,210 |
Total assets | 470,448,108 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 95,763,438 |
Payables: | |
Dividends and interest on OTC swaps contracts | 334,022 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 220,992 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 208,770 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 76,276 |
Shareholder communication | 30,802 |
Professional fees | 26,457 |
Custodian | 16,649 |
Transfer agent (See Note 3) | 1,151 |
Trustees | 568 |
Accrued expenses | 8,207 |
Total liabilities | 96,687,332 |
Net assets | $373,760,776 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 41,817 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 421,451,485 |
| 421,493,302 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | (47,732,526) |
Net assets | $373,760,776 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 13,499,202 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 1,505,247 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 8.97 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $360,261,574 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 40,312,039 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 8.94 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated | $ 5,184,888 |
Dividends-affiliated | 526,792 |
Securities lending | 430,721 |
Total income | 6,142,401 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 2,867,055 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 923,505 |
Custodian | 217,516 |
Professional fees | 60,232 |
Shareholder communication | 23,747 |
Trustees | 8,238 |
Miscellaneous | 17,670 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 4,117,963 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (518,538) |
Net expenses | 3,599,425 |
Net investment income (loss) | 2,542,976 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 21,500,186 |
Affiliated investment company transactions | 386,321 |
Realized capital gain distributions from affiliated investment companies | 299,535 |
Futures transactions | 95 |
Swap transactions | (4,265,009) |
Foreign currency transactions | (16) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 17,921,112 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (23,016,582) |
Affiliated investments | (535,987) |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (4,370) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (23,556,939) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (5,635,827) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ (3,092,851) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 2,542,976 | $ 4,838,078 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 17,921,112 | (230,538) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (23,556,939) | 12,200,672 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (3,092,851) | 16,808,212 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | — | (208,654) |
Service Class | — | (5,714,181) |
| — | (5,922,835) |
Distributions to shareholders from return of capital: | | |
Initial Class | — | (37,559) |
Service Class | — | (1,028,579) |
| — | (1,066,138) |
Total distributions to shareholders | — | (6,988,973) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 22,487,176 | 18,019,863 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | — | 6,988,973 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (29,510,242) | (50,801,186) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (7,023,066) | (25,792,350) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (10,115,917) | (15,973,111) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 383,876,693 | 399,849,804 |
End of year | $373,760,776 | $383,876,693 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 † | | 2017 † |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 9.02 | | $ 8.74 | | $ 8.22 | | $ 8.92 | | $ 9.04 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.09 | | 0.14 | | 0.20 | | (0.05) | | (0.08) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.14) | | 0.33 | | 0.49 | | (0.55) | | 0.06 |
Total from investment operations | (0.05) | | 0.47 | | 0.69 | | (0.60) | | (0.02) |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | — | | (0.16) | | (0.16) | | (0.10) | | (0.10) |
Return of capital | — | | (0.03) | | (0.01) | | — | | — |
Total distributions | — | | (0.19) | | (0.17) | | (0.10) | | (0.10) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 8.97 | | $ 9.02 | | $ 8.74 | | $ 8.22 | | $ 8.92 |
Total investment return (b) | (0.55)%(c) | | 5.38% | | 8.47% | | (6.88)% | | (0.25)% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.97% | | 1.56% | | 2.36% | | (0.53)% | | (0.93)% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.70% | | 0.70% | | 0.70% | | 1.43% | | 1.43% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (d)(e) | 0.83% | | 1.00% | | 1.20% | | 2.96% | | 2.63% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 126% | | 179% | | 151% | | 450% | | 185% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 13,499 | | $ 12,044 | | $ 10,749 | | $ 9,059 | | $ 149,753 |
† | Consolidated Financial Highlights for the periods January 1, 2018 to November 30, 2018 and January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, which consolidates financial information of MainStay VP Multi-Strategy Cayman Fund Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Portfolio prior to the reorganization. |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(e) | The expense ratios presented below show the impact of short sales expense: |
Year ended Ended | | Net Expenses (excluding short sale expenses) | | Short Sales Expenses |
December 31, 2021 | | 0.70% | | — |
December 31, 2020 | | 0.70% | | — |
December 31, 2019 | | 0.70% | | — |
December 31, 2018 | | 1.43% | | 1.28% |
December 31, 2017 | | 1.43% | | 1.05% |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 † | | 2017 † |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 9.01 | | $ 8.73 | | $ 8.18 | | $ 8.87 | | $ 8.99 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.06 | | 0.11 | | 0.18 | | (0.00)‡ | | (0.11) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.13) | | 0.34 | | 0.49 | | (0.63) | | 0.07 |
Total from investment operations | (0.07) | | 0.45 | | 0.67 | | (0.63) | | (0.04) |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | — | | (0.14) | | (0.12) | | (0.06) | | (0.08) |
Return of capital | — | | (0.03) | | (0.00)‡ | | — | | — |
Total distributions | — | | (0.17) | | (0.12) | | (0.06) | | (0.08) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 8.94 | | $ 9.01 | | $ 8.73 | | $ 8.18 | | $ 8.87 |
Total investment return (b) | (0.78)%(c) | | 5.14% | | 8.23% | | (7.14)% | | (0.51)% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.65% | | 1.29% | | 2.09% | | 0.03% | | (1.20)% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.95% | | 0.95% | | 0.95% | | 1.60% | | 1.68% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (d)(e) | 1.09% | | 1.25% | | 1.45% | | 2.84% | | 2.88% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 126% | | 179% | | 151% | | 450% | | 185% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 360,262 | | $ 371,833 | | $ 389,101 | | $ 391,094 | | $ 423,600 |
† | Consolidated Financial Highlights for the periods January 1, 2018 to November 30, 2018 and January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, which consolidates financial information of MainStay VP Multi-Strategy Cayman Fund Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Portfolio prior to the reorganization. |
‡ | Less than one cent per share. |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(e) | The expense ratios presented below show the impact of short sales expense: |
Year ended Ended | | Net Expenses (excluding short sale expenses) | | Short Sales Expenses |
December 31, 2021 | | 0.95% | | — |
December 31, 2020 | | 0.95% | | — |
December 31, 2019 | | 0.95% | | — |
December 31, 2018 | | 1.60% | | 0.99% |
December 31, 2017 | | 1.68% | | 1.05% |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 1, 2013 |
Service Class | May 1, 2013 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek investment returns that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, the IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Index. The IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Index seeks to achieve performance similar to the overall hedge fund universe by replicating the “beta” portion of the hedge fund return characteristics (i.e., that portion of the returns that are non-idiosyncratic, or unrelated to manager skill) by using the following
hedge fund investment styles: long/short equity; global macro; market neutral; event-driven; fixed-income arbitrage; and emerging markets.
The Portfolio is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), other exchange-traded vehicles issuing equity securities organized in the U.S., such as exchange-traded commodity pools (“ETVs”), and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”) (such ETFs, ETVs and ETNs are referred to collectively as “exchange-traded products” or “ETPs”), but may also invest in one or more financial instruments, including but not limited to, futures contracts, reverse repurchase agreements, options, and swap agreements (collectively, “Financial Instruments”) in order to seek to achieve exposure to investment strategies and/or asset classes that are similar to those of the IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Index.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference)
26 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
ETFs are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Swaps are marked to market daily based upon quotations from pricing agents, brokers or market makers. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Total return swap contracts, which are arrangements to exchange a market-linked return for a periodic payment, are based on a notional principal amount. To the extent that the total return of the security, index or other financial measure underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from market makers and these securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts and the underlying funds held by the Portfolio may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in ETPs and mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in ETPs and mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of ETPs and
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mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
In addition, the Portfolio bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the ETPs in which it invests. Because the ETPs have varied expense and fee levels and the Portfolio may own different proportions of the ETPs at different times, the amount of fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Portfolio may vary.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty.
In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not hold any open futures contracts..
(H) Swap Contracts. The Portfolio may enter into credit default, interest rate, equity, index and currency exchange rate swap contracts (“swaps”). In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the future returns (or differentials in rates of future returns) earned or realized at periodic intervals on a particular investment or instrument based on a notional principal amount. Generally, the Portfolio will enter into a swap on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams under the swap are netted, with the Portfolio receiving or paying (as the case may be) only the net amount of the two payment streams. Therefore, the Portfolio's current obligation under a swap generally will be equal to the net amount to be paid or received under the swap, based on the relative value of notional positions attributable to each counterparty to the swap. The payments may be adjusted for transaction costs, interest payments, the amount of interest paid on the investment or instrument or other factors. Collateral, in the form of cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the custodian bank or broker in accordance with the terms of the swap. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over the counter (“OTC”) market and may be executed in a multilateral or other trade facilities platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally cleared swaps”).
Certain standardized swaps, including certain credit default and interest rate swaps, are subject to mandatory clearing and exchange-trading, and more types of standardized swaps are expected to be subject to mandatory clearing and exchange-trading in the future. The counterparty risk for exchange-traded and cleared derivatives is expected to be generally lower than for uncleared derivatives, but cleared contracts are not risk-free. In a cleared derivative transaction, the Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio's exposure to the credit risk of its original counterparty. The Portfolio will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared transaction. As of December 31, 2021, all swap positions outstanding are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Swaps are marked to market daily based upon quotations from pricing agents, brokers, or market makers and the change in value, if any, is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Any payments made or received upon entering into a swap would be amortized or accreted over the life of the swap and recorded as a realized gain or loss. Early
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
termination of a swap is recorded as a realized gain or loss. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for the change in value as appropriate on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap in the event of the default or bankruptcy of the swap counterparty. The Portfolio may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap with the same party or a similar credit-worthy party. Swaps are not actively traded on financial markets. Entering into swaps involves elements of credit, market, and documentation risk in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibilities that there will be no liquid market for these swaps, that the counterparty to the swaps may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the swaps and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates, the price of the index or the security underlying these transactions.
Equity Swaps (Total Return Swaps). Total return swap contracts are agreements between counterparties to exchange cash flow, one based on a market-linked return of an individual asset or group of assets (such as an index), and the other on a fixed or floating rate. As a total return swap, an equity swap may be structured in different ways. For example, when the Portfolio enters into a “long” equity swap, the counterparty may agree to pay the Portfolio the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would have increased in value had it been invested in a particular referenced security or securities, plus the dividends that would have been received on those securities. In return, the Portfolio will generally agree to pay the counterparty interest on the notional amount of the equity swap plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such referenced security or securities, plus, in certain instances, commissions or trading spreads on the notional amounts. Therefore, the Portfolio's return on the equity swap generally should equal the gain or loss on the notional amount, plus dividends on the referenced security or securities less the interest paid by the Portfolio on the notional amount. Alternatively, when the Portfolio enters into a “short” equity swap, the counterparty will generally agree to pay the Portfolio the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would have decreased in value had the Portfolio sold a particular referenced security or securities short, less the dividend expense that the Portfolio would have incurred on the referenced security or securities, as adjusted for interest payments or other economic factors. In this situation, the Portfolio will generally be obligated to pay the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap would have increased in value had it been invested directly in the referenced security or securities.
Equity swaps generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other referenced assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that the Portfolio is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, the Portfolio's risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Portfolio is contractually entitled to receive, if any. The
Portfolio will segregate cash or liquid assets, enter into offsetting transactions or use other measures permitted by applicable law to “cover” the Portfolio's current obligations. The Portfolio and New York Life Investments, however, believe these transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Portfolio's borrowing restrictions.
Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can be very volatile. The Portfolio may engage in total return swaps to gain exposure to emerging markets securities, along with offsetting long total return swap positions to maintain appropriate currency balances and risk exposures across all swap positions. To the extent that the Manager , or the Subadvisor do not accurately analyze and predict future market trends, the values or assets or economic factors, the Portfolio may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. As of December 31, 2021, open swap agreements are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(I) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(J) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash
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collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(K) Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(L) Counterparty Credit Risk. In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Portfolio mitigate its counterparty risk, the Portfolio may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Portfolio and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains collateral posting terms and netting provisions. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/ or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may restrict or prohibit the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. In addition, certain ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels or if the Portfolio fails to meet the terms of its ISDA
Master Agreements. The result would cause the Portfolio to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.
For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(M) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(N) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(O) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio utilizes a range of derivative instruments for a variety of different purposes. Total return swaps (“TRS”) are one form of derivative that is used. In some cases, TRS contracts are entered into so as to affect long and short exposure to individual securities or indices within a particular strategy. In other cases, TRS are used to gain exposure to the strategy itself, which may also use derivatives. For example, a TRS contract is used to generate the return available from a customized index comprised of a diversified basket of exchange-traded futures. Other examples of derivative positions into which the Portfolio may enter include interest rate swaps, credit default swaps and option contracts. These instruments are frequently used to obtain a desired return at a lower cost to the Portfolio than is available when investing directly in the underlying instrument or to hedge against credit and interest rate risks. The Portfolio may also enter into foreign currency forward contracts to gain exposure to a particular currency or to hedge against the risk of loss due to changing currency exchange rates. These derivatives are not accounted for as hedging instruments.
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Swap Contracts | $(4,265,009) | $(4,265,009) |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $(4,265,009) | $(4,265,009) |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Swap Contracts Long | $ 25,943,072 |
Swap Contracts Short | $(26,152,207) |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the
Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. IndexIQ Advisors LLC (“IndexIQ Advisors” or “Subadvisor”), a registered investment adviser and an affiliate of New York Life Investments, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and IndexIQ Advisors, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments, and acquired (underlying) portfolio/fund fees and expenses) of Initial Class shares and Service Class shares do not exceed 0.70% and 0.95%, respectively, of the Portfolio's average daily net assets. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $2,867,055 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $518,538 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $1,174,347.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
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(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or
independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF | $ 57,488 | $ 21,790 | $ (54,893) | $ 386 | $ (1,115) | $ 23,656 | $ 527 | $ 300 | 487 |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | 4,176 | 26,452 | (28,884) | — | — | 1,744 | —(a) | — | 1,744 |
| $ 61,664 | $ 48,242 | $ (83,777) | $ 386 | $ (1,115) | $ 25,400 | $ 527 | $ 300 | |
(D) Capital. As of December 31, 2021, New York Life and its affiliates beneficially held shares of the Portfolio with the values and percentages of net assets as follows:
Initial Class | $1,617,707 | 12.0% |
Service Class | 27,203 | 0.0‡ |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $472,646,452 | $3,387,355 | $(6,603,899) | $(3,216,544) |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$— | $(44,759,948) | $(2,972,578) | $(47,732,526) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments and straddle loss deferral.
The following table discloses the current year reclassifications between total distributable earnings (loss) and additional paid-in capital arising from permanent differences; net assets as of December 31, 2021 were not affected.
| Total Distributable Earnings (Loss) | Additional Paid-In Capital |
| $3,587,334 | $(3,587,334) |
The reclassifications for the Portfolio are primarily due to different book and tax treatment of reclassification of net operating losses, and prior year return of capital.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $44,195,653, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $44,196 | $— |
The Portfolio utilized $20,223,227 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $— | $5,922,835 |
Return of Capital | — | 1,066,138 |
Total | $— | $6,988,973 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $112,627 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month LIBOR, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending
program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $478,194 and $482,721, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 200,003 | $ 1,812,192 |
Shares redeemed | (29,920) | (270,840) |
Net increase (decrease) | 170,083 | $ 1,541,352 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 156,471 | $ 1,375,966 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 27,268 | 246,213 |
Shares redeemed | (78,784) | (661,131) |
Net increase (decrease) | 104,955 | $ 961,048 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 2,287,759 | $ 20,674,984 |
Shares redeemed | (3,237,618) | (29,239,402) |
Net increase (decrease) | (949,859) | $ (8,564,418) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 1,899,216 | $ 16,643,897 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 747,510 | 6,742,760 |
Shares redeemed | (5,958,743) | (50,140,055) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,312,017) | $(26,753,398) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and
34 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
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Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and IndexIQ Advisors LLC (“IndexIQ”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or IndexIQ that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and IndexIQ personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New
York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and IndexIQ; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and IndexIQ. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and IndexIQ resulting from, among other things, the Board’s
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of IndexIQ, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of IndexIQ and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, IndexIQ with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as IndexIQ’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program;
(iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that IndexIQ provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated IndexIQ’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and IndexIQ’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at IndexIQ and New York Life Investments’ and IndexIQ’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and IndexIQ and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed IndexIQ’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
The Board considered the Portfolio’s investments in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in excess of statutory limitations under the 1940 Act in reliance on exemptive relief issued to the ETFs, including the conditions of the applicable exemptive relief, and the Portfolio’s investing fund agreements with these ETFs in accordance with such relief. The Board concluded that the management fee charged to the Portfolio are for advisory services provided to the Portfolio that are in addition to, and not duplicative of, services provided to the underlying ETFs under their respective advisory contracts.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
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Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to IndexIQ as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or IndexIQ had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolio, the Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended July 31, 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments and Index IQ regarding the Portfolio’s investment performance.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including IndexIQ, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because IndexIQ is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and IndexIQ in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including IndexIQ, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and IndexIQ and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and IndexIQ must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and IndexIQ to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to IndexIQ from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to IndexIQ in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including IndexIQ, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to IndexIQ is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and IndexIQ on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments
considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments regarding the management fee paid by the Portfolio.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
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Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
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| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
44 | MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI506
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date1, 2 | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio3 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/2/2005 | 17.29% | 8.54% | 9.40% | 0.71% |
Service Class Shares | 5/2/2005 | 17.00 | 8.27 | 9.12 | 0.96 |
1. | The Portfolio’s equity subadvisor changed effective January 1, 2018, due to an organizational restructuring whereby all investment personnel of Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings LLC, the former subadvisor, transitioned to MacKay Shields LLC, a former subadvisor. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies for the equity portion of the Portfolio. |
2. | Effective May 1, 2021, the Portfolio replaced the subadvisor to the equity portion of the Portfolio and modified the equity portion of the Portfolio's principal investment strategies. The past performance in the graph and table prior to that date reflects the Portfolio’s prior subadvisor and principal investment strategies for the equity portion of the Portfolio. |
3. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Russell 1000® Value Index1 | 25.16% | 11.16% | 12.97% |
Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index2 | -1.44 | 2.91 | 2.38 |
Balanced Composite Index3 | 14.03 | 8.17 | 8.88 |
Russell Midcap® Value Index4 | 28.34 | 11.22 | 13.44 |
Morningstar Allocation - 50% to 70% Equity Category Average5 | 13.91 | 9.97 | 8.81 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Portfolio has selected the Russell 1000® Value Index as its primary benchmark. The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of the large-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower expected growth values. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Portfolio has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index as a secondary benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index measures the performance of U.S. dollar denominated U.S. treasuries, government related and investment grade U.S. corporate securities that have a remaining maturity of greater than one year and less than ten years. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Portfolio has selected the Balanced Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Balanced Composite Index consists of the Russell 1000® Value Index and the Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index weighted 60% and 40%, respectively. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
4. | The Russell Midcap® Value Index, the Portfolio's prior primary benchmark, measures the performance of the mid-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Midcap® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
5. | The Morningstar Allocation – 50% to 70% Equity Category Average is representative of funds that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These funds are dominated by domestic holdings and have equity exposures between 50% and 70%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
6 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,051.00 | $3.67 | $1,021.63 | $3.62 | 0.71% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,049.60 | $4.96 | $1,020.37 | $4.89 | 0.96% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 13 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.75%-2.50%, due 3/31/23–11/15/31 |
2. | iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF |
3. | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
4. | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. |
5. | Pfizer, Inc. |
6. | iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF |
7. | Cisco Systems, Inc. |
8. | Bank of America Corp. |
9. | Morgan Stanley |
10. | Comcast Corp., Class A |
8 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, and Jonathan Swaney of New York Life Investment Management LLC, the Portfolio’s Manager; Kenneth Sommer and AJ Rzad, CFA, of NYL Investors LLC, the Portfolio’s fixed-income Subadvisor; and Migene Kim, CFA, and Mona Patni of MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields”), the Portfolio’s former equity Subadvisor; and Adam H. Illfelder of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington”), the Portfolio’s current equity Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio returned 17.29% for Initial Class shares and 17.00% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 25.16% return of the Russell 1000® Value Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and outperformed the −1.44% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index, which is a secondary benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the 14.03% return of the Balanced Composite Index and underperformed the 28.34% return of the Russell Midcap® Value Index, which are additional benchmarks of the Portfolio. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the 13.91% return of the Morningstar Allocation—50% to 70% Equity Category Average.1
Were there any changes to the Portfolio during the reporting period?
At meetings held on January 21, January 25 and February 3, 2021, the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust considered and approved, among other related proposals: (i) appointing Wellington as subadvisor to the equity portion of the Portfolio, and the related subadvisory agreement; (ii) modifying the Portfolio’s principal investment strategies and investment process and primary benchmark; and (iii) reducing the Portfolio’s contractual management fee. These changes became effective on May 1, 2021. For more information on these and other changes refer to the supplement dated February 5, 2021.
In the process of implementing the new principal investment strategies and investment process, the Portfolio may have experienced a high level of portfolio turnover. Also during this transition period, the Portfolio may not have been pursuing its investment objective or may not have been managed consistent with its investment strategies as stated in the Prospectus. This may have impacted the Portfolio’s performance.
What factors affected the relative performance of the equity portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the equity portion of the Portfolio, the equity portion of the Portfolio outperformed the Russell Midcap® Value Index primarily due to strong stock selection among consumer discretionary and health care stocks. Sector allocation modestly detracted, as the Portfolio held
overweight exposure to the benchmark-lagging health care and consumer staples sectors. In terms of stock-selection model efficacy, the combination of signals used by the quantitative stock selection model was rewarded primarily by valuation measures.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the equity portion of the Portfolio, the equity portion of the Portfolio outperformed the Russell 1000® Value Index. Security selection in the health care, communication services and industrials sectors enhanced relative returns, as did overweight exposure to health care and underweight exposure to communication services and industrials.
Which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to relative performance in the equity portion of the Portfolio, and which market segments detracted the most?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the equity portion of the Portfolio, the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Russell Midcap® Value Index came from the consumer discretionary, utilities and financials sectors. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) During the same period, the most significant detractors from relative performance were the communication services and consumer staples sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the equity portion of the Portfolio, security selection in the health care, communication services and industrials sectors made the strongest positive contributions to performance relative to the Russell 1000® Value Index, while security selection in the information technology, energy and real estate sectors detracted from performance. From an allocation standpoint, the Portfolio’s overweight position in health care and its underweight position in communication services bolstered relative results. Overweight exposure to information technology and underweight exposure to energy were the most significant detractors.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
MacKay Shields
The strongest positive contributions to the absolute performance of the equity portion of the Portfolio during the time it was managed by MacKay Shields included shares in regional banking firm Signature Bank, technology hardware storage & peripherals
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
maker HP, and building products maker Johnson Controls International. During the same period, the most significant detractors from absolute returns were positions in film & TV content producer ViacomCBS, interactive home entertainment provider Take-Two Interactive Software, and oil & gas equipment & services company NOV.
Wellington
The strongest positive contributors to absolute performance during the time Wellington managed the equity portion of the Portfolio were holdings in pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Eli Lilly, and managed care provider UnitedHealth Group. Shares of Pfizer rose following the company’s announcement that its booster was shown to provide protection against the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The stock also benefitted from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to grant Emergency Use Authorization for the company’s oral antiviral for post-infection patients, following positive study results that showed the antiviral reduced the risk of hospitalization or death. Shares of Eli Lilly rose after the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for donanemab, an Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Eli Lilly also gained Emergency Use Authorization in India for the use of baricitinib in severely ill COVID-19 patients. Shares in UnitedHealth Group, the largest managed care company in the United States, rose after the company reported robust revenue growth across its UnitedHealthcare and Optum subsidiaries. Optum, which provides pharmacy benefits (OptumRx), data and analytics (OptumInsight), and care delivery services (OptumHealth), saw growth across all three businesses, expanding to represent a majority of total group earnings.
The most significant detractors from absolute performance included payment technology services provider Global Payments, medical products manufacturer Medtronic and chemical manufacturing company FMC. Shares of Global Payments fell despite the company reporting third-quarter 2021 earnings slightly ahead of consensus estimates and raising the low end of full-year guidance. Shares were undermined by expectations for slightly lower-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and incremental COVID-19-related headwinds. Medtronic shares declined after the company’s diabetes business received a warning letter from the FDA that prompted a downward revision in guidance. Shares of FMC fell after the company reported third-quarter earnings that missed consensus estimates and lowered guidance for the fiscal year.
Did the equity portion of the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
The largest initial purchase in the equity portion of the Portfolio during the time it was managed by MacKay Shields was in shares of digital banking and payment services company Discover
Financial Services, while the largest increase in position size was in mining firm Freeport-McMoRan. The largest full sale was a position in financial exchange Nasdaq, while the largest decreased position size was in regional banking firm First Republic Bank.
Wellington
Outside of initial funding, notable purchases during the time Wellington managed the equity portion of the Portfolio included video game company Electronic Arts (EA) and U.S.-based oil & gas company ConocoPhillips. In our opinion, EA is a heavily discounted growth name forgotten by investors focused on the next crop of gaming companies. We believe EA is quietly executing rather well and delivering growth and profitability that is not reflected in the share price. We see ConocoPhillips as a high-quality company with a robust return profile not reflected in its valuation.
Notable eliminations from the Portfolio included holdings in metal casings company nVent Electric and semiconductor equipment provider KLA. In both instances, the sales came following a period of strong performance. The Portfolio used the proceeds to invest in opportunities with more attractive risk/return dynamics.
How did sector weightings in the equity portion of the Portfolio change during the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
During the time MacKay Shields managed the equity portion of the Portfolio, the largest increases in sector exposures relative to the Russell Midcap® Value Index were in the information technology and utilities sectors. Conversely, the largest decreases in benchmark-relative sector exposures were in the consumer discretionary and financials sectors.
Wellington
During the time Wellington managed the equity portion of the Portfolio, the most notable increases in sector exposures relative to the Russell 1000® Value Index were in communication services and, to a lesser extent, energy. As of the end of the reporting period, both sectors still represented slightly underweight positions relative to the Russell 1000 Value Index. Notable reductions in relative sector exposure included health care, in which the Portfolio held an overweight position as of December 31, 2021, and real estate, where the Portfolio held an underweight position as of the same date.
How was the equity portion of the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
MacKay Shields
At the end of the period MacKay Shields managed the equity portion of the Portfolio, the equity portion of the Portfolio held its largest overweight relative to the Russell Midcap® Value Index in the health care and consumer staples sectors. As of the same
10 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
date, the Portfolio’s most significantly underweight sector positions were in real estate and materials.
Wellington
As of December 31, 2021, the equity portion of the Portfolio held its most overweight positions relative to the Russell 1000® Value Index in the information technology, health care and financials sectors, and its most underweight positions were in consumer staples, real estate and energy.
What factors affected the relative performance of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
NYL Investors
The fixed-income portion of the Portfolio held overweight positions relative to the Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index in U.S. government agencies, corporates, asset-backed securities (ABS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) throughout the reporting period. To facilitate these overweight positions, the Portfolio maintained an underweight position in the U.S. Treasury sector. Corporate sector holdings provided the strongest boost to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index, followed by ABS and CMBS. Relatively overweight exposure to the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. government agency sectors detracted slightly from relative performance.
During the reporting period, how was the performance of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio materially affected by investments in derivatives?
NYL Investors
Use of derivatives in the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio was limited to interest rate derivatives employed to keep the duration2 of the Portfolio in line with our target. These interest rate derivatives had a negative impact on performance during the reporting period.
What was the duration strategy of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
NYL Investors
The fixed-income portion of the Portfolio maintained a duration relatively close to that of the Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index. On two occasions, the duration of the Portfolio was different from that of the benchmark. Toward the middle of the reporting period, the duration of the Portfolio was shorter than the benchmark, which had a slightly negative impact on performance. Toward the end of the reporting period, the duration of the Portfolio was longer than the benchmark– which
also had a slightly negative impact on performance. As of December 31, 2021, the effective duration of the Portfolio was 4.04 years compared to a duration of 4.11 years for the Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index.
During the reporting period, which market segments made the strongest positive contributions to the performance of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio and which market segments were particularly weak?
NYL Investors
During the reporting period, ABS made the strongest positive contribution to the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio’s absolute performance. In the asset-backed sector, the Portfolio’s allocation to commercial loan obligations (CLOs) was the most accretive to absolute performance. The CMBS sector, particularly the non-agency subcomponent, made the second strongest contribution to the Portfolio’s absolute performance.
During the same period, U.S. government agencies produced the weakest contribution to the Portfolio’s absolute performance. In the corporate sector, industrials and financials detracted most. In the interest rate complex, the Portfolio’s duration and yield curve3 positioning detracted from performance, while rolldown positioning added to absolute performance (Rolldown is the return that is earned by owning a longer dated bond in a upward sloping yield curve environment).
Among the Portfolio’s corporate bond holdings, those producing the strongest absolute performance during the reporting period were issued by industrial conglomerate General Electric, vehicle maker Ford Motor, office real estate investment trust Highwoods Properties and industrial conglomerate Marubeni. The bonds with the weakest absolute performance were issued by investment banking firm JPMorgan Chase, diversified financial services company Bank of America and diversified bank Credit Suisse Group.
Did the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
NYL Investors
The largest purchases made by the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period included bonds issued by aircraft leasing company Air Lease, insurer Brighthouse Financial Global Funding and dialysis care provider Fresenius Medical Care. Other notably large purchases included bonds from specialty electronic maker Emerson Electric and aircraft leasing company Aviation Capital Group.
2. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
3. | The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting. |
The most significant sales during the same period were bonds issued by energy infrastructure firm Kinder Morgan, diversified financial company Bank of America and medical instrument maker Becton, Dickinson and Company. Other significant but smaller sales were of securities from health care plan provider Cigna and regional bank Mizuho Financial Group.
During the reporting period, how did sector (or industry) weightings change in the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio?
NYL Investors
During the first quarter of 2021, we reduced the Portfolio’s exposure to non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities, on the basis of stretched valuations as well as uncertainty regarding prepayments on premium priced assets. In the latter stages of the first quarter, we took advantage of significant opportunities in the new issue calendar as issuers continued to access the primary market, increasing the Portfolio’s corporate exposure and diversification. At the same time, we found corporate bond valuations that were more attractive on both an option-adjusted spread4 (OAS) basis and an all-in yield basis than during the middle of the quarter.
During the first half of 2021, we increased the Portfolio’s allocation to CLOs rated AAA and AA as the asset class remained one of our highest conviction risk-adjusted relative value opportunities in investment grade fixed income.5
During the second half of the reporting period, in an effort to reduce the negative convexity6 in the Portfolio, we reduced exposure to U.S. government agencies when it became clear that the U.S. Federal Reserve was planning to raise interest rates sooner than originally expected. During the final stages of the fourth quarter, as an OAS tightened, we reduced the Portfolio’s corporate allocation, thereby improving the Portfolio’s flexibility in corporate credit, given our expectations that new issue activity would increase significantly in January 2022.
How was the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
NYL Investors
As of December 31, 2021, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio held overweight exposure relative to the Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index in corporate bonds. Within the corporate sector, the Portfolio held overweight positions in financials, industrials and utilities. The Portfolio also held overweight positions in ABS and CMBS. The Portfolio’s largest overweight allocation among spread7 assets was to the ABS sector. As of the same date, the Portfolio held relatively underweight positions in the sovereign, supranational, foreign agency and foreign local government sectors. The Portfolio also held an underweight position in the U.S. Treasury sector.
4. | An option-adjusted spread is the measurement of the spread of a fixed-income security rate and the risk-free rate of return, which is then adjusted to take into account an embedded option. |
5. | An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), and in the opinion of S&P, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. An obligation rated ‘AA’ by S&P is deemed by S&P to differ from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. In the opinion of S&P, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. When applied to Portfolio holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Portfolio. |
6. | Convexity is a mathematical measure of the sensitivity of an interest-bearing bond to changes in interest rates. |
7. | The terms “spread” and “yield spread” may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
12 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 29.0% |
Asset-Backed Securities 3.3% |
Other Asset-Backed Securities 3.3% |
AIG CLO LLC | |
Series 2020-1A, Class AR | | |
1.284% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.16%), due 4/15/34 (a)(b) | $ 600,000 | $ 598,702 |
Apidos CLO XXV | |
Series 2016-25A, Class A1R | | |
1.302% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.17%), due 10/20/31 (a)(b) | 400,000 | 400,001 |
Apidos CLO XXX | |
Series XXXA, Class A2 | | |
1.722% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 10/18/31 (a)(b) | 650,000 | 650,141 |
Apidos CLO XXXII | |
Series 2019-32A, Class A1 | | |
1.451% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.32%), due 1/20/33 (a)(b) | 500,000 | 500,043 |
ARES L CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2018-50A, Class AR | | |
1.174% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.05%), due 1/15/32 (a)(b) | 700,000 | 700,113 |
ARES XXXVIII CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2015-38A, Class BR | | |
1.532% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.40%), due 4/20/30 (a)(b) | 400,000 | 395,068 |
Battalion CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-21A, Class A | | |
1.312% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.18%), due 7/15/34 (a)(b) | 700,000 | 700,105 |
CAL Funding IV Ltd. | |
Series 2020-1A, Class A | | |
2.22%, due 9/25/45 (a) | 670,312 | 667,653 |
Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2013-3A, Class A2R | | |
1.524% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.40%), due 10/15/30 (a)(b) | 800,000 | 797,475 |
Carlyle US CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-5A, Class B | | |
1.731% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 7/20/34 (a)(b) | 500,000 | 496,780 |
Cedar Funding XII CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2020-12A, Class A1R | | |
1.263% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.13%), due 10/25/34 (a)(b) | 500,000 | 498,837 |
ELFI Graduate Loan Program LLC | |
Series 2021-A, Class A | | |
1.53%, due 12/26/46 (a) | 400,000 | 396,555 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Global SC Finance VII SRL | |
Series 2021-2A, Class A | | ��� |
1.95%, due 8/17/41 (a) | $ 481,696 | $ 475,562 |
Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 35 Ltd. | |
Series 2019-35A, Class A1 | | |
1.464% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.34%), due 1/19/33 (a)(b) | 600,000 | 600,084 |
Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 37 Ltd. | |
Series 2020-37A, Class BR | | |
1.582% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.45%), due 7/20/31 (a)(b) | 500,000 | 500,006 |
Octagon Investment Partners 29 Ltd. | |
Series 2016-1A, Class AR | | |
1.304% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.18%), due 1/24/33 (a)(b) | 350,000 | 349,401 |
Palmer Square CLO Ltd. (a)(b) | |
Series 2014-1A, Class A1R2 | | |
1.252% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.13%), due 1/17/31 | 250,000 | 250,070 |
Series 2015-2A, Class A2R2 | | |
1.681% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.55%), due 7/20/30 | 750,000 | 749,371 |
Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. | |
Series 2021-3A, Class A2 | | |
1.571% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.40%), due 7/20/29 (a)(b) | 500,000 | 500,077 |
Progress Residential | |
Series 2021-SFR3, Class A | | |
1.637%, due 5/17/26 (a) | 498,827 | 492,355 |
Regatta XIV Funding Ltd. | |
Series 2018-3A, Class A | | |
1.314% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.19%), due 10/25/31 (a)(b) | 600,000 | 599,798 |
Regatta XV Funding Ltd. | |
Series 2018-4A, Class A1 | | |
1.354% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.23%), due 10/25/31 (a)(b) | 250,000 | 250,088 |
STORE Master Funding LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A1 | | |
2.12%, due 6/20/51 (a) | 243,141 | 239,592 |
THL Credit Wind River CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2017-4A, Class A | | |
1.31% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 11/20/30 (a)(b) | 250,000 | 250,003 |
Tiaa CLO III Ltd. | |
Series 2017-2A, Class A | | |
1.272% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 1/16/31 (a)(b) | 350,000 | 348,049 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Trestles CLO IV Ltd. | |
Series 2021-4A, Class A | | |
1.294% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.17%), due 7/21/34 (a)(b) | $ 300,000 | $ 299,999 |
Vantage Data Centers LLC | |
Series 2020-1A, Class A2 | | |
1.645%, due 9/15/45 (a) | 725,000 | 708,611 |
Wellfleet CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-2A, Class A1 | | |
1.324% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.20%), due 7/15/34 (a)(b) | 373,333 | 373,561 |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $13,832,510) | | 13,788,100 |
Corporate Bonds 12.1% |
Aerospace & Defense 0.2% |
Boeing Co. (The) | | |
3.10%, due 5/1/26 | 240,000 | 250,073 |
3.25%, due 2/1/28 | 325,000 | 338,647 |
5.15%, due 5/1/30 | 375,000 | 436,913 |
| | 1,025,633 |
Apparel 0.0% ‡ |
Ralph Lauren Corp. | | |
1.70%, due 6/15/22 | 175,000 | 176,068 |
Auto Manufacturers 1.0% |
Daimler Finance North America LLC | | |
2.625%, due 3/10/30 (a) | 250,000 | 255,966 |
Daimler Trucks Finance North America LLC | | |
2.00%, due 12/14/26 (a) | 550,000 | 552,347 |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC | | |
3.087%, due 1/9/23 | 425,000 | 432,185 |
3.664%, due 9/8/24 | 725,000 | 753,094 |
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. | | |
1.05%, due 3/8/24 | 200,000 | 198,943 |
1.50%, due 6/10/26 | 1,275,000 | 1,254,485 |
Hyundai Capital America (a) | | |
1.80%, due 1/10/28 | 225,000 | 217,435 |
2.375%, due 10/15/27 | 375,000 | 372,895 |
| | 4,037,350 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Banks 2.0% |
Banco Santander SA | | |
1.722% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 0.90%), due 9/14/27 (b) | $ 400,000 | $ 392,721 |
Bank of America Corp. | | |
2.087%, due 6/14/29 (c) | 1,000,000 | 992,971 |
BNP Paribas SA | | |
2.588% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.05%), due 8/12/35 (a)(b) | 435,000 | 416,736 |
Citigroup, Inc. | | |
3.20%, due 10/21/26 | 930,000 | 985,510 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | |
1.948%, due 10/21/27 (c) | 450,000 | 448,020 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | |
1.578%, due 4/22/27 (c) | 1,230,000 | 1,215,503 |
Lloyds Banking Group plc | | |
0.695% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 0.55%), due 5/11/24 (b) | 430,000 | 428,294 |
Morgan Stanley | | |
2.484%, due 9/16/36 (c) | 300,000 | 288,885 |
3.625%, due 1/20/27 | 350,000 | 379,456 |
4.35%, due 9/8/26 | 820,000 | 906,377 |
Societe Generale SA | | |
1.792% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.00%), due 6/9/27 (a)(b) | 350,000 | 342,508 |
Standard Chartered plc | | |
0.991% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 0.78%), due 1/12/25 (a)(b) | 200,000 | 197,742 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Ltd. | | |
1.35%, due 9/16/26 (a) | 625,000 | 614,365 |
Truist Financial Corp. | | |
1.267%, due 3/2/27 (c) | 375,000 | 367,916 |
UBS Group AG | | |
1.364% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.08%), due 1/30/27 (a)(b) | 475,000 | 464,277 |
| | 8,441,281 |
Beverages 0.3% |
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 1/23/29 | 760,000 | 884,591 |
Diageo Capital plc | | |
2.125%, due 4/29/32 | 325,000 | 322,354 |
| | 1,206,945 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Building Materials 0.3% |
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | | |
3.45%, due 6/1/27 | $ 425,000 | $ 453,061 |
Owens Corning | | |
3.95%, due 8/15/29 | 700,000 | 766,898 |
| | 1,219,959 |
Chemicals 0.2% |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | | |
1.832%, due 10/15/27 (a) | 275,000 | 269,981 |
LYB International Finance III LLC | | |
1.25%, due 10/1/25 | 172,000 | 169,088 |
NewMarket Corp. | | |
4.10%, due 12/15/22 | 525,000 | 540,772 |
| | 979,841 |
Commercial Services 0.2% |
Ashtead Capital, Inc. | | |
2.45%, due 8/12/31 (a) | 450,000 | 438,162 |
Global Payments, Inc. | | |
2.15%, due 1/15/27 | 325,000 | 326,293 |
| | 764,455 |
Diversified Financial Services 1.1% |
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC | | |
3.00%, due 10/29/28 | 700,000 | 709,895 |
Air Lease Corp. | | |
0.70%, due 2/15/24 | 1,150,000 | 1,131,761 |
Aircastle Ltd. | | |
2.85%, due 1/26/28 (a) | 500,000 | 502,894 |
Antares Holdings LP | | |
3.95%, due 7/15/26 (a) | 250,000 | 257,070 |
Aviation Capital Group LLC (a) | | |
1.95%, due 1/30/26 | 250,000 | 243,844 |
1.95%, due 9/20/26 | 475,000 | 461,360 |
Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. LLC | | |
1.625%, due 8/5/28 (a) | 350,000 | 339,911 |
BOC Aviation USA Corp. | | |
1.625%, due 4/29/24 (a) | 400,000 | 399,395 |
LSEGA Financing plc | | |
2.00%, due 4/6/28 (a) | 400,000 | 394,823 |
Thirax 1 LLC | | |
0.968%, due 1/14/33 | 211,859 | 204,036 |
| | 4,644,989 |
Electric 1.0% |
Commonwealth Edison Co. | | |
3.10%, due 11/1/24 (d) | 250,000 | 260,938 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Electric (continued) |
DTE Electric Co. | | |
2.65%, due 6/15/22 | $ 500,000 | $ 502,190 |
DTE Energy Co. | | |
Series F | | |
1.05%, due 6/1/25 | 250,000 | 244,941 |
Entergy Arkansas LLC | | |
3.70%, due 6/1/24 | 500,000 | 525,246 |
Entergy Corp. | | |
4.00%, due 7/15/22 | 1,000,000 | 1,012,176 |
FirstEnergy Transmission LLC | | |
4.35%, due 1/15/25 (a) | 700,000 | 744,213 |
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | | |
1.30%, due 6/15/25 | 625,000 | 614,740 |
Tampa Electric Co. | | |
2.40%, due 3/15/31 | 225,000 | 227,245 |
| | 4,131,689 |
Electrical Components & Equipment 0.3% |
Emerson Electric Co. | | |
1.80%, due 10/15/27 | 400,000 | 401,681 |
2.00%, due 12/21/28 | 750,000 | 749,912 |
| | 1,151,593 |
Electronics 0.1% |
Flex Ltd. | | |
3.75%, due 2/1/26 | 275,000 | 293,702 |
Food 0.1% |
Conagra Brands, Inc. | | |
4.85%, due 11/1/28 | 450,000 | 519,091 |
Forest Products & Paper 0.1% |
Georgia-Pacific LLC | | |
0.95%, due 5/15/26 (a) | 225,000 | 218,203 |
Healthcare-Products 0.2% |
Baxter International, Inc. | | |
2.272%, due 12/1/28 (a) | 625,000 | 629,527 |
Healthcare-Services 0.3% |
Fresenius Medical Care U.S. Finance III, Inc. (a) | | |
1.875%, due 12/1/26 | 225,000 | 222,577 |
2.375%, due 2/16/31 | 1,025,000 | 979,431 |
| | 1,202,008 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Home Builders 0.2% |
MDC Holdings, Inc. | | |
2.50%, due 1/15/31 | $ 225,000 | $ 217,627 |
PulteGroup, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 3/1/26 | 575,000 | 653,787 |
| | 871,414 |
Insurance 0.3% |
Brighthouse Financial Global Funding | | |
1.00%, due 4/12/24 (a) | 975,000 | 966,647 |
Principal Life Global Funding II | | |
1.25%, due 8/16/26 (a) | 350,000 | 341,570 |
| | 1,308,217 |
Investment Companies 0.2% |
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund | | |
2.125%, due 2/15/27 (a) | 175,000 | 170,332 |
2.75%, due 9/16/26 | 250,000 | 249,960 |
Prospect Capital Corp. | | |
3.437%, due 10/15/28 | 475,000 | 457,081 |
| | 877,373 |
Iron & Steel 0.1% |
Nucor Corp. | | |
2.00%, due 6/1/25 | 275,000 | 280,397 |
Media 0.2% |
Charter Communications Operating LLC | | |
2.25%, due 1/15/29 | 325,000 | 317,102 |
Thomson Reuters Corp. | | |
3.85%, due 9/29/24 | 300,000 | 316,999 |
| | 634,101 |
Mining 0.2% |
Anglo American Capital plc (a) | | |
2.25%, due 3/17/28 | 525,000 | 515,567 |
5.625%, due 4/1/30 | 400,000 | 473,939 |
| | 989,506 |
Oil & Gas 0.2% |
Valero Energy Corp. | | |
2.85%, due 4/15/25 | 675,000 | 699,209 |
Oil & Gas Services 0.2% |
Schlumberger Holdings Corp. | | |
3.75%, due 5/1/24 (a) | 925,000 | 970,432 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Packaging & Containers 0.2% |
WRKCo, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 3/15/25 | $ 925,000 | $ 985,492 |
Pharmaceuticals 0.6% |
AbbVie, Inc. | | |
2.95%, due 11/21/26 | 600,000 | 632,321 |
Bayer US Finance II LLC | | |
4.375%, due 12/15/28 (a) | 600,000 | 670,164 |
Cigna Corp. | | |
2.375%, due 3/15/31 | 250,000 | 251,285 |
CVS Health Corp. | | |
1.875%, due 2/28/31 | 490,000 | 470,109 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | |
2.15%, due 12/10/31 | 325,000 | 325,906 |
| | 2,349,785 |
Pipelines 0.1% |
Texas Eastern Transmission LP | | |
2.80%, due 10/15/22 (a) | 225,000 | 227,440 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.2% |
American Campus Communities Operating Partnership LP | | |
3.30%, due 7/15/26 | 900,000 | 948,169 |
Brixmor Operating Partnership LP | | |
2.50%, due 8/16/31 | 150,000 | 146,788 |
CubeSmart LP | | |
2.25%, due 12/15/28 | 550,000 | 550,073 |
Highwoods Realty LP | | |
3.875%, due 3/1/27 | 1,350,000 | 1,471,910 |
Kimco Realty Corp. | | |
2.80%, due 10/1/26 | 500,000 | 519,688 |
Realty Income Corp. | | |
3.95%, due 8/15/27 | 890,000 | 986,795 |
Simon Property Group LP | | |
1.75%, due 2/1/28 | 375,000 | 367,753 |
Spirit Realty LP | | |
2.70%, due 2/15/32 | 175,000 | 173,149 |
| | 5,164,325 |
Retail 0.2% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | | |
1.75%, due 10/1/27 | 150,000 | 145,560 |
CK Hutchison International 21 Ltd. | | |
1.50%, due 4/15/26 (a) | 375,000 | 369,903 |
Walmart, Inc. | | |
1.50%, due 9/22/28 | 400,000 | 397,523 |
| | 912,986 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Semiconductors 0.1% |
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. | | |
1.80%, due 6/1/26 | $ 300,000 | $ 296,905 |
Telecommunications 0.7% |
AT&T, Inc. | | |
4.35%, due 3/1/29 | 775,000 | 870,539 |
T-Mobile US, Inc. | | |
2.55%, due 2/15/31 | 825,000 | 820,854 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | |
2.10%, due 3/22/28 | 350,000 | 350,667 |
3.376%, due 2/15/25 | 6,000 | 6,386 |
4.016%, due 12/3/29 | 912,000 | 1,022,444 |
| | 3,070,890 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $49,655,265) | | 50,280,806 |
Foreign Government Bonds 0.1% |
Philippines 0.1% |
Philippine Government Bond | | |
3.00%, due 2/1/28 | 200,000 | 214,467 |
Poland 0.0% ‡ |
Poland Government Bond | | |
5.00%, due 3/23/22 | 50,000 | 50,494 |
Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $245,130) | | 264,961 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities 0.5% |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 0.5% |
BFLD Trust | |
Series 2021-FPM, Class A | | |
1.71% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 6/15/38 (a)(b) | 500,000 | 499,699 |
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2020-420K, Class A | | |
2.456%, due 11/10/42 (a)(e) | 500,000 | 499,594 |
Series 2020-GC46, Class A5 | | |
2.717%, due 2/15/53 | 500,000 | 519,236 |
CSMC WEST Trust | |
Series 2020-WEST, Class A | | |
3.04%, due 2/15/35 (a) | 500,000 | 515,244 |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $2,033,252) | | 2,033,773 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies 13.0% |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 0.7% |
FFCB | | |
2.03%, due 1/21/28 | $ 850,000 | $ 878,646 |
2.13%, due 4/19/34 | 450,000 | 444,584 |
FHLB | | |
1.60%, due 12/17/26 | 430,000 | 430,184 |
3.125%, due 9/12/25 | 800,000 | 857,562 |
| | 2,610,976 |
United States Treasury Notes 12.3% |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | |
0.75%, due 12/31/23 | 6,050,000 | 6,051,181 |
1.00%, due 12/15/24 | 18,290,000 | 18,310,005 |
1.25%, due 12/31/26 | 8,000,000 | 7,991,250 |
1.375%, due 12/31/28 | 7,060,000 | 7,028,009 |
1.375%, due 11/15/31 | 7,660,000 | 7,563,053 |
2.50%, due 3/31/23 | 4,000,000 | 4,098,594 |
| | 51,042,092 |
Total U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (Cost $53,514,568) | | 53,653,068 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $119,280,725) | | 120,020,708 |
|
| Shares | |
Common Stocks 63.5% |
Aerospace & Defense 3.5% |
General Dynamics Corp. | 16,272 | 3,392,224 |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | 16,382 | 3,493,298 |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | 8,732 | 3,379,895 |
Raytheon Technologies Corp. | 47,299 | 4,070,552 |
| | 14,335,969 |
Auto Components 0.9% |
Gentex Corp. | 102,537 | 3,573,414 |
Banks 6.5% |
Bank of America Corp. | 133,239 | 5,927,803 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 59,700 | 9,453,495 |
M&T Bank Corp. | 27,022 | 4,150,039 |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | 19,777 | 3,965,684 |
Truist Financial Corp. | 60,718 | 3,555,039 |
| | 27,052,060 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Beverages 0.9% |
Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. | 98,648 | $ 3,636,165 |
Building Products 1.6% |
Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. | 28,037 | 2,997,155 |
Johnson Controls International plc | 43,552 | 3,541,213 |
| | 6,538,368 |
Capital Markets 2.8% |
ARES Management Corp. | 37,094 | 3,014,629 |
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc. | 22,297 | 3,569,527 |
Morgan Stanley | 53,166 | 5,218,775 |
| | 11,802,931 |
Chemicals 1.6% |
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (f) | 87,743 | 2,906,048 |
Celanese Corp. | 23,185 | 3,896,471 |
| | 6,802,519 |
Communications Equipment 2.8% |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 121,238 | 7,682,852 |
F5, Inc. (f) | 16,856 | 4,124,832 |
| | 11,807,684 |
Containers & Packaging 0.7% |
Sealed Air Corp. | 44,905 | 3,029,740 |
Electric Utilities 1.0% |
Exelon Corp. | 72,781 | 4,203,831 |
Electrical Equipment 0.7% |
Hubbell, Inc. | 14,588 | 3,038,243 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.8% |
Corning, Inc. | 93,388 | 3,476,835 |
Entertainment 0.9% |
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 29,028 | 3,828,793 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.7% |
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. | 80,476 | 3,915,962 |
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (f) | 191,736 | 3,334,289 |
| | 7,250,251 |
Food Products 1.0% |
Mondelez International, Inc., Class A | 59,659 | 3,955,988 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 2.6% |
Becton Dickinson and Co. | 14,461 | $ 3,636,652 |
Boston Scientific Corp. (f) | 76,968 | 3,269,601 |
Medtronic plc | 37,058 | 3,833,650 |
| | 10,739,903 |
Health Care Providers & Services 4.9% |
Anthem, Inc. | 13,773 | 6,384,336 |
Centene Corp. (f) | 52,132 | 4,295,677 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 18,946 | 9,513,545 |
| | 20,193,558 |
Household Durables 0.8% |
Lennar Corp., Class A | 26,768 | 3,109,371 |
Insurance 3.9% |
Assurant, Inc. | 18,939 | 2,951,832 |
Chubb Ltd. | 26,127 | 5,050,610 |
MetLife, Inc. | 80,238 | 5,014,073 |
Progressive Corp. (The) | 32,163 | 3,301,532 |
| | 16,318,047 |
Interactive Media & Services 1.3% |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (f) | 1,828 | 5,289,483 |
IT Services 2.3% |
Amdocs Ltd. | 34,421 | 2,576,068 |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | 31,908 | 3,482,758 |
Global Payments, Inc. | 25,262 | 3,414,917 |
| | 9,473,743 |
Machinery 0.8% |
Middleby Corp. (The) (f) | 16,725 | 3,290,811 |
Media 2.3% |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 131,910 | 6,639,031 |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | 40,212 | 2,946,333 |
| | 9,585,364 |
Multi-Utilities 1.8% |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | 47,363 | 3,720,837 |
Sempra Energy | 28,184 | 3,728,180 |
| | 7,449,017 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 2.7% |
ConocoPhillips | 58,078 | 4,192,070 |
Phillips 66 | 44,806 | 3,246,643 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued) |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | 20,390 | $ 3,708,533 |
| | 11,147,246 |
Pharmaceuticals 6.1% |
AstraZeneca plc, Sponsored ADR | 56,441 | 3,287,688 |
Eli Lilly and Co. | 17,856 | 4,932,184 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 62,054 | 4,755,819 |
Pfizer, Inc. | 152,997 | 9,034,473 |
Roche Holding AG | 7,687 | 3,186,533 |
| | 25,196,697 |
Real Estate Management & Development 0.8% |
CBRE Group, Inc., Class A (f) | 29,153 | 3,163,392 |
Road & Rail 0.7% |
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. | 44,650 | 2,720,971 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 2.6% |
Analog Devices, Inc. | 20,721 | 3,642,130 |
Micron Technology, Inc. | 42,427 | 3,952,075 |
Qorvo, Inc. (f) | 20,520 | 3,209,123 |
| | 10,803,328 |
Software 0.4% |
VMware, Inc., Class A | 15,304 | 1,773,428 |
Specialty Retail 2.1% |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 6,322 | 2,623,693 |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | 44,538 | 3,381,325 |
Victoria's Secret & Co. (f) | 51,219 | 2,844,703 |
| | 8,849,721 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $232,904,739) | | 263,436,871 |
Exchange-Traded Funds 5.3% |
iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF | 125,245 | 14,246,619 |
iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF | 46,066 | 7,735,863 |
Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $21,051,500) | | 21,982,482 |
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investments 1.2% |
Affiliated Investment Company 1.1% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (g) | 4,714,655 | | $ 4,714,655 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 0.1% |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (g)(h) | 166,005 | | 166,005 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $4,880,660) | | | 4,880,660 |
Total Investments (Cost $378,117,624) | 99.0% | | 410,320,721 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.0 | | 4,264,873 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 414,585,594 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(b) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(c) | Fixed to floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $161,782. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $166,005. (See Note 2(I)) |
(e) | Collateral strip rate—A bond whose interest was based on the weighted net interest rate of the collateral. The coupon rate adjusts periodically based on a predetermined schedule. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(f) | Non-income producing security. |
(g) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(h) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts1:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Notes | 49 | March 2022 | $ 10,724,572 | $ 10,690,422 | $ (34,150) |
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Notes | 10 | March 2022 | 1,212,908 | 1,209,766 | (3,142) |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Notes | 17 | March 2022 | 2,214,413 | 2,217,969 | 3,556 |
Total Long Contracts | | | | | (33,736) |
Short Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Ultra Bonds | (25) | March 2022 | (3,642,932) | (3,660,938) | (18,006) |
U.S. Treasury Long Bonds | (1) | March 2022 | (160,304) | (160,438) | (134) |
Total Short Contracts | | | | | (18,140) |
Net Unrealized Depreciation | | | | | $ (51,876) |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $46,371 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions. |
2. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
CLO—Collateralized Loan Obligation |
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund |
FFCB—Federal Farm Credit Bank |
FHLB—Federal Home Loan Bank |
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | $ — | | $ 13,788,100 | | $ — | | $ 13,788,100 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 50,280,806 | | — | | 50,280,806 |
Foreign Government Bonds | — | | 264,961 | | — | | 264,961 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | | 2,033,773 | | — | | 2,033,773 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies | — | | 53,653,068 | | — | | 53,653,068 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 120,020,708 | | — | | 120,020,708 |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | |
Pharmaceuticals | 22,010,164 | | 3,186,533 | | — | | 25,196,697 |
All Other Industries | 238,240,174 | | — | | — | | 238,240,174 |
Total Common Stocks | 260,250,338 | | 3,186,533 | | — | | 263,436,871 |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 21,982,482 | | — | | — | | 21,982,482 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 4,714,655 | | — | | — | | 4,714,655 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 166,005 | | — | | — | | 166,005 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 4,880,660 | | — | | — | | 4,880,660 |
Total Investments in Securities | 287,113,480 | | 123,207,241 | | — | | 410,320,721 |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | 3,556 | | — | | — | | 3,556 |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ 287,117,036 | | $ 123,207,241 | | $ — | | $ 410,324,277 |
Liability Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | $ (55,432) | | $ — | | $ — | | $ (55,432) |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $373,402,969) including securities on loan of $161,782 | $405,606,066 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $4,714,655) | 4,714,655 |
Cash | 9,180,308 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 46,371 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 1,014,152 |
Dividends and interest | 679,040 |
Portfolio shares sold | 504,016 |
Securities lending | 909 |
Other assets | 1,631 |
Total assets | 421,747,148 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 166,005 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 6,556,959 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 223,619 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 81,344 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 69,576 |
Professional fees | 33,684 |
Shareholder communication | 12,148 |
Custodian | 9,546 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 2,824 |
Trustees | 462 |
Accrued expenses | 5,387 |
Total liabilities | 7,161,554 |
Net assets | $414,585,594 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 24,875 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 306,396,424 |
| 306,421,299 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 108,164,295 |
Net assets | $414,585,594 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 22,345,330 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 1,326,339 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 16.85 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $392,240,264 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 23,548,549 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 16.66 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $369) | $ 4,942,082 |
Interest | 2,102,738 |
Securities lending | 58,187 |
Dividends-affiliated | 264 |
Total income | 7,103,271 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 2,579,255 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 916,712 |
Professional fees | 99,837 |
Shareholder communication | 52,330 |
Custodian | 39,090 |
Trustees | 8,005 |
Miscellaneous | 19,683 |
Total expenses | 3,714,912 |
Net investment income (loss) | 3,388,359 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 78,124,617 |
Futures transactions | (394,684) |
Foreign currency transactions | (16,712) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 77,713,221 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (21,419,683) |
Futures contracts | (85,155) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (21,504,838) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 56,208,383 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 59,596,742 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 3,388,359 | $ 4,428,441 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 77,713,221 | 6,164,007 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (21,504,838) | 9,512,059 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 59,596,742 | 20,104,507 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (670,643) | (1,017,200) |
Service Class | (11,090,271) | (18,038,419) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (11,760,914) | (19,055,619) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 58,759,681 | 26,609,990 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 11,760,914 | 19,055,619 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (57,336,035) | (86,852,589) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 13,184,560 | (41,186,980) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 61,020,388 | (40,138,092) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 353,565,206 | 393,703,298 |
End of year | $414,585,594 | $353,565,206 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 14.83 | | $ 14.59 | | $ 13.23 | | $ 15.18 | | $ 14.26 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.18 | | 0.21 | | 0.25 | | 0.28 | | 0.23 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.36 | | 0.88 | | 1.93 | | (1.31) | | 1.18 |
Total from investment operations | 2.54 | | 1.09 | | 2.18 | | (1.03) | | 1.41 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.22) | | (0.30) | | (0.29) | | (0.25) | | (0.19) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.30) | | (0.55) | | (0.53) | | (0.67) | | (0.30) |
Total distributions | (0.52) | | (0.85) | | (0.82) | | (0.92) | | (0.49) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 16.85 | | $ 14.83 | | $ 14.59 | | $ 13.23 | | $ 15.18 |
Total investment return (b) | 17.29% | | 7.90% | | 16.75% | | (7.36)% | | 10.02% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.11% | | 1.52% | | 1.75% | | 1.88% | | 1.54% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.72% | | 0.76% | | 0.76% | | 0.74% | | 0.74% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 195% | | 218% | | 186% | | 209% | | 174% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 22,345 | | $ 18,533 | | $ 18,653 | | $ 16,084 | | $ 17,209 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 14.67 | | $ 14.43 | | $ 13.09 | | $ 15.03 | | $ 14.13 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.14 | | 0.17 | | 0.21 | | 0.24 | | 0.19 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.34 | | 0.88 | | 1.91 | | (1.30) | | 1.17 |
Total from investment operations | 2.48 | | 1.05 | | 2.12 | | (1.06) | | 1.36 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.19) | | (0.26) | | (0.25) | | (0.21) | | (0.16) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.30) | | (0.55) | | (0.53) | | (0.67) | | (0.30) |
Total distributions | (0.49) | | (0.81) | | (0.78) | | (0.88) | | (0.46) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 16.66 | | $ 14.67 | | $ 14.43 | | $ 13.09 | | $ 15.03 |
Total investment return (b) | 17.00% | | 7.63% | | 16.46% | | (7.59)% | | 9.75% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.86% | | 1.27% | | 1.50% | | 1.62% | | 1.28% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.97% | | 1.01% | | 1.01% | | 0.99% | | 0.99% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 195% | | 218% | | 186% | | 209% | | 174% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 392,240 | | $ 335,032 | | $ 375,050 | | $ 352,496 | | $ 426,646 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 2, 2005 |
Service Class | May 2, 2005 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek total return.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio
prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market
26 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a
security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisors. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisors, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
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(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in ETFs and mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in ETFs and mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of ETFs and mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain
obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(I) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(J) Debt Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Investments in the Portfolio are not guaranteed, even though some of the Portfolio’s underlying investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The principal risk of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities is that the underlying debt may be prepaid ahead of schedule, if interest rates fall, thereby reducing the value of the Portfolio’s investment. If interest rates rise, less of the debt may be prepaid and the Portfolio may lose money because the Portfolio may be unable to invest in higher yielding assets. The Portfolio is subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise. Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner.
The Portfolio may invest in foreign debt securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic instruments. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets.
(K) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial
Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(L) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(M) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are
30 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio entered into futures contracts in order to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates that might otherwise have an adverse effect upon the value of the Portfolio’s securities as well as to help manage the duration and yield curve positioning of the portfolio.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Asset Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts (a) | $3,556 | $3,556 |
Total Fair Value | $3,556 | $3,556 |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Liability Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (a) | $(55,432) | $(55,432) |
Total Fair Value | $(55,432) | $(55,432) |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $(394,684) | $(394,684) |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $(394,684) | $(394,684) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $(85,155) | $(85,155) |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $(85,155) | $(85,155) |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Futures Contracts Long | $16,767,506 |
Futures Contracts Short | $ (5,056,844) |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisors. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. The Portfolio’s subadvisor changed effective May 1, 2021, due to the removal of MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields") as the subadvisor to the equity portion of the Portfolio and the appointment of Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington” or the “Subadvisor”) as the subadvisor to the equity portion of the Portfolio. Wellington, a registered investment adviser, is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the equity portion of the Fund, pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement (a “Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and Wellington. NYL Investors LLC (“NYL Investors” or the “Subadvisor,” and, together with Wellington, the “Subadvisors”), a registered investment adviser and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio, pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors. New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisors.
Effective May 1, 2021, under the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets as follows: 0.65% up to $1 billion; 0.625% from $1 billion to $2 billion; and 0.60% in excess of $2 billion.
Prior to May 1, 2021, the Fund paid the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.70% up to $1 billion; 0.65% from $1 billion to $2 billion; and 0.60% in excess of $2 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.67%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $2,579,255 and paid MacKay Shields, Wellington and NYL Investors fees of $253,378, $443,350 and $432,323, respectively.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan") provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life
Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ — | $ 45,641 | $ (40,926) | $ — | $ — | $ 4,715 | $ —(a) | $ — | 4,715 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $378,497,379 | $36,460,912 | $(4,658,244) | $31,802,668 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$41,276,080 | $35,045,570 | $19,302 | $31,823,343 | $108,164,295 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments, cumulative bond amortization, and mark to market of futures contracts. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $ 7,812,426 | $10,837,122 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 3,948,488 | 8,218,497 |
Total | $11,760,914 | $19,055,619 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $6,438 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
32 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of U.S. government securities were $478,529 and $445,288, respectively. Purchases and sales of securities, other than U.S. government securities and short-term securities, were $260,006 and $285,633, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 120,400 | $ 1,937,700 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 41,246 | 670,643 |
Shares redeemed | (85,289) | (1,376,746) |
Net increase (decrease) | 76,357 | $ 1,231,597 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 86,898 | $ 1,207,655 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 73,825 | 1,017,200 |
Shares redeemed | (189,520) | (2,605,835) |
Net increase (decrease) | (28,797) | $ (380,980) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 3,506,546 | $ 56,821,981 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 689,492 | 11,090,271 |
Shares redeemed | (3,488,227) | (55,959,289) |
Net increase (decrease) | 707,811 | $ 11,952,963 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 1,840,287 | $ 25,402,335 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,322,542 | 18,038,419 |
Shares redeemed | (6,305,685) | (84,246,754) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,142,856) | $(40,806,000) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents, and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
34 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors LLC (“NYL Investors”) with respect to the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or NYL Investors that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Investments and NYL Investors resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of NYL Investors, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of NYL Investors and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, NYL Investors with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as NYL Investors’ investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that NYL Investors provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated NYL Investors’ experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and NYL Investors’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at NYL Investors and New York Life Investments’ and NYL Investors’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed NYL Investors’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant
36 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to NYL Investors as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or NYL Investors had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolio, the Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the three- and five-year periods ended July 31, 2021, performed favorably relative to its peer funds for the one-year period ended July 31, 2021, and performed in line with its peer funds for the ten-year period ended July 31, 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments and NYL Investors regarding the Portfolio’s investment performance and the Board’s approval to terminate a previous subadvisor, approve a new subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and Wellington Management Company LLP with respect to the equity portion of the Portfolio and reposition the Portfolio, effective May 1, 2021.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because NYL Investors is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including NYL Investors, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and NYL Investors must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and NYL Investors to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to NYL Investors is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
38 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
40 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
42 | MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI508
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 1/23/1984 | -1.37% | 3.61% | 3.03% | 0.53% |
Service Class Shares | 6/4/2003 | -1.62 | 3.36 | 2.77 | 0.78 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1 | -1.54% | 3.57% | 2.90% |
Morningstar Intermediate Core Bond Category Average2 | -1.53 | 3.43 | 3.05 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures performance of the investment-grade, U.S. dollar denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasurys, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Intermediate Core Bond Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in investment-grade U.S. fixed-income issues including government, corporate, and securitized debt, and hold less than 5% in below-investment-grade exposures. Their durations (a measure of interest-rate sensitivity) typically range between 75% and 125% of the three-year average of the effective duration of the Morningstar Core Bond Index. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Bond Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $998.00 | $2.62 | $1,022.58 | $2.65 | 0.52% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $996.70 | $3.88 | $1,021.32 | $3.92 | 0.77% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.75%-2.50%, due 3/31/23–11/15/31 |
2. | UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year, 2.00%-3.00%, due 1/25/52 |
3. | UMBS, 30 Year, 2.00%-7.50%, due 7/1/28–12/1/51 |
4. | GNMA II, Single Family, 30 Year, 2.00%-3.00%, due 1/15/52 |
5. | FHLMC, Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates, 0.729%-1.69%, due 3/25/30–7/25/31 |
6. | FFCB, 1.24%-2.13%, due 1/21/28–4/19/34 |
7. | U.S. Treasury Bonds, 1.625%-1.875%, due 2/15/41–11/15/50 |
8. | Boeing Co. (The), 3.10%-5.15%, due 5/1/26–5/1/30 |
9. | Morgan Stanley, 1.512%-4.35%, due 9/8/26–9/16/36 |
10. | College Avenue Student Loans LLC, 1.60%-2.32%, due 7/25/51–7/26/55 |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of Kenneth Sommer and AJ Rzad, CFA, of NYL Investors LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Bond Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Bond Portfolio returned −1.37% for Initial Class shares and −1.62% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, Initial Class shares outperformed, and Service Class shares underperformed, the −1.54% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, Initial Class shares outperformed, and Service Class shares underperformed, the −1.53 return of the Morningstar Intermediate Core Bond Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio held overweight positions relative to the Index in U.S. government agencies, corporates, asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities throughout the reporting period. To facilitate the overweight positions, the Portfolio maintained an underweight position in the Treasury sector. The corporate sector provided the Portfolio’s strongest relative performance during the reporting period, followed by asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Underweight exposure to the mortgage-backed securities sector, particularly the agency sub-component, also added to performance. Underweight exposure in the Treasury sector detracted from relative performance, as did the Portfolio’s overweight position in U.S. government agencies.
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
The Portfolio’s use of derivatives was limited to interest rate derivatives used to keep the duration2 of the Portfolio in line with our target. These interest rate derivatives had a slightly negative impact on the Portfolio's performance during the reporting period.
What was the Portfolio’s duration strategy during the reporting period?
The Portfolio maintained a duration relatively close to that of the Index. On two occasions the duration of the Portfolio differed from than that of the Index. Toward the middle of the reporting period,
the duration of the portfolio was shorter than that of the benchmark; this strategy had a slightly negative impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Toward the end of the reporting period, the duration of the portfolio was longer than that of the benchmark; this strategy also had a slightly negative impact on the Portfolio’s performance. As of December 31, 2021, the effective duration of the Portfolio was 6.64 years compared to a duration of 6.68 years for the Index.
This strategy had a negative impact on the Portfolio’s performance. As of June 30, 2021, the effective duration of the Portfolio was 6.50 years, compared to a duration of 6.65 years for the Index.
What specific factors, risks or market forces prompted significant decisions for the Portfolio during the reporting period?
Given our view of stretched valuations and the uncertainty regarding prepayments on premium priced assets, we reduced the Portfolio’s exposure to non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) during the first quarter of 2021. During the latter stages of the same quarter, the Portfolio increased its corporate allocation. The new issue calendar offered significant opportunities to increase the diversification of the Portfolio’s corporate exposure as issuers continued to access the primary market. We identified valuations that were more attractive on both an option-adjusted spread3 basis as well as an all-in yield basis than during the middle of the quarter. During the first half of the reporting period, we increased the Portfolio’s allocation to commercial loan obligations (CLOs) rated AAA and AA,4 as we viewed the CLO asset class one of our highest-conviction, risk-adjusted, relative-value allocations in investment grade fixed income.
Throughout the second half of the reporting period, we reduced the Portfolio’s allocation to U.S. government agencies in an effort to reduce the negative convexity5 in the Portfolio as it became clear that the U.S. Federal Reserve was planning to raise interest rates sooner than originally expected. During the final stages of the fourth quarter of the reporting period, we reduced the Portfolio’s corporate allocation as an option-adjusted spread tightened into year-end. This reduction improved the Portfolio’s flexibility in corporate credit in anticipation of significantly increased new issue activity in early 2022.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
2. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
3. | An option-adjusted spread is the measurement of the spread of a fixed-income security rate and the risk-free rate of return, which is then adjusted to take into account an embedded option. |
4. | An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), and in the opinion of S&P, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. When applied to Fund holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Fund. An obligation rated ‘AA’ by S&P is deemed by S&P to differ from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. In the opinion of S&P, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. When applied to Fund holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Fund. |
5. | Convexity is a mathematical measure of the sensitivity of an interest-bearing bond to changes in interest rates. |
8 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
During the reporting period, which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which market segments were particularly weak?
During the reporting period, asset-backed securities made the strongest positive contribution to the Portfolio’s absolute performance. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) In the asset-backed sector, the Portfolio’s allocation to CLOs rated AAA and AA were the most accretive to absolute performance. The commercial mortgage-backed securities sector, particularly the non-agency subcomponent, made the second strongest contribution to the Portfolio’s absolute performance.
During the same period, the U.S. Treasury sector produced the weakest contribution to the Portfolio’s absolute performance. In the corporate sector, industrials and financials detracted most, while positioning among U.S. government agencies and mortgage-backed securities also detracted from absolute performance. In the interest rate complex, the Portfolio’s duration positioning detracted, while yield curve6 and rolldown positioning added to absolute performance.
Among the Portfolio’s corporate bond holdings, those producing the strongest absolute performance during the reporting period were issued by General Electric, First Energy and United Health Group. Those holdings with the weakest absolute performance were issued by Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas and Comcast.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s largest purchases during the reporting period included bonds issued by aircraft leasing companies Air Lease and Aviation Capital Group. Other significant purchases included bonds from kidney dialysis services provider Fresenium Medical Care, dual issuer AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust and TSMC Arizona, a subsidiary of Taiwan-based semiconductor company TSMC.
The Portfolio’s most significant sale during the same period was bonds issued by Japan-based bank holding company Mizuho Financial. Other significant but smaller sales were of securities from auto manufacturer Nissan Motor, energy infrastructure firm Kinder Morgan, energy company Exelon and Fifth Third Bank.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
As described in greater detail above, during the first half of the reporting period, the Portfolio reduced its exposure to RMBS, while increasing its corporate allocation and its exposure to CLOs rated AAA and AA. During the second half of the reporting period, the Portfolio reduced its allocations to U.S. government agencies and corporate bonds.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held overweight exposure to corporate bonds relative to the Index. Within the corporate sector, the Portfolio held overweight positions in financials, industrials and utilities. The Portfolio also held overweight positions in asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and U.S. government agencies. The Portfolio’s largest overweight allocation among spread7 assets was to the asset-backed securities sector.
As of the same date, the Portfolio held relatively underweight positions in the sovereign, supranational, foreign agency and foreign local government sectors. The Portfolio also held underweight positions relative to the Index in the mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury sectors.
6. | The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting. |
7. | The terms “spread” and “yield spread” may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 98.3% |
Asset-Backed Securities 18.5% |
Home Equity Asset-Backed Securities 0.1% |
Chase Funding Trust | |
Series 2002-2, Class 1A5 | | |
6.333%, due 4/25/32 (a) | $ 37,789 | $ 38,360 |
J.P. Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust | |
Series 2007-CH2, Class AF3 | | |
5.552%, due 10/25/30 (a) | 462,891 | 317,126 |
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2006-17XS, Class A3A | | |
5.651%, due 10/25/46 (a) | 825,011 | 341,123 |
| | 696,609 |
Other Asset-Backed Securities 18.4% |
522 Funding CLO Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2020-6A, Class A1R | | |
1.277% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 10/23/34 | 2,200,000 | 2,197,459 |
Series 2019-4A, Class BR | | |
1.731% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 4/20/30 | 3,000,000 | 2,994,165 |
AIMCO CLO 16 Ltd. | |
Series 2021-16A, Class A | | |
1.375% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.13%), due 1/17/35 (b)(c) | 2,200,000 | 2,198,665 |
Aligned Data Centers Issuer LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2 | | |
1.937%, due 8/15/46 (b) | 3,000,000 | 2,954,175 |
Apidos CLO XXV | |
Series 2016-25A, Class A1R | | |
1.302% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.17%), due 10/20/31 (b)(c) | 1,300,000 | 1,300,004 |
Apidos CLO XXXII | |
Series 2019-32A, Class A1 | | |
1.451% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.32%), due 1/20/33 (b)(c) | 2,200,000 | 2,200,189 |
ARES L CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2018-50A, Class BR | | |
1.724% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 1/15/32 (b)(c) | 2,000,000 | 2,000,100 |
ARES XXXIV CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2015-2A, Class AR2 | | |
1.372% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.25%), due 4/17/33 (b)(c) | 2,000,000 | 2,000,474 |
ARES XXXVIII CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2015-38A, Class BR | | |
1.532% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.40%), due 4/20/30 (b)(c) | 2,000,000 | 1,975,338 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Bain Capital Credit CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-6A, Class A1 | | |
1.373% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 10/21/34 (b)(c) | $ 2,200,000 | $ 2,197,400 |
Battalion CLO 17 Ltd. | |
Series 2021-17A, Class A1 | | |
1.392% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.26%), due 3/9/34 (b)(c) | 3,000,000 | 3,004,683 |
Battalion CLO Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2021-21A, Class A | | |
1.312% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.18%), due 7/15/34 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,300 |
Series 2021-21A, Class B | | |
1.882% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 7/15/34 | 2,000,000 | 1,999,982 |
Beacon Container Finance II LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A | | |
2.25%, due 10/22/46 (b) | 2,618,617 | 2,606,739 |
Benefit Street Partners CLO XIX Ltd. | |
Series 2019-19A, Class A | | |
1.474% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.35%), due 1/15/33 (b)(c) | 1,500,000 | 1,500,131 |
CAL Funding IV Ltd. | |
Series 2020-1A, Class A | | |
2.22%, due 9/25/45 (b) | 4,692,187 | 4,673,568 |
Carlyle US CLO Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2021-5A, Class B | | |
1.731% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 7/20/34 | 3,000,000 | 2,980,677 |
Series 2019-2A, Class A2R | | |
1.749% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.65%), due 7/15/32 | 2,500,000 | 2,499,867 |
CARS-DB5 LP | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A3 | | |
1.92%, due 8/15/51 (b) | 2,500,000 | 2,460,542 |
Cedar Funding XII CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2020-12A, Class A1R | | |
1.263% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.13%), due 10/25/34 (b)(c) | 2,500,000 | 2,494,185 |
College Avenue Student Loans LLC (b) | |
Series 2021-A, Class A2 | | |
1.60%, due 7/25/51 | 2,717,044 | 2,663,068 |
Series 2021-B, Class B | | |
1.76%, due 6/25/52 | 2,991,387 | 2,943,239 |
Series 2021-C, Class A2 | | |
2.32%, due 7/26/55 | 3,100,000 | 3,098,624 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Cook Park CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2018-1A, Class B | | |
1.522% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.40%), due 4/17/30 (b)(c) | $ 3,000,000 | $ 2,991,444 |
DB Master Finance LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2II | | |
2.493%, due 11/20/51 (b) | 3,749,000 | 3,732,234 |
Dewolf Park CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2017-1A, Class BR | | |
1.574% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.45%), due 10/15/30 (b)(c) | 3,000,000 | 2,996,160 |
Dryden 87 CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-87A, Class B | | |
1.71% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.55%), due 5/20/34 (b)(c) | 3,000,000 | 2,967,987 |
Elmwood CLO VI Ltd. | |
Series 2020-3A, Class AR | | |
1.284% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.16%), due 10/20/34 (b)(c) | 2,500,000 | 2,500,890 |
Galaxy XXI CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2015-21A, Class BR | | |
1.482% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.35%), due 4/20/31 (b)(c) | 1,500,000 | 1,485,503 |
Galaxy XXVI CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2018-26A, Class A | | |
1.36% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.20%), due 11/22/31 (b)(c) | 1,500,000 | 1,498,512 |
Global SC Finance VII SRL | |
Series 2021-2A, Class A | | |
1.95%, due 8/17/41 (b) | 3,275,534 | 3,233,822 |
Grippen Park CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2017-1A, Class B | | |
1.781% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.65%), due 1/20/30 (b)(c) | 750,000 | 750,051 |
Hotwire Funding LLC | |
Series 2021-1, Class A2 | | |
2.311%, due 11/20/51 (b) | 2,600,000 | 2,586,312 |
Invesco CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-2A, Class A | | |
1.244% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.12%), due 7/15/34 (b)(c) | 2,000,000 | 1,994,352 |
Jersey Mike's Funding | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2I | | |
2.891%, due 2/15/52 (b) | 2,500,000 | 2,502,664 |
Lunar Structured Aircraft Portfolio Notes | |
Series 2021-1, Class A | | |
2.636%, due 10/15/46 (b) | 2,754,994 | 2,739,261 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Neuberger Berman CLO XIV Ltd. | |
Series 2013-14A, Class BR2 | | |
1.636% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.50%), due 1/28/30 (b)(c) | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,000,019 |
Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 24 Ltd. | |
Series 2017-24A, Class BR | | |
1.624% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.50%), due 4/19/30 (b)(c) | 1,000,000 | 1,000,113 |
Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 33 Ltd. | |
Series 2019-33A, Class BR | | |
1.722% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 10/16/33 (b)(c) | 3,000,000 | 2,996,472 |
Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 35 Ltd. | |
Series 2019-35A, Class A1 | | |
1.464% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.34%), due 1/19/33 (b)(c) | 3,000,000 | 3,000,420 |
New Economy Assets Phase 1 Sponsor LLC | |
Series 2021-1, Class A1 | | |
1.91%, due 10/20/61 (b) | 4,000,000 | 3,922,046 |
Oak Street Investment Grade Net Lease Fund | |
Series 2021-2A, Class A1 | | |
2.38%, due 11/20/51 (b) | 2,396,574 | 2,399,591 |
Oaktree CLO Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2021-2A, Class A | | |
1.278% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.18%), due 1/15/35 | 3,000,000 | 2,997,486 |
Series 2015-1A, Class A2BR | | |
1.482% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.35%), due 10/20/27 | 1,000,000 | 999,178 |
Series 2020-1A, Class BR | | |
1.774% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.65%), due 7/15/34 | 2,000,000 | 1,985,588 |
Octagon Investment Partners 29 Ltd. | |
Series 2016-1A, Class AR | | |
1.304% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.18%), due 1/24/33 (b)(c) | 1,200,000 | 1,197,946 |
Palmer Square CLO Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2014-1A, Class A1R2 | | |
1.252% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.13%), due 1/17/31 | 750,000 | 750,209 |
Series 2015-2A, Class A2R2 | | |
1.681% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.55%), due 7/20/30 | 2,000,000 | 1,998,324 |
Series 2020-3A, Class A2R | | |
1.734% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 11/15/31 | 2,200,000 | 2,198,836 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2021-3A, Class A2 | | |
1.571% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.40%), due 7/20/29 | $ 2,500,000 | $ 2,500,387 |
Series 2019-3A, Class A2 | | |
1.76% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 8/20/27 | 3,000,000 | 3,001,749 |
Park Avenue Institutional Advisers CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A1A | | |
1.522% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.39%), due 1/20/34 (b)(c) | 2,000,000 | 2,004,650 |
Rad CLO 10 Ltd. | |
Series 2021-10A, Class A | | |
1.294% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.17%), due 4/23/34 (b)(c) | 2,000,000 | 2,000,784 |
Regatta XIV Funding Ltd. | |
Series 2018-3A, Class A | | |
1.314% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.19%), due 10/25/31 (b)(c) | 2,000,000 | 1,999,326 |
Regatta XXIV Funding Ltd. | |
Series 2021-5A, Class A1 | | |
1.368% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 1/20/35 (b)(c) | 1,760,000 | 1,758,522 |
Shackleton CLO Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2019-15A, Class AR | | |
1.324% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.20%), due 1/15/32 | 2,000,000 | 1,996,574 |
Series 2019-14A, Class A1R | | |
1.331% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.20%), due 7/20/34 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,462 |
Slam Ltd. | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A | | |
2.434%, due 6/15/46 (b) | 4,149,371 | 4,067,859 |
SMB Private Education Loan Trust | |
Series 2021-A, Class B | | |
2.31%, due 1/15/53 (b) | 3,250,000 | 3,221,898 |
Stack Infrastructure Issuer LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2 | | |
1.877%, due 3/26/46 (b) | 2,500,000 | 2,457,933 |
STORE Master Funding LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A1 | | |
2.12%, due 6/20/51 (b) | 1,426,425 | 1,405,606 |
THL Credit Wind River CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2017-4A, Class A | | |
1.31% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 11/20/30 (b)(c) | 2,243,000 | 2,243,025 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Tiaa CLO III Ltd. | |
Series 2017-2A, Class A | | |
1.272% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 1/16/31 (b)(c) | $ 2,400,000 | $ 2,386,625 |
TICP CLO XV Ltd. | |
Series 2020-15A, Class A | | |
1.411% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.28%), due 4/20/33 (b)(c) | 2,000,000 | 2,001,580 |
Trestles CLO IV Ltd. | |
Series 2021-4A, Class A | | |
1.294% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.17%), due 7/21/34 (b)(c) | 2,300,000 | 2,299,991 |
Voya CLO Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2019-1A, Class BR | | |
1.674% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.55%), due 4/15/31 | 2,000,000 | 1,980,796 |
Series 2021-2A, Class B | | |
1.727% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 10/20/34 | 2,500,000 | 2,472,378 |
Series 2019-3A, Class BR | | |
1.763% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.65%), due 10/17/32 | 2,200,000 | 2,194,647 |
Wellfleet CLO Ltd. (b)(c) | |
Series 2021-3A, Class A | | |
1.30% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.19%), due 1/15/35 | 2,200,000 | 2,200,992 |
Series 2021-2A, Class A1 | | |
1.324% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.20%), due 7/15/34 | 2,520,000 | 2,521,542 |
| | 163,086,320 |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $164,758,876) | | 163,782,929 |
Corporate Bonds 36.9% |
Aerospace & Defense 1.0% |
Boeing Co. (The) | | |
3.10%, due 5/1/26 | 1,925,000 | 2,005,795 |
3.25%, due 2/1/28 | 1,825,000 | 1,901,631 |
5.15%, due 5/1/30 | 4,475,000 | 5,213,827 |
| | 9,121,253 |
Auto Manufacturers 2.5% |
Daimler Finance North America LLC | | |
2.625%, due 3/10/30 (b) | 3,495,000 | 3,578,408 |
Daimler Trucks Finance North America LLC | | |
2.00%, due 12/14/26 (b) | 3,750,000 | 3,766,000 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Auto Manufacturers (continued) |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC | | |
3.087%, due 1/9/23 | $ 825,000 | $ 838,947 |
3.664%, due 9/8/24 | 1,800,000 | 1,869,750 |
General Motors Co. | | |
5.15%, due 4/1/38 | 1,500,000 | 1,807,863 |
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. | | |
1.05%, due 3/8/24 | 3,253,000 | 3,235,817 |
Hyundai Capital America (b) | | |
1.80%, due 1/10/28 | 875,000 | 845,583 |
2.375%, due 10/15/27 | 1,525,000 | 1,516,438 |
Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC | | |
3.35%, due 5/13/25 (b) | 4,225,000 | 4,445,116 |
| | 21,903,922 |
Banks 6.1% |
Banco Santander SA | | |
1.722% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 0.90%), due 9/14/27 (c) | 2,000,000 | 1,963,606 |
4.25%, due 4/11/27 | 1,800,000 | 1,978,957 |
Bank of America Corp. (d) | | |
2.087%, due 6/14/29 | 2,000,000 | 1,985,942 |
2.972%, due 7/21/52 | 2,515,000 | 2,522,479 |
BNP Paribas SA | | |
2.824%, due 1/26/41 (b) | 3,850,000 | 3,678,748 |
BPCE SA | | |
3.116%, due 10/19/32 (b)(d) | 1,850,000 | 1,855,912 |
Citigroup, Inc. | | |
3.20%, due 10/21/26 | 1,500,000 | 1,589,532 |
4.75%, due 5/18/46 | 1,975,000 | 2,428,550 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | |
2.65%, due 10/21/32 (d) | 2,325,000 | 2,339,547 |
5.15%, due 5/22/45 | 975,000 | 1,267,955 |
HSBC Holdings plc | | |
2.251%, due 11/22/27 (d) | 1,650,000 | 1,653,437 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | |
1.578%, due 4/22/27 (d) | 6,600,000 | 6,522,211 |
Morgan Stanley | | |
1.512%, due 7/20/27 (d) | 2,300,000 | 2,263,751 |
2.484%, due 9/16/36 (d) | 1,925,000 | 1,853,679 |
2.511%, due 10/20/32 (d) | 3,025,000 | 3,021,783 |
4.35%, due 9/8/26 | 1,556,000 | 1,719,906 |
Societe Generale SA (b) | | |
1.792% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.00%), due 6/9/27 (c) | 2,075,000 | 2,030,584 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Banks (continued) |
Societe Generale SA (b) (continued) | | |
3.625%, due 3/1/41 | $ 2,000,000 | $ 2,034,616 |
Standard Chartered plc | | |
0.991% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 0.78%), due 1/12/25 (b)(c) | 2,100,000 | 2,076,287 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Ltd. | | |
1.35%, due 9/16/26 (b) | 3,650,000 | 3,587,893 |
UBS Group AG | | |
1.364% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.08%), due 1/30/27 (b)(c) | 2,825,000 | 2,761,227 |
Westpac Banking Corp. | | |
3.133%, due 11/18/41 | 2,775,000 | 2,750,288 |
| | 53,886,890 |
Beverages 1.1% |
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. | | |
4.60%, due 4/15/48 | 2,000,000 | 2,445,679 |
4.75%, due 1/23/29 | 3,750,000 | 4,364,759 |
Diageo Capital plc | | |
2.125%, due 4/29/32 | 1,150,000 | 1,140,636 |
Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. | | |
3.35%, due 3/15/51 | 2,000,000 | 2,079,637 |
| | 10,030,711 |
Biotechnology 0.2% |
Amgen, Inc. | | |
3.375%, due 2/21/50 | 1,600,000 | 1,664,210 |
Building Materials 1.5% |
Carrier Global Corp. | | |
3.577%, due 4/5/50 | 3,575,000 | 3,801,037 |
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | | |
3.45%, due 6/1/27 | 1,825,000 | 1,945,499 |
Masco Corp. | | |
4.50%, due 5/15/47 | 3,000,000 | 3,598,707 |
Owens Corning | | |
3.95%, due 8/15/29 | 3,378,000 | 3,700,829 |
| | 13,046,072 |
Chemicals 0.9% |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | | |
1.832%, due 10/15/27 (b) | 1,600,000 | 1,570,796 |
LYB International Finance III LLC | | |
1.25%, due 10/1/25 | 908,000 | 892,630 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Chemicals (continued) |
NewMarket Corp. | | |
4.10%, due 12/15/22 | $ 5,536,000 | $ 5,702,310 |
| | 8,165,736 |
Commercial Services 0.5% |
Ashtead Capital, Inc. | | |
2.45%, due 8/12/31 (b) | 2,850,000 | 2,775,024 |
Global Payments, Inc. | | |
2.15%, due 1/15/27 | 2,000,000 | 2,007,956 |
| | 4,782,980 |
Diversified Financial Services 3.1% |
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC | | |
3.00%, due 10/29/28 | 4,600,000 | 4,665,024 |
Air Lease Corp. | | |
0.70%, due 2/15/24 | 1,575,000 | 1,550,020 |
0.80%, due 8/18/24 | 2,800,000 | 2,742,748 |
1.875%, due 8/17/26 | 2,125,000 | 2,089,826 |
Aircastle Ltd. | | |
2.85%, due 1/26/28 (b) | 4,325,000 | 4,350,032 |
Antares Holdings LP (b) | | |
2.75%, due 1/15/27 | 650,000 | 636,967 |
3.95%, due 7/15/26 | 1,600,000 | 1,645,252 |
Aviation Capital Group LLC (b) | | |
1.95%, due 1/30/26 | 1,525,000 | 1,487,449 |
1.95%, due 9/20/26 | 3,525,000 | 3,423,777 |
Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. LLC | | |
1.625%, due 8/5/28 (b) | 2,250,000 | 2,185,141 |
BOC Aviation USA Corp. | | |
1.625%, due 4/29/24 (b) | 2,325,000 | 2,321,485 |
| | 27,097,721 |
Electric 3.2% |
Appalachian Power Co. | | |
6.375%, due 4/1/36 | 1,750,000 | 2,372,223 |
Arizona Public Service Co. | | |
5.50%, due 9/1/35 | 1,275,000 | 1,585,811 |
Dayton Power & Light Co. (The) | | |
3.95%, due 6/15/49 | 1,025,000 | 1,168,257 |
DTE Energy Co. | | |
Series F | | |
1.05%, due 6/1/25 | 1,300,000 | 1,273,691 |
Entergy Mississippi LLC | | |
3.85%, due 6/1/49 | 2,500,000 | 2,866,150 |
FirstEnergy Transmission LLC | | |
4.35%, due 1/15/25 (b) | 3,455,000 | 3,673,222 |
Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. | | |
3.025%, due 6/27/50 (b) | 1,850,000 | 1,755,183 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Electric (continued) |
Ohio Edison Co. | | |
6.875%, due 7/15/36 | $ 2,500,000 | $ 3,558,961 |
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | | |
1.30%, due 6/15/25 | 3,100,000 | 3,049,112 |
Southern California Edison Co. | | |
1.10%, due 4/1/24 | 2,275,000 | 2,266,357 |
Series 20C | | |
1.20%, due 2/1/26 | 1,800,000 | 1,763,049 |
Tennessee Valley Authority | | |
5.25%, due 9/15/39 | 2,000,000 | 2,885,380 |
| | 28,217,396 |
Electronics 0.4% |
Flex Ltd. | | |
3.75%, due 2/1/26 | 3,400,000 | 3,631,230 |
Food 0.3% |
Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 5/17/51 (b) | 1,325,000 | 1,433,981 |
Kroger Co. (The) | | |
Series B | | |
7.70%, due 6/1/29 | 1,000,000 | 1,357,924 |
| | 2,791,905 |
Gas 0.2% |
NiSource, Inc. | | |
5.65%, due 2/1/45 | 1,125,000 | 1,519,168 |
Healthcare-Products 0.5% |
Baxter International, Inc. | | |
2.272%, due 12/1/28 (b) | 4,425,000 | 4,457,051 |
Healthcare-Services 0.6% |
Fresenius Medical Care U.S. Finance III, Inc. (b) | | |
1.875%, due 12/1/26 | 1,400,000 | 1,384,927 |
2.375%, due 2/16/31 | 4,270,000 | 4,080,164 |
| | 5,465,091 |
Home Builders 0.2% |
MDC Holdings, Inc. | | |
2.50%, due 1/15/31 | 1,450,000 | 1,402,487 |
Home Furnishings 0.3% |
Leggett & Platt, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 11/15/51 | 2,750,000 | 2,759,472 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Insurance 0.9% |
Brighthouse Financial Global Funding | | |
1.00%, due 4/12/24 (b) | $ 3,975,000 | $ 3,940,946 |
Principal Life Global Funding II | | |
1.25%, due 8/16/26 (b) | 2,250,000 | 2,195,808 |
Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America | | |
3.30%, due 5/15/50 (b) | 1,700,000 | 1,772,879 |
| | 7,909,633 |
Investment Companies 0.7% |
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund | | |
2.125%, due 2/15/27 (b) | 1,275,000 | 1,240,990 |
2.75%, due 9/16/26 | 1,925,000 | 1,924,694 |
Prospect Capital Corp. | | |
3.437%, due 10/15/28 | 3,390,000 | 3,262,112 |
| | 6,427,796 |
Iron & Steel 0.2% |
Nucor Corp. | | |
2.00%, due 6/1/25 | 1,575,000 | 1,605,912 |
Media 0.9% |
Charter Communications Operating LLC | | |
2.25%, due 1/15/29 | 1,250,000 | 1,219,622 |
4.908%, due 7/23/25 | 1,700,000 | 1,871,884 |
Comcast Corp. | | |
4.60%, due 10/15/38 | 750,000 | 910,034 |
Discovery Communications LLC | | |
3.625%, due 5/15/30 | 800,000 | 855,253 |
Fox Corp. | | |
5.576%, due 1/25/49 | 1,250,000 | 1,706,120 |
Thomson Reuters Corp. | | |
3.85%, due 9/29/24 | 1,575,000 | 1,664,245 |
| | 8,227,158 |
Mining 0.6% |
Anglo American Capital plc (b) | | |
2.25%, due 3/17/28 | 2,900,000 | 2,847,895 |
5.625%, due 4/1/30 | 1,875,000 | 2,221,589 |
| | 5,069,484 |
Miscellaneous—Manufacturing 0.4% |
GE Capital International Funding Co. Unlimited Co. | | |
4.418%, due 11/15/35 | 3,327,000 | 3,970,309 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Oil & Gas 0.5% |
Valero Energy Corp. | | |
2.85%, due 4/15/25 | $ 4,000,000 | $ 4,143,461 |
Oil & Gas Services 0.6% |
Schlumberger Holdings Corp. | | |
3.75%, due 5/1/24 (b) | 4,725,000 | 4,957,074 |
Packaging & Containers 0.4% |
Packaging Corp. of America | | |
4.05%, due 12/15/49 | 1,525,000 | 1,779,666 |
WRKCo, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 3/15/25 | 1,825,000 | 1,944,350 |
| | 3,724,016 |
Pharmaceuticals 1.0% |
AbbVie, Inc. | | |
2.95%, due 11/21/26 | 575,000 | 605,974 |
Bayer US Finance II LLC | | |
4.375%, due 12/15/28 (b) | 2,825,000 | 3,155,354 |
CVS Health Corp. | | |
1.875%, due 2/28/31 | 2,425,000 | 2,326,562 |
4.25%, due 4/1/50 | 2,325,000 | 2,810,030 |
| | 8,897,920 |
Pipelines 1.1% |
Energy Transfer LP | | |
6.05%, due 6/1/41 | 1,300,000 | 1,590,625 |
Enterprise Products Operating LLC | | |
5.10%, due 2/15/45 | 2,600,000 | 3,206,074 |
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP | | |
6.375%, due 3/1/41 | 400,000 | 530,067 |
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC | | |
2.90%, due 3/1/30 (b) | 2,275,000 | 2,310,823 |
Texas Eastern Transmission LP | | |
2.80%, due 10/15/22 (b) | 2,350,000 | 2,375,482 |
| | 10,013,071 |
Real Estate 0.2% |
Ontario Teachers' Cadillac Fairview Properties Trust | | |
2.50%, due 10/15/31 (b) | 1,675,000 | 1,667,248 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 2.4% |
American Campus Communities Operating Partnership LP | | |
3.30%, due 7/15/26 | 3,000,000 | 3,160,563 |
American Homes 4 Rent LP | | |
3.375%, due 7/15/51 | 3,225,000 | 3,237,503 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (continued) |
Brixmor Operating Partnership LP | | |
2.50%, due 8/16/31 | $ 725,000 | $ 709,475 |
Highwoods Realty LP | | |
3.05%, due 2/15/30 | 1,410,000 | 1,448,570 |
3.875%, due 3/1/27 | 3,590,000 | 3,914,188 |
Realty Income Corp. | | |
3.95%, due 8/15/27 | 4,870,000 | 5,399,655 |
Simon Property Group LP | | |
1.75%, due 2/1/28 | 2,750,000 | 2,696,852 |
Spirit Realty LP | | |
2.70%, due 2/15/32 | 900,000 | 890,482 |
| | 21,457,288 |
Retail 0.7% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | | |
1.75%, due 10/1/27 | 1,125,000 | 1,091,698 |
CK Hutchison International 21 Ltd. | | |
1.50%, due 4/15/26 (b) | 3,375,000 | 3,329,123 |
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | | |
3.00%, due 10/15/50 | 1,450,000 | 1,429,988 |
Walmart, Inc. | | |
1.50%, due 9/22/28 | 825,000 | 819,892 |
| | 6,670,701 |
Semiconductors 0.7% |
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. | | |
1.80%, due 6/1/26 | 1,825,000 | 1,806,172 |
TSMC Arizona Corp. | | |
1.75%, due 10/25/26 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,904 |
2.50%, due 10/25/31 | 2,275,000 | 2,303,942 |
| | 6,111,018 |
Software 0.3% |
Fiserv, Inc. | | |
2.25%, due 6/1/27 | 2,960,000 | 3,011,483 |
Telecommunications 2.2% |
AT&T, Inc. | | |
1.65%, due 2/1/28 | 1,175,000 | 1,150,121 |
4.85%, due 3/1/39 | 2,000,000 | 2,390,550 |
NTT Finance Corp. | | |
1.162%, due 4/3/26 (b) | 1,300,000 | 1,275,359 |
Orange SA | | |
5.375%, due 1/13/42 | 895,000 | 1,177,946 |
Telefonica Emisiones SA | | |
5.213%, due 3/8/47 | 750,000 | 931,139 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Telecommunications (continued) |
T-Mobile US, Inc. | | |
2.55%, due 2/15/31 | $ 6,540,000 | $ 6,507,131 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | |
2.10%, due 3/22/28 | 2,350,000 | 2,354,476 |
4.272%, due 1/15/36 | 3,250,000 | 3,812,201 |
| | 19,598,923 |
Transportation 0.5% |
Canadian Pacific Railway Co. | | |
3.10%, due 12/2/51 | 2,400,000 | 2,467,969 |
Norfolk Southern Corp. | | |
5.64%, due 5/17/29 | 1,400,000 | 1,697,970 |
| | 4,165,939 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $315,405,353) | | 327,571,729 |
Foreign Government Bonds 0.9% |
Chile 0.2% |
Banco del Estado de Chile | | |
2.704%, due 1/9/25 (b) | 1,275,000 | 1,300,513 |
France 0.5% |
Electricite de France SA | | |
5.00%, due 9/21/48 (b) | 3,420,000 | 4,443,642 |
Poland 0.0% ‡ |
Poland Government Bond | | |
5.00%, due 3/23/22 | 350,000 | 353,456 |
United States 0.2% |
Thirax 1 LLC | | |
0.968%, due 1/14/33 | 1,694,868 | 1,632,288 |
Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $6,643,964) | | 7,729,899 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities 19.6% |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 13.4% |
FHLMC | |
REMIC, Series 4994, Class GV | | |
2.00%, due 6/25/46 | 2,000,000 | 1,987,181 |
REMIC, Series 4199, Class BZ | | |
3.50%, due 5/15/43 | 3,239,594 | 3,544,909 |
FNMA | |
REMIC, Series 2016-7, Class GY | | |
3.50%, due 3/25/36 | 3,000,000 | 3,289,905 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
FNMA (continued) | |
REMIC, Series 2012-15, Class PZ | | |
4.00%, due 3/25/42 | $ 3,406,170 | $ 3,783,762 |
GNMA | |
REMIC, Series 2014-181, Class L | | |
3.00%, due 12/20/44 | 2,399,998 | 2,549,878 |
GNMA II, Single Family, 30 Year (e) | |
2.00%, due 1/15/52 TBA | 7,800,000 | 7,870,421 |
2.50%, due 1/15/52 TBA | 11,400,000 | 11,674,300 |
3.00%, due 1/15/52 TBA | 8,750,000 | 9,053,211 |
UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year (e) | |
2.00%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 33,800,000 | 33,695,859 |
2.50%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 32,450,000 | 33,106,762 |
3.00%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 8,000,000 | 8,287,706 |
| | 118,843,894 |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 4.9% |
Aventura Mall Trust | |
Series 2018-AVM, Class A | | |
4.112%, due 7/5/40 (b)(f) | 3,250,000 | 3,604,702 |
BFLD Trust | |
Series 2021-FPM, Class A | | |
1.71% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 6/15/38 (b)(c) | 3,000,000 | 2,998,197 |
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2020-420K, Class A | | |
2.456%, due 11/10/42 (b)(f) | 3,100,000 | 3,097,481 |
CSMC OA LLC | |
Series 2014-USA, Class A1 | | |
3.304%, due 9/15/37 (b) | 2,143,467 | 2,209,853 |
CSMC Trust | |
Series 2019-UVIL, Class A | | |
3.16%, due 12/15/41 (b) | 1,650,000 | 1,726,048 |
CSMC WEST Trust | |
Series 2020-WEST, Class A | | |
3.04%, due 2/15/35 (b) | 2,900,000 | 2,988,419 |
DBJPM Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2016-SFC, Class A | | |
2.833%, due 8/10/36 (b) | 3,000,000 | 3,026,716 |
FHLMC, Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (f)(g) | |
REMIC, Series K131, Class X1 | | |
0.729%, due 7/25/31 | 34,994,300 | 2,171,232 |
REMIC, Series K123, Class X1 | | |
0.775%, due 12/25/30 | 72,666,706 | 4,325,319 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
FHLMC, Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (f)(g) (continued) | |
REMIC, Series K122, Class X1 | | |
0.883%, due 11/25/30 | $ 31,952,762 | $ 2,155,080 |
REMIC, Series K119, Class X1 | | |
0.932%, due 9/25/30 | 54,861,578 | 3,826,480 |
REMIC, Series K130, Class X1 | | |
1.037%, due 6/25/31 | 29,463,268 | 2,523,376 |
REMIC, Series K108, Class X1 | | |
1.69%, due 3/25/30 | 19,194,574 | 2,338,486 |
Houston Galleria Mall Trust | |
Series 2015-HGLR, Class A1A1 | | |
3.087%, due 3/5/37 (b) | 3,250,000 | 3,327,131 |
WFLD Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2014-MONT, Class A | | |
3.755%, due 8/10/31 (b)(f) | 2,800,000 | 2,888,606 |
| | 43,207,126 |
Other Asset-Backed Security 0.3% |
CMFT Net Lease Master Issuer LLC | |
Series 2021-1, Class A1 | | |
2.09%, due 7/20/51 (b) | 2,801,273 | 2,747,497 |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 1.0% |
COLT Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2021-5, Class A1 | | |
1.726%, due 11/26/66 (b)(h) | 3,924,817 | 3,913,551 |
Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust | |
Series 2017-4, Class M45T | | |
4.50%, due 6/25/57 | 673,606 | 727,776 |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2021-3, Class A1 | | |
2.50%, due 5/25/51 (b)(h) | 4,202,419 | 4,199,608 |
| | 8,840,935 |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $174,332,485) | | 173,639,452 |
Municipal Bonds 0.5% |
Texas 0.5% |
San Antonio Water System Revenue Bonds | | |
5.502%, due 5/15/29 | 2,000,000 | 2,380,312 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Municipal Bonds (continued) |
Texas (continued) |
Texas Transportation Commission State Highway Fund Revenue Bonds, First Tier | | |
5.178%, due 4/1/30 | $ 2,150,000 | $ 2,582,601 |
| | 4,962,913 |
Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $4,573,201) | | 4,962,913 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies 21.9% |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 2.5% |
FFCB | | |
1.24%, due 12/23/30 | 1,025,000 | 978,449 |
1.33%, due 7/1/30 | 5,000,000 | 4,844,902 |
2.00%, due 4/14/33 | 3,075,000 | 3,059,054 |
2.03%, due 1/21/28 | 3,800,000 | 3,928,063 |
2.13%, due 4/19/34 | 2,950,000 | 2,914,497 |
FHLB | | |
1.60%, due 12/17/26 | 3,100,000 | 3,101,324 |
FHLMC Gold Pools, 15 Year | | |
4.50%, due 4/1/22 | 117 | 121 |
4.50%, due 4/1/23 | 957 | 994 |
5.00%, due 3/1/25 | 21,323 | 22,009 |
FHLMC Gold Pools, 30 Year | | |
6.50%, due 11/1/35 | 3,186 | 3,516 |
6.50%, due 8/1/37 | 17,302 | 19,522 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
3.00%, due 9/1/50 | 2,836,359 | 2,978,226 |
| | 21,850,677 |
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 6.5% |
FNMA, Other | | |
4.00%, due 8/1/59 | 1,142,266 | 1,274,181 |
UMBS, 15 Year | | |
4.50%, due 5/1/24 | 81,904 | 85,148 |
5.00%, due 12/1/23 | 15,507 | 15,977 |
5.00%, due 12/1/23 | 7,332 | 7,562 |
5.50%, due 2/1/22 | 5 | 5 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.00%, due 10/1/50 | 3,266,456 | 3,270,978 |
2.00%, due 1/1/51 | 4,768,871 | 4,767,229 |
2.00%, due 2/1/51 (i) | 1,889,271 | 1,887,685 |
2.00%, due 3/1/51 | 3,393,747 | 3,394,378 |
2.00%, due 4/1/51 | 2,701,811 | 2,700,558 |
2.00%, due 12/1/51 (i) | 3,500,000 | 3,506,594 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
UMBS, 30 Year (continued) | | |
2.50%, due 5/1/43 | $ 294,760 | $ 301,588 |
3.00%, due 5/1/48 | 2,291,562 | 2,409,603 |
3.00%, due 9/1/50 | 2,552,761 | 2,691,807 |
3.00%, due 2/1/51 | 2,101,131 | 2,194,144 |
3.00%, due 4/1/51 | 1,463,718 | 1,534,694 |
3.00%, due 7/1/51 | 1,916,556 | 2,002,477 |
3.50%, due 8/1/49 | 3,305,971 | 3,568,268 |
3.50%, due 3/1/50 | 5,346,356 | 5,779,110 |
3.50%, due 9/1/50 | 5,743,097 | 6,221,081 |
3.50%, due 4/1/51 | 1,206,049 | 1,294,273 |
4.00%, due 6/1/46 | 1,056,042 | 1,158,994 |
4.00%, due 11/1/46 | 3,403,503 | 3,713,227 |
4.00%, due 4/1/47 | 3,084,472 | 3,374,866 |
6.50%, due 10/1/36 | 11,825 | 13,045 |
6.50%, due 10/1/36 | 11,805 | 13,023 |
6.50%, due 8/1/37 | 1,979 | 2,228 |
7.00%, due 9/1/37 | 33,205 | 38,360 |
7.00%, due 10/1/37 | 412 | 489 |
7.00%, due 11/1/37 | 5,099 | 5,910 |
7.50%, due 7/1/28 | 6,611 | 7,065 |
| | 57,234,547 |
Government National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 0.1% |
GNMA I, 30 Year | | |
4.00%, due 3/15/44 | 24,409 | 26,854 |
4.00%, due 7/15/44 | 194,999 | 213,012 |
4.00%, due 7/15/45 | 101,191 | 110,899 |
4.50%, due 6/15/39 | 420,786 | 470,294 |
4.50%, due 6/15/40 | 157,040 | 176,932 |
| | 997,991 |
United States Treasury Bonds 1.7% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | |
1.625%, due 11/15/50 | 12,500,000 | 11,645,996 |
1.875%, due 2/15/41 | 3,770,000 | 3,731,564 |
| | 15,377,560 |
United States Treasury Notes 11.1% |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | |
0.75%, due 12/31/23 | 16,150,000 | 16,153,154 |
1.00%, due 12/15/24 | 22,350,000 | 22,374,445 |
1.25%, due 12/31/26 | 11,600,000 | 11,587,313 |
1.375%, due 12/31/28 | 16,850,000 | 16,773,648 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
United States Treasury Notes (continued) |
U.S. Treasury Notes (continued) | | | |
1.375%, due 11/15/31 | $ 21,750,000 | | $ 21,474,727 |
2.50%, due 3/31/23 | 10,000,000 | | 10,246,484 |
| | | 98,609,771 |
Total U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (Cost $194,071,993) | | | 194,070,546 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $859,785,872) | | | 871,757,468 |
|
| Shares | | |
Short-Term Investment 12.5% |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 12.5% |
J.P. Morgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, 0.026% (j) | 110,360,785 | | 110,360,785 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $110,360,785) | | | 110,360,785 |
Total Investments (Cost $970,146,657) | 110.8% | | 982,118,253 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (10.8) | | (95,696,255) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 886,421,998 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Step coupon—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(b) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(c) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Fixed to floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(e) | TBA—Security purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and maturity date. The actual principal amount and maturity date will be determined upon settlement. As of December 31, 2021, the total net market value was $103,688,259, which represented 11.7% of the Portfolio’s net assets. All or a portion of this security is a part of a mortgage dollar roll agreement. |
(f) | Collateral strip rate—A bond whose interest was based on the weighted net interest rate of the collateral. The coupon rate adjusts periodically based on a predetermined schedule. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(g) | Collateralized Mortgage Obligation Interest Only Strip—Pays a fixed or variable rate of interest based on mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. The principal amount of the underlying pool represents the notional amount on which the current interest was calculated. The value of these stripped securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates and are typically more sensitive to changes in prepayment rates than traditional mortgage-backed securities. |
(h) | Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(i) | Delayed delivery security. |
(j) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts1:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Notes | 223 | March 2022 | $ 48,807,744 | $ 48,652,328 | $ (155,416) |
U.S. Treasury Ultra Bonds | 309 | March 2022 | 60,579,830 | 60,911,625 | 331,795 |
Total Long Contracts | | | | | 176,379 |
Short Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Notes | (39) | March 2022 | (4,729,882) | (4,718,086) | 11,796 |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Notes | (74) | March 2022 | (9,638,947) | (9,654,687) | (15,740) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Ultra Bonds | (120) | March 2022 | $ (17,486,070) | $ (17,572,500) | $ (86,430) |
Total Short Contracts | | | | | (90,374) |
Net Unrealized Appreciation | | | | | $ 86,005 |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $1,833,301 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions. |
2. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
CLO—Collateralized Loan Obligation |
FFCB—Federal Farm Credit Bank |
FHLB—Federal Home Loan Bank |
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. |
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association |
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association |
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
REMIC—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit |
TBA—To Be Announced |
UMBS—Uniform Mortgage Backed Securities |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | $ — | | $ 163,782,929 | | $ — | | $ 163,782,929 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 327,571,729 | | — | | 327,571,729 |
Foreign Government Bonds | — | | 7,729,899 | | — | | 7,729,899 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | | 173,639,452 | | — | | 173,639,452 |
Municipal Bonds | — | | 4,962,913 | | — | | 4,962,913 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies | — | | 194,070,546 | | — | | 194,070,546 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 871,757,468 | | — | | 871,757,468 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 110,360,785 | | — | | — | | 110,360,785 |
Total Investments in Securities | 110,360,785 | | 871,757,468 | | — | | 982,118,253 |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | 343,591 | | — | | — | | 343,591 |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ 110,704,376 | | $ 871,757,468 | | $ — | | $ 982,461,844 |
Liability Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | $ (257,586) | | $ — | | $ — | | $ (257,586) |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ (257,586) | | $ — | | $ — | | $ (257,586) |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in securities, at value (identified cost $970,146,657) | $ 982,118,253 |
Cash | 28,253,096 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 1,833,301 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 5,383,906 |
Interest | 3,649,540 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 470,749 |
Portfolio shares sold | 271,183 |
Other assets | 6,960 |
Total assets | 1,021,986,988 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 131,440,575 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 3,513,617 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 369,388 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 110,775 |
Professional fees | 51,449 |
Shareholder communication | 48,607 |
Custodian | 15,072 |
Trustees | 1,628 |
Accrued expenses | 13,879 |
Total liabilities | 135,564,990 |
Net assets | $ 886,421,998 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 61,899 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 862,826,374 |
| 862,888,273 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 23,533,725 |
Net assets | $ 886,421,998 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $366,020,053 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 25,371,612 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 14.43 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $520,401,945 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 36,527,436 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 14.25 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $ 17,162,730 |
Dividends | 121,539 |
Other | 6,186 |
Total income | 17,290,455 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 4,414,399 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 1,320,901 |
Professional fees | 115,753 |
Shareholder communication | 59,903 |
Custodian | 54,437 |
Trustees | 19,845 |
Miscellaneous | 45,589 |
Total expenses | 6,030,827 |
Net investment income (loss) | 11,259,628 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 485,492 |
Futures transactions | (74,810) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 410,682 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (26,073,067) |
Futures contracts | 103,877 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (25,969,190) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (25,558,508) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $(14,298,880) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 11,259,628 | $ 14,248,343 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 410,682 | 26,821,653 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (25,969,190) | 19,568,324 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (14,298,880) | 60,638,320 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (17,030,411) | (8,712,379) |
Service Class | (24,548,787) | (10,771,134) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (41,579,198) | (19,483,513) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 203,534,486 | 274,423,509 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 41,579,198 | 19,483,513 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (245,204,350) | (161,417,551) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (90,666) | 132,489,471 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (55,968,744) | 173,644,278 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 942,390,742 | 768,746,464 |
End of year | $ 886,421,998 | $ 942,390,742 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 15.37 | | $ 14.57 | | $ 13.72 | | $ 14.31 | | $ 14.26 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.21 | | 0.28 | | 0.37 | | 0.38 | | 0.32 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.42) | | 0.87 | | 0.88 | | (0.53) | | 0.23 |
Total from investment operations | (0.21) | | 1.15 | | 1.25 | | (0.15) | | 0.55 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.27) | | (0.31) | | (0.40) | | (0.40) | | (0.37) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.46) | | (0.04) | | — | | (0.04) | | (0.13) |
Total distributions | (0.73) | | (0.35) | | (0.40) | | (0.44) | | (0.50) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 14.43 | | $ 15.37 | | $ 14.57 | | $ 13.72 | | $ 14.31 |
Total investment return (b) | (1.37)% | | 7.94% | | 9.12% | | (1.00)% | | 3.85% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.39% | | 1.83% | | 2.60% | | 2.76% | | 2.23% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.52% | | 0.53% | | 0.54% | | 0.53% | | 0.52% |
Portfolio turnover rate (d) | 326% | | 255% | | 204% | | 148% | | 209% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 366,020 | | $ 412,053 | | $ 341,408 | | $ 307,682 | | $ 517,067 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | The portfolio turnover rates not including mortgage dollar rolls were 194%, 241%, 197%, 133% and 190% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 15.19 | | $ 14.41 | | $ 13.58 | | $ 14.16 | | $ 14.12 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.17 | | 0.24 | | 0.33 | | 0.35 | | 0.28 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.41) | | 0.86 | | 0.87 | | (0.53) | | 0.22 |
Total from investment operations | (0.24) | | 1.10 | | 1.20 | | (0.18) | | 0.50 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.24) | | (0.28) | | (0.37) | | (0.36) | | (0.33) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.46) | | (0.04) | | — | | (0.04) | | (0.13) |
Total distributions | (0.70) | | (0.32) | | (0.37) | | (0.40) | | (0.46) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 14.25 | | $ 15.19 | | $ 14.41 | | $ 13.58 | | $ 14.16 |
Total investment return (b) | (1.62)% | | 7.67% | | 8.85% | | (1.25)% | | 3.59% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.14% | | 1.57% | | 2.34% | | 2.53% | | 1.98% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.77% | | 0.78% | | 0.79% | | 0.78% | | 0.77% |
Portfolio turnover rate (d) | 326% | | 255% | | 204% | | 148% | | 209% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 520,402 | | $ 530,338 | | $ 427,338 | | $ 323,100 | | $ 333,530 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | The portfolio turnover rates not including mortgage dollar rolls were 194%, 241%, 197%, 133% and 190% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Bond Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | January 23, 1984 |
Service Class | June 4, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek total return.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio
prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market
26 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a
security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method and includes any realized gains and losses from repayments of principal on mortgage-backed securities. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
28 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
(G) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Dollar Rolls. The Portfolio may enter into dollar roll transactions in which it sells mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") from its portfolio to a counterparty from whom it simultaneously agrees to buy a similar security on a delayed delivery basis. The Portfolio generally transfers MBS where
the MBS are "to be announced," therefore, the Portfolio accounts for these transactions as purchases and sales.
When accounted for as purchase and sales, the securities sold in connection with the dollar rolls are removed from the portfolio and a realized gain or loss is recognized. The securities the Portfolio has agreed to acquire are included at market value in the Portfolio of Investments and liabilities for such purchase commitments are included as payables for investments purchased. During the roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future as well as by the earnings on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls may be renewed without physical delivery of the securities subject to the contract. The Portfolio maintains liquid assets from its portfolio having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest. Dollar roll transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the securities returned to the Portfolio at the end of the roll period, while substantially similar, could be inferior to what was initially sold to the counterparty.
(I) Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Portfolio may purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Portfolio to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed delivery purchases are outstanding, the Portfolio will designate liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, the Portfolio assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its NAV. The Portfolio may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed delivery transaction after it is entered into, and may sell delayed delivery securities before they are delivered, which may result in a realized gain or loss. When the Portfolio has sold a security it owns on a delayed delivery basis, the Portfolio does not participate in future gains and losses with respect to the security. Delayed delivery transactions as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(J) Debt Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Investments in the Portfolio are not guaranteed, even though some of the Portfolio’s underlying investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The principal risk of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities is that the underlying debt may be prepaid ahead of schedule, if interest rates fall, thereby reducing the value of the Portfolio’s investment. If interest rates rise, less of the debt may be prepaid and the Portfolio may lose money because the Portfolio may be unable to invest in higher yielding assets. The Portfolio is subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner.
The Portfolio may invest in foreign debt securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic instruments. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets.
(K) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(L) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(M) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio entered into futures contracts in order to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates that might otherwise have an adverse effect upon the value of the Portfolio's securities as well as help manage the duration and yield curve positioning of the portfolio. These derivatives are not accounted for as hedging instruments.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Asset Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts (a) | $343,591 | $343,591 |
Total Fair Value | $343,591 | $343,591 |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Liability Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (a) | $(257,586) | $(257,586) |
Total Fair Value | $(257,586) | $(257,586) |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
30 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $(74,810) | $(74,810) |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $(74,810) | $(74,810) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $103,877 | $103,877 |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $103,877 | $103,877 |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Futures Contracts Long | $113,506,171 |
Futures Contracts Short | $ (53,226,513) |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. NYL Investors LLC ("NYL Investors" or ''Subadvisor''), a registered investment adviser and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.50% up to $500 million; 0.475% from $500 million to $1 billion; 0.45% from $1 billion to $3 billion; and 0.44% in excess of $3 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.49%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $4,414,399 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $2,207,138.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan") provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street").
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $970,297,513 | $16,661,378 | $(5,241,367) | $11,420,011 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$12,889,576 | $(1,176,591) | $11,820,740 | $23,533,725 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to straddle loss deferral, and mark to market of futures contracts.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $775,862, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $776 | $— |
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $37,258,730 | $19,483,513 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 4,320,468 | — |
Total | $41,579,198 | $ — |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $6,896 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with
an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month LIBOR, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of U.S. government securities were $1,045,821 and $992,632, respectively. Purchases and sales of securities, other than U.S. government securities and short-term securities, were $1,869,342 and $1,952,907, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
32 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 9,136,685 | $ 137,110,246 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,181,429 | 17,030,411 |
Shares redeemed | (11,757,317) | (177,394,270) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,439,203) | $ (23,253,613) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 8,066,603 | $ 123,217,088 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 574,551 | 8,712,379 |
Shares redeemed | (5,265,667) | (79,188,768) |
Net increase (decrease) | 3,375,487 | $ 52,740,699 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 4,474,396 | $ 66,424,240 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,723,447 | 24,548,787 |
Shares redeemed | (4,585,159) | (67,810,080) |
Net increase (decrease) | 1,612,684 | $ 23,162,947 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 10,093,014 | $ 151,206,421 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 718,296 | 10,771,134 |
Shares redeemed | (5,549,124) | (82,228,783) |
Net increase (decrease) | 5,262,186 | $ 79,748,772 |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Bond Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
34 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Bond Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors LLC (“NYL Investors”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or NYL Investors that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Investments and NYL Investors resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of NYL Investors, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of NYL Investors and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, NYL Investors with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as NYL Investors’ investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that NYL Investors provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated NYL Investors’ experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and NYL Investors’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at NYL Investors and New York Life Investments’ and NYL Investors’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed NYL Investors’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant
36 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to NYL Investors as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or NYL Investors had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because NYL Investors is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including NYL Investors, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and NYL Investors must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and
NYL Investors to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to NYL Investors is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund
business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
38 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov .
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
40 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
42 | MainStay VP Bond Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
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newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI509
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 1/29/1993 | -1.50% | 2.15% | 1.83% | 0.56% |
Service Class Shares | 6/4/2003 | -1.74 | 1.90 | 1.58 | 0.81 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Bloomberg U.S. Government Bond Index1 | -2.28% | 3.07% | 2.14% |
Morningstar Intermediate Government Category Average2 | -1.83 | 2.25 | 1.73 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Bloomberg U.S. Government Bond Index is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Government Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that consists of publicly issued debt of the U.S. Treasury and government agencies. Results assume the reinvestment of all income and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Intermediate Government Category Average is representative of funds that have at least 90% of their bond holdings in bonds backed by U.S. government or by U.S. government-linked agencies. These funds have durations between 3.5 and 6 years and/or average effective maturities between 4 and 10 years. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $995.30 | $2.77 | $1,022.43 | $2.80 | 0.55% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $994.00 | $4.02 | $1,021.17 | $4.08 | 0.80% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | UMBS, 30 Year, 2.00%-6.50%, due 7/1/39–11/1/51 |
2. | U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.375%-3.00%, due 4/30/24–2/15/30 |
3. | UMBS, 30 Year, 2.00%-3.50%, due 6/1/46–12/1/51 |
4. | U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Notes, 0.125%, due 1/15/30–7/15/30 |
5. | FNMA, 1.25%-3.50%, due 7/25/42–3/25/60 |
6. | FHLMC Gold Pools, 30 Year, 2.50%-6.50%, due 4/1/37–3/1/49 |
7. | U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3.00%-4.375%, due 11/15/39–2/15/48 |
8. | GNMA, 1.00%-3.25%, due 8/16/41–12/20/51 |
9. | UMBS, 20 Year, 2.00%-3.00%, due 10/1/32–7/1/41 |
10. | United States Small Business Administration, 1.93%-3.31%, due 12/1/32–4/1/38 |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers, Steven H. Rich, Stephen R. Cianci, CFA, and Neil Moriarty III, of MacKay Shields LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 20s?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio returned −1.50% for Initial Class shares and −1.74% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the −2.28% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Government Bond Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark, and also outperformed the −1.83% return of the Morningstar Intermediate Government Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
Duration,2 yield-curve3 posture, sector weighting and issue selection were the four factors primarily affecting the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index.
Duration and yield-curve posture: The favorable impact of COVID-19 vaccine deployment led U.S. Treasury yields higher across the yield curve. Yields rose more in shorter maturities. Much of the uneven shift along the yield curve occurred toward the end of the reporting period as investors anticipated tighter monetary policy keeping pace with inflation: shorter-maturity Treasury yields are likely to be most responsive to the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) raising its benchmark financing rate, while smaller increases in longer rates signaled confidence that the Fed’s actions would quell inflation risk. The Portfolio benefited from the backdrop of rising yields. The Portfolio’s shorter duration made it less sensitive to changes in Treasury yields, than the Index, and longer-duration peers. On yield-curve posture, the flatter yield curve disadvantaged the Portfolio relative to the Index and peers, with assets more concentrated in the long end of the yield curve.
Sector weighting: The largest class of securities held in the Portfolio were residential mortgage-backed securities, some backed by single-family properties and others backed by multifamily properties. Our commitment to the mortgage sector imparted a yield advantage over lower-yielding Treasury securities and agency debentures. However, the interest-rate volatility that prevailed during most of the reporting period chipped away at the yield advantage of single-family mortgage-backed securities. In contrast, securities backed by mortgages on multifamily properties, were more resistant to the volatility due to their prepayment protection.
Issue Selection: The Portfolio maintained a preference for residential mortgage passthroughs guaranteed by FNMA and
FHLMC over those guaranteed by GNMA. (FNMA stands for Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as Fannie Mae. FHMLC stands for Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, also known as Freddie Mac. GNMA stands for Government National Mortgage Association, also known as Ginnie Mae.) This posture was additive to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and advantaged the Portfolio relative to peers with higher GNMA exposure. GNMA mortgage-backed passthroughs often underperformed FNMA/FHLMC passthroughs during the reporting period. This reflected investor concern about the potential for higher default and forbearance levels for GNMA mortgages, as well as the potential for new government policies to influence refinancing patterns of mortgage loans sponsored by the Federal Housing Administration.
What was the Portfolio’s duration strategy during the reporting period?
As Treasury yields and mortgage rates rose, the Portfolio’s duration extended from 3.0 years to 3.8 years, while the Index’s duration shortened from 7.1 years to 6.9 years. The Portfolio’s duration typically lengthens as Treasury yields rise because of the Portfolio’s exposure to single-family residential mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage rates move directionally with Treasury rates. Higher mortgage rates crimp refinancing opportunities and, in turn, slow prepayments. Higher yields have the opposite effect on the Index’s duration due to its positive convexity.4
A duration near 4.0 years was our preferred spot for the Portfolio during the reporting period. Extending duration to pick up yield did not appear to be a compelling trade off. Moving out the curve presented the risk of negative price return should Treasury yields rise, and this effect could have readily eroded the yield advantage of longer maturities.
During the reporting period, which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which market segments were particularly weak?
The Portfolio’s commitment to agency multifamily mortgage-backed securities made a positive contribution to absolute performance during the reporting period. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Agency multifamily mortgage-backed securities are backed by FNMA- or FHMLC-guaranteed mortgages on larger multifamily developments and apartment buildings. Multifamily mortgages are typically not freely prepayable like single-family mortgages. Consequently, they amortize more slowly. Investors crossed over
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
2. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
3. | The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting. |
4. | Convexity is a mathematical measure of the sensitivity of an interest-bearing bond to changes in interest rates. |
8 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
to multifamily from single-family, attracted to the more stable cash-flow profiles offered by securities backed by mortgages on multifamily properties. In turn, the multifamily sector’s average spread5 to duration-matched Treasury bonds narrowed.
As described earlier, the Portfolio maintained a preference for residential mortgage passthroughs guaranteed by FNMA and FHLMC over those guaranteed by GNMA. This posture was additive to the Portfolio’s absolute performance.
Holdings of Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) outperformed nominal Treasury securities during the reporting period, contributing positively to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and boosting its performance relative to the Index.
The Portfolio’s 1.5% exposure to utility-tariff securitizations outperformed comparable-duration securities in the Index. Utility-tariff investments are securitizations sanctioned by state utility commissions that permit utilities to collect non-bypassable tariffs from their rate payers to recover large capital expenditures.
Longer-duration Treasury securities were weak contributors to the Portfolio’s absolute return as Treasury yields rose.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, we introduced taxable municipals to diversify the Portfolio’s holdings. Taxable municipals are bonds issued by state and local municipalities to fund projects that do not qualify for tax exemption. The sector trades with narrower sponsorship than other government-related space because it is less well understood. The narrower sponsorship generates a yield premium, which improves the sector’s relative value to Treasury securities. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio’s taxable municipals exposure was about 3.00% of net assets. We funded the taxable municipals by selling Treasury holdings.
We rotated 4% of the Portfolio’s assets from government-related mortgage securities backed by single-family properties to government-related mortgage securities backed by multifamily properties.
The Portfolio’s exposure to TIPS fell from approximately 5% of net assets at the beginning of the reporting period to approximately 4% of net assets at the end of the reporting period. We trimmed the exposure after TIPS became more expensive as inflation rose. We rotated the sale proceeds into comparable-duration nominal Treasury securities to reflect our view of the softening of TIPS’ relative value since the beginning of the reporting period.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
Relative to the Index, the Portfolio ended the reporting period with underweight exposure to Treasury bonds and equivalently weighted exposure to agency debentures. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held overweight exposure to agency residential mortgage-backed securities, both single-family and multifamily, and taxable municipals. As of the same date, the Portfolio also held modest overweight positions in asset-backed securities, non-agency mortgage-backed securities and corporate bonds; collectively, these non-government exposures accounted for approximately 5.00% of the Portfolio’s net assets. The Portfolio ended the reporting period with 2.5% of net assets allocated to cash and cash equivalents.
5. | The terms “spread” and “yield spread” may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 98.9% |
Asset-Backed Securities 2.2% |
Other Asset-Backed Securities 2.2% |
FirstEnergy Ohio PIRB Special Purpose Trust | |
Series 2013-1, Class A3 | | |
3.45%, due 1/15/36 | $ 472,661 | $ 512,078 |
PSNH Funding LLC 3 | |
Series 2018-1, Class A1 | | |
3.094%, due 2/1/26 | 205,911 | 210,774 |
United States Small Business Administration | |
Series 2012-20L, Class 1 | | |
1.93%, due 12/1/32 | 313,091 | 316,617 |
Series 2014-20H, Class 1 | | |
2.88%, due 8/1/34 | 357,681 | 369,391 |
Series 2015-20G, Class 1 | | |
2.88%, due 7/1/35 | 982,453 | 1,022,888 |
Series 2014-20I, Class 1 | | |
2.92%, due 9/1/34 | 398,769 | 412,762 |
Series 2014-20C, Class 1 | | |
3.21%, due 3/1/34 | 657,115 | 687,257 |
Series 2018-20B, Class 1 | | |
3.22%, due 2/1/38 | 1,555,176 | 1,646,510 |
Series 2018-20D, Class 1 | | |
3.31%, due 4/1/38 | 1,866,822 | 2,017,356 |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $7,000,705) | | 7,195,633 |
Corporate Bonds 1.9% |
Electric 1.9% |
Duke Energy Florida Project Finance LLC | | |
Series 2026 | | |
2.538%, due 9/1/29 | 1,900,000 | 1,955,740 |
Monongahela Power Co. | | |
4.10%, due 4/15/24 (a) | 2,000,000 | 2,103,774 |
PG&E Energy Recovery Funding LLC | | |
Series A-1 | | |
1.46%, due 7/15/31 | 2,000,000 | 1,987,338 |
| | 6,046,852 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $5,966,377) | | 6,046,852 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities 22.1% |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 10.6% |
FHLMC | |
REMIC, Series 5019, Class PL | | |
1.00%, due 10/25/50 | $ 730,363 | $ 697,705 |
REMIC, Series 5073, Class DG | | |
1.50%, due 8/25/38 | 358,537 | 360,421 |
REMIC, Series 5051, Class KI | | |
2.50%, due 12/25/50 (b) | 2,475,530 | 418,009 |
REMIC, Series 4913, Class UA | | |
3.00%, due 3/15/49 | 358,164 | 368,437 |
REMIC, Series 4908, Class BD | | |
3.00%, due 4/25/49 | 1,211,781 | 1,241,264 |
REMIC, Series 4888, Class BA | | |
3.50%, due 9/15/48 | 210,124 | 214,840 |
REMIC, Series 4877, Class AT | | |
3.50%, due 11/15/48 | 223,415 | 233,765 |
REMIC, Series 4877, Class BE | | |
3.50%, due 11/15/48 | 311,676 | 322,918 |
FHLMC, Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates | |
REMIC, Series K042, Class A2 | | |
2.67%, due 12/25/24 | 1,500,000 | 1,558,212 |
REMIC, Series K729, Class A2 | | |
3.136%, due 10/25/24 | 2,745,000 | 2,872,314 |
FHLMC, STRIPS | |
REMIC, Series 358, Class PO | | |
(zero coupon), due 10/15/47 | 2,062,340 | 1,940,010 |
FNMA | |
REMIC, Series 2020-63, Class B | | |
1.25%, due 9/25/50 | 440,858 | 433,582 |
REMIC, Series 2012-124, Class PG | | |
2.00%, due 7/25/42 | 947,379 | 956,798 |
REMIC, Series 2021-2, Class AI | | |
2.00%, due 2/25/51 (b) | 5,775,219 | 554,155 |
REMIC, Series 2021-53, Class GI | | |
3.00%, due 7/25/48 (b) | 2,038,978 | 316,014 |
REMIC, Series 2019-13, Class PE | | |
3.00%, due 3/25/49 | 277,529 | 289,592 |
REMIC, Series 2019-58, Class LP | | |
3.00%, due 10/25/49 | 598,336 | 613,994 |
REMIC, Series 2021-13, Class BI | | |
3.00%, due 2/25/50 (b) | 1,318,373 | 133,646 |
REMIC, Series 2020-10, Class LP | | |
3.50%, due 3/25/50 | 1,859,056 | 1,948,907 |
REMIC, Series 2021-6, Class ML | | |
3.50%, due 6/25/50 | 886,807 | 926,114 |
REMIC, Series 2021-6, Class MC | | |
3.50%, due 6/25/50 | 1,711,149 | 1,830,173 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
FNMA (continued) | |
REMIC, Series 2021-12, Class GC | | |
3.50%, due 7/25/50 | $ 1,342,999 | $ 1,425,038 |
REMIC, Series 2020-10, Class DA | | |
3.50%, due 3/25/60 | 1,940,880 | 2,070,667 |
FNMA, STRIPS (b) | |
REMIC, Series 360, Class 2 | | |
5.00%, due 8/25/35 | 49,759 | 8,487 |
REMIC, Series 361, Class 2 | | |
6.00%, due 10/25/35 | 11,426 | 2,351 |
GNMA | |
REMIC, Series 2021-78, Class LA | | |
1.00%, due 5/20/51 | 822,540 | 810,350 |
REMIC, Series 2021-91, Class MF | | |
1.00%, due 5/20/51 | 417,205 | 406,355 |
REMIC, Series 2021-105, Class DB | | |
1.00%, due 6/20/51 | 961,675 | 914,161 |
REMIC, Series 2021-214, Class SA | | |
1.65% (SOFR 30A + 1.70%), due 12/20/51 (b)(c) | 5,910,000 | 143,755 |
REMIC, Series 2021-213, Class ES | | |
1.652% (SOFR 30A + 1.70%), due 12/20/51 (b)(c) | 5,910,000 | 164,040 |
REMIC, Series 2021-57, Class IN | | |
2.00%, due 2/20/51 (b) | 488,771 | 59,761 |
REMIC, Series 2021-57, Class AI | | |
2.00%, due 2/20/51 (b) | 2,454,660 | 283,826 |
REMIC, Series 2014-63, Class PG | | |
2.50%, due 7/20/43 | 738,263 | 750,241 |
REMIC, Series 2021-25, Class LI | | |
2.50%, due 2/20/51 (b) | 2,734,791 | 313,030 |
REMIC, Series 2021-30, Class WI | | |
2.50%, due 2/20/51 (b) | 2,671,074 | 362,030 |
REMIC, Series 2019-3, Class A | | |
3.00%, due 4/20/48 | 313,113 | 319,403 |
REMIC, Series 2019-59, Class KA | | |
3.00%, due 12/20/48 | 511,564 | 527,090 |
REMIC, Series 2021-74, Class HI | | |
3.00%, due 4/20/51 (b) | 1,420,443 | 189,536 |
REMIC, Series 2021-136, Class TI | | |
3.00%, due 8/20/51 (b) | 2,477,646 | 284,026 |
REMIC, Series 2021-139, Class IA | | |
3.00%, due 8/20/51 (b) | 3,108,110 | 415,724 |
REMIC, Series 2021-158, Class NI | | |
3.00%, due 9/20/51 (b) | 1,976,228 | 268,278 |
REMIC, Series 2013-149, Class BA | | |
3.25%, due 8/16/41 | 1,099,104 | 1,141,371 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year (d) | |
2.50%, due 1/25/52 TBA | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,020,239 |
2.50%, due 2/25/52 TBA | 1,250,000 | 1,272,126 |
3.00%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 1,100,000 | 1,139,560 |
3.50%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 1,600,000 | 1,684,359 |
| | 34,206,674 |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 10.9% |
Arbor Multifamily Mortgage Securities Trust | |
Series 2021-MF3, Class A5 | | |
2.575%, due 10/15/54 (a) | 3,000,000 | 3,085,190 |
BX Trust | |
Series 2019-OC11, Class A | | |
3.202%, due 12/9/41 (a) | 485,000 | 510,493 |
BXP Trust | |
Series 2017-GM, Class A | | |
3.379%, due 6/13/39 (a) | 1,750,000 | 1,848,307 |
FREMF Mortgage Trust (a)(e) | |
REMIC, Series 2019-K103, Class B | | |
3.453%, due 12/25/51 | 2,144,000 | 2,238,911 |
REMIC, Series 2013-K27, Class B | | |
3.496%, due 1/25/46 | 1,300,000 | 1,330,402 |
REMIC, Series 2013-K33, Class B | | |
3.496%, due 8/25/46 | 933,000 | 965,244 |
REMIC, Series 2013-K24, Class B | | |
3.506%, due 11/25/45 | 2,000,000 | 2,035,630 |
REMIC, Series 2020-K104, Class C | | |
3.539%, due 2/25/52 | 1,200,000 | 1,217,829 |
REMIC, Series 2015-K721, Class B | | |
3.559%, due 11/25/47 | 3,140,000 | 3,188,414 |
REMIC, Series 2016-K59, Class B | | |
3.576%, due 11/25/49 | 500,000 | 525,416 |
REMIC, Series 2012-K23, Class B | | |
3.656%, due 10/25/45 | 1,222,000 | 1,241,937 |
REMIC, Series 2012-K22, Class B | | |
3.679%, due 8/25/45 | 800,000 | 811,884 |
REMIC, Series 2015-K49, Class C | | |
3.721%, due 10/25/48 | 500,000 | 516,136 |
REMIC, Series 2016-K58, Class B | | |
3.738%, due 9/25/49 | 1,000,000 | 1,070,280 |
REMIC, Series 2014-K41, Class B | | |
3.833%, due 11/25/47 | 2,700,000 | 2,855,700 |
REMIC, Series 2013-K35, Class B | | |
3.934%, due 12/25/46 | 1,925,000 | 2,009,175 |
REMIC, Series 2016-K54, Class B | | |
4.051%, due 4/25/48 | 695,000 | 742,845 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
FREMF Mortgage Trust (a)(e) (continued) | |
REMIC, Series 2014-K40, Class B | | |
4.073%, due 11/25/47 | $ 1,645,000 | $ 1,750,430 |
REMIC, Series 2016-K55, Class B | | |
4.163%, due 4/25/49 | 1,570,000 | 1,698,469 |
REMIC, Series 2014-K38, Class B | | |
4.221%, due 6/25/47 | 2,000,000 | 2,113,057 |
REMIC, Series 2019-K87, Class C | | |
4.322%, due 1/25/51 | 1,500,000 | 1,633,088 |
One Bryant Park Trust | |
Series 2019-OBP, Class A | | |
2.516%, due 9/15/54 (a) | 1,265,000 | 1,280,149 |
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2018-1745, Class A | | |
3.749%, due 6/15/36 (a)(e) | 695,000 | 753,056 |
| | 35,422,042 |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 0.6% |
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2006-AR6, Class 1A1 | | |
3.029%, due 8/25/36 (e) | 65,795 | 62,855 |
J.P. Morgan Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2021-LTV2, Class A1 | | |
2.519%, due 5/25/52 (a)(f) | 1,500,000 | 1,500,877 |
Seasoned Loans Structured Transaction | |
Series 2019-1, Class A1 | | |
3.50%, due 5/25/29 | 294,385 | 306,007 |
| | 1,869,739 |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $72,077,297) | | 71,498,455 |
Municipal Bonds 2.6% |
New Jersey 1.3% |
New Jersey Turnpike Authority Revenue Bonds | | |
1.483%, due 1/1/28 | 1,000,000 | 969,180 |
7.102%, due 1/1/41 | 2,000,000 | 3,141,374 |
| | 4,110,554 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
New York 1.3% |
New York State Thruway Authority Revenue Bonds | | |
Series M | | |
2.90%, due 1/1/35 | $ 4,000,000 | $ 4,178,894 |
Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $8,428,563) | | 8,289,448 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies 70.1% |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 14.8% |
FHLMC Gold Pools, 30 Year | | |
2.50%, due 8/1/46 | 669,504 | 687,306 |
3.00%, due 2/1/46 | 1,187,527 | 1,247,588 |
3.00%, due 4/1/47 | 1,288,328 | 1,351,101 |
3.50%, due 1/1/44 | 306,870 | 330,947 |
3.50%, due 1/1/48 | 1,213,271 | 1,294,683 |
4.00%, due 7/1/44 | 684,494 | 750,819 |
4.00%, due 12/1/46 | 486,743 | 528,676 |
4.00%, due 10/1/48 | 553,075 | 604,519 |
4.00%, due 3/1/49 | 229,027 | 243,812 |
4.50%, due 12/1/44 | 945,170 | 1,045,019 |
5.00%, due 11/1/41 | 740,510 | 838,296 |
6.50%, due 4/1/37 | 20,477 | 24,166 |
FHLMC Gold Pools, Other | | |
4.50%, due 3/1/41 | 142,988 | 155,948 |
Freddie Mac Pool, 30 Year | | |
2.50%, due 5/1/51 | 1,330,990 | 1,360,018 |
Tennessee Valley Authority | | |
4.65%, due 6/15/35 | 4,395,000 | 5,686,473 |
UMBS, 15 Year | | |
2.00%, due 6/1/35 | 817,743 | 840,047 |
2.50%, due 9/1/34 | 298,082 | 308,679 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.00%, due 7/1/50 | 3,186,465 | 3,179,476 |
2.00%, due 7/1/50 | 890,104 | 888,152 |
2.00%, due 8/1/50 | 1,417,447 | 1,414,338 |
2.00%, due 8/1/50 | 2,815,933 | 2,830,728 |
2.00%, due 8/1/50 | 2,075,729 | 2,071,177 |
2.00%, due 9/1/50 | 968,796 | 966,671 |
2.00%, due 11/1/50 | 1,805,463 | 1,801,504 |
2.00%, due 12/1/51 | 1,245,958 | 1,243,269 |
2.50%, due 3/1/50 | 1,086,334 | 1,109,376 |
2.50%, due 7/1/50 | 1,790,230 | 1,828,202 |
2.50%, due 10/1/50 | 165,163 | 168,676 |
2.50%, due 11/1/50 | 1,680,277 | 1,715,917 |
2.50%, due 1/1/51 | 430,459 | 440,984 |
2.50%, due 2/1/51 | 2,433,507 | 2,489,014 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
UMBS, 30 Year (continued) | | |
2.50%, due 10/1/51 | $ 4,175,059 | $ 4,267,607 |
3.00%, due 6/1/46 | 633,130 | 665,392 |
3.00%, due 8/1/49 | 1,137,099 | 1,181,059 |
3.00%, due 9/1/49 | 200,940 | 208,287 |
3.00%, due 11/1/49 | 720,991 | 754,434 |
3.50%, due 1/1/50 | 1,123,303 | 1,184,574 |
| | 47,706,934 |
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 31.4% |
FNMA, Other | | |
2.50%, due 1/1/57 | 682,283 | 708,214 |
2.68%, due 5/1/25 | 2,000,000 | 2,078,231 |
2.73%, due 4/1/25 | 1,025,000 | 1,066,807 |
3.00%, due 9/1/46 | 510,817 | 522,861 |
3.00%, due 10/1/46 | 528,224 | 541,203 |
3.00%, due 10/1/48 | 11,579 | 11,663 |
3.00%, due 2/1/57 | 549,313 | 575,963 |
3.00%, due 6/1/57 | 652,583 | 690,646 |
6.00%, due 4/1/37 | 7,170 | 7,922 |
6.50%, due 8/1/47 | 12,119 | 12,901 |
UMBS, 15 Year | | |
2.00%, due 6/1/35 | 1,484,229 | 1,520,894 |
UMBS, 20 Year | | |
2.00%, due 5/1/41 | 2,354,763 | 2,392,681 |
2.50%, due 6/1/41 | 1,965,881 | 2,029,116 |
2.50%, due 7/1/41 | 2,023,201 | 2,088,884 |
3.00%, due 10/1/32 | 389,355 | 411,432 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.00%, due 6/1/50 | 1,601,493 | 1,597,980 |
2.00%, due 8/1/50 | 3,020,294 | 3,013,670 |
2.00%, due 10/1/50 | 2,652,020 | 2,657,791 |
2.00%, due 10/1/50 | 2,221,098 | 2,216,808 |
2.00%, due 12/1/50 | 1,850,872 | 1,846,812 |
2.00%, due 3/1/51 | 2,343,016 | 2,340,179 |
2.00%, due 11/1/51 | 2,495,409 | 2,492,586 |
2.50%, due 1/1/47 | 1,806,352 | 1,854,376 |
2.50%, due 9/1/49 | 1,518,914 | 1,552,193 |
2.50%, due 3/1/50 | 533,995 | 547,646 |
2.50%, due 3/1/50 | 1,185,064 | 1,210,200 |
2.50%, due 3/1/50 | 1,252,468 | 1,279,034 |
2.50%, due 4/1/50 | 2,218,142 | 2,283,874 |
2.50%, due 5/1/50 | 3,459,307 | 3,532,681 |
2.50%, due 7/1/50 | 1,778,824 | 1,816,554 |
2.50%, due 8/1/50 | 2,153,740 | 2,206,104 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
UMBS, 30 Year (continued) | | |
2.50%, due 8/1/50 | $ 2,654,367 | $ 2,711,502 |
2.50%, due 9/1/50 | 2,642,769 | 2,721,400 |
2.50%, due 10/1/50 | 2,127,844 | 2,173,150 |
2.50%, due 11/1/50 | 2,675,889 | 2,764,571 |
2.50%, due 1/1/51 | 2,095,031 | 2,145,210 |
2.50%, due 4/1/51 | 1,675,546 | 1,728,490 |
3.00%, due 10/1/44 | 1,098,298 | 1,163,370 |
3.00%, due 3/1/47 | 606,109 | 636,857 |
3.00%, due 12/1/47 | 780,459 | 818,251 |
3.00%, due 10/1/49 | 740,910 | 767,798 |
3.00%, due 3/1/50 | 1,129,967 | 1,181,102 |
3.00%, due 3/1/50 | 1,341,808 | 1,394,665 |
3.00%, due 5/1/50 | 1,129,334 | 1,170,318 |
3.00%, due 7/1/50 | 1,907,091 | 1,984,163 |
3.00%, due 11/1/51 | 2,807,265 | 2,927,440 |
3.50%, due 5/1/43 | 1,324,974 | 1,429,684 |
3.50%, due 11/1/44 | 478,759 | 516,896 |
3.50%, due 3/1/45 | 555,653 | 598,207 |
3.50%, due 11/1/45 | 1,336,356 | 1,427,707 |
3.50%, due 8/1/46 | 359,825 | 387,703 |
3.50%, due 10/1/47 | 258,404 | 274,000 |
3.50%, due 2/1/48 | 140,847 | 148,611 |
3.50%, due 8/1/49 | 738,055 | 776,864 |
3.50%, due 9/1/50 | 1,995,300 | 2,137,735 |
4.00%, due 1/1/46 | 483,949 | 530,603 |
4.00%, due 9/1/47 | 209,982 | 224,839 |
4.00%, due 7/1/48 | 530,985 | 564,363 |
4.00%, due 8/1/48 | 2,705,198 | 2,882,737 |
4.00%, due 9/1/48 | 494,611 | 525,677 |
4.00%, due 4/1/49 | 148,406 | 157,766 |
4.00%, due 3/1/50 | 1,230,586 | 1,318,484 |
4.50%, due 2/1/41 | 1,665,519 | 1,844,566 |
4.50%, due 4/1/41 | 4,125,833 | 4,607,502 |
4.50%, due 8/1/42 | 664,435 | 734,007 |
4.50%, due 8/1/44 | 769,134 | 849,665 |
5.00%, due 9/1/41 | 1,428,897 | 1,618,427 |
5.00%, due 10/1/41 | 1,186,034 | 1,338,630 |
5.50%, due 7/1/41 | 2,206,382 | 2,503,767 |
6.00%, due 7/1/39 | 507,133 | 587,321 |
6.50%, due 10/1/39 | 92,363 | 105,223 |
| | 101,487,177 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
Government National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 0.3% |
GNMA II, 30 Year | | |
4.00%, due 11/20/49 | $ 542,499 | $ 572,622 |
4.50%, due 7/20/49 | 448,616 | 474,471 |
| | 1,047,093 |
United States Treasury Bonds 2.3% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | |
3.00%, due 5/15/45 | 2,790,000 | 3,336,992 |
3.00%, due 2/15/48 | 2,000,000 | 2,441,094 |
4.375%, due 11/15/39 | 1,200,000 | 1,672,453 |
| | 7,450,539 |
United States Treasury Inflation - Indexed Notes 4.1% |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Notes (g) | | |
0.125%, due 1/15/30 | 3,784,141 | 4,199,749 |
0.125%, due 7/15/30 | 8,090,850 | 9,051,597 |
| | 13,251,346 |
United States Treasury Notes 17.2% |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | |
0.375%, due 4/30/25 | 5,000,000 | 4,889,062 |
1.375%, due 10/31/28 | 5,000,000 | 4,979,687 |
1.50%, due 2/15/30 | 9,465,000 | 9,513,804 |
2.25%, due 4/30/24 | 19,045,000 | 19,667,682 |
2.375%, due 8/15/24 | 1,695,000 | 1,759,953 |
2.625%, due 1/31/26 | 5,900,000 | 6,238,559 |
3.00%, due 10/31/25 | 7,805,000 | 8,347,387 |
| | 55,396,134 |
Total U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (Cost $223,641,683) | | 226,339,223 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $317,114,625) | | 319,369,611 |
|
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investment 2.4% |
Affiliated Investment Company 2.4% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (h) | 7,701,002 | | $ 7,701,002 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $7,701,002) | | | 7,701,002 |
Total Investments (Cost $324,815,627) | 101.3% | | 327,070,613 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (1.3) | | (4,179,965) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 322,890,648 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(b) | Collateralized Mortgage Obligation Interest Only Strip—Pays a fixed or variable rate of interest based on mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. The principal amount of the underlying pool represents the notional amount on which the current interest was calculated. The value of these stripped securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates and are typically more sensitive to changes in prepayment rates than traditional mortgage-backed securities. |
(c) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | TBA—Security purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and maturity date. The actual principal amount and maturity date will be determined upon settlement. As of December 31, 2021, the total net market value was $5,116,284, which represented 1.6% of the Portfolio’s net assets. All or a portion of this security is a part of a mortgage dollar roll agreement. |
(e) | Collateral strip rate—A bond whose interest was based on the weighted net interest rate of the collateral. The coupon rate adjusts periodically based on a predetermined schedule. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(f) | Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(g) | Treasury Inflation Protected Security—Pays a fixed rate of interest on a principal amount that is continuously adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index-Urban Consumers. |
(h) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts1:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Ultra Bonds | (12) | March 2022 | $ (1,736,222) | $ (1,757,250) | $ (21,028) |
U.S. Treasury Long Bonds | (9) | March 2022 | (1,434,073) | (1,443,938) | (9,865) |
U.S. Treasury Ultra Bonds | (11) | March 2022 | (2,146,755) | (2,168,375) | (21,620) |
Net Unrealized Depreciation | | | | | $ (52,513) |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $132,400 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions. |
2. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. |
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association |
FREMF—Freddie Mac Multifamily |
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association |
REMIC—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit |
SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
TBA—To Be Announced |
UMBS—Uniform Mortgage Backed Securities |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | $ — | | $ 7,195,633 | | $ — | | $ 7,195,633 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 6,046,852 | | — | | 6,046,852 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | | 71,498,455 | | — | | 71,498,455 |
Municipal Bonds | — | | 8,289,448 | | — | | 8,289,448 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies | — | | 226,339,223 | | — | | 226,339,223 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 319,369,611 | | — | | 319,369,611 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 7,701,002 | | — | | — | | 7,701,002 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 7,701,002 | | $ 319,369,611 | | $ — | | $ 327,070,613 |
Liability Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | $ (52,513) | | $ — | | $ — | | $ (52,513) |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ (52,513) | | $ — | | $ — | | $ (52,513) |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $317,114,625) | $319,369,611 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $7,701,002) | 7,701,002 |
Cash | 53 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 132,400 |
Receivables: | |
Interest | 1,128,600 |
Portfolio shares sold | 25,835 |
Other assets | 1,896 |
Total assets | 328,359,397 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 5,108,578 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 136,954 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 75,697 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 50,888 |
Professional fees | 35,534 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 25,438 |
Shareholder communication | 19,682 |
Custodian | 8,469 |
Trustees | 983 |
Accrued expenses | 6,526 |
Total liabilities | 5,468,749 |
Net assets | $322,890,648 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 29,918 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 319,376,372 |
| 319,406,290 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 3,484,358 |
Net assets | $322,890,648 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 83,837,706 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 7,711,933 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 10.87 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $239,052,942 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 22,205,624 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 10.77 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $ 6,077,064 |
Dividends-affiliated | 811 |
Securities lending | 2 |
Total income | 6,077,877 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 1,759,609 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 645,868 |
Professional fees | 73,695 |
Custodian | 33,112 |
Shareholder communication | 24,733 |
Trustees | 8,244 |
Miscellaneous | 20,321 |
Total expenses | 2,565,582 |
Net investment income (loss) | 3,512,295 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 2,077,294 |
Futures transactions | (455,191) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 1,622,103 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (11,169,370) |
Futures contracts | (52,513) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (11,221,883) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (9,599,780) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ (6,087,485) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 3,512,295 | $ 4,416,874 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 1,622,103 | 1,424,439 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (11,221,883) | 7,617,671 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (6,087,485) | 13,458,984 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (1,259,194) | (1,180,531) |
Service Class | (3,271,917) | (3,747,304) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (4,531,111) | (4,927,835) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 84,262,367 | 237,953,765 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 4,531,111 | 4,927,835 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (144,292,025) | (114,972,175) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (55,498,547) | 127,909,425 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (66,117,143) | 136,440,574 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 389,007,791 | 252,567,217 |
End of year | $ 322,890,648 | $ 389,007,791 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.21 | | $ 10.84 | | $ 10.49 | | $ 10.78 | | $ 10.85 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.13 | | 0.17 | | 0.25 | | 0.26 | | 0.25 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.30) | | 0.36 | | 0.32 | | (0.27) | | (0.02) |
Total from investment operations | (0.17) | | 0.53 | | 0.57 | | (0.01) | | 0.23 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.17) | | (0.16) | | (0.22) | | (0.28) | | (0.30) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 10.87 | | $ 11.21 | | $ 10.84 | | $ 10.49 | | $ 10.78 |
Total investment return (b) | (1.50)% | | 4.97% | | 5.42% | | (0.06)% | | 2.11% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.15% | | 1.50% | | 2.35% | | 2.44% | | 2.29% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.55% | | 0.56% | | 0.57% | | 0.57% | | 0.56% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 69%(d) | | 77%(d) | | 30% | | 92%(d) | | 17%(d) |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 83,838 | | $ 107,954 | | $ 51,698 | | $ 52,552 | | $ 56,561 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | The portfolio turnover rates not including mortgage dollar rolls were 37%, 53%, 80%, and 5% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.10 | | $ 10.74 | | $ 10.41 | | $ 10.69 | | $ 10.76 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.10 | | 0.14 | | 0.22 | | 0.23 | | 0.22 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.29) | | 0.37 | | 0.31 | | (0.26) | | (0.03) |
Total from investment operations | (0.19) | | 0.51 | | 0.53 | | (0.03) | | 0.19 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.14) | | (0.15) | | (0.20) | | (0.25) | | (0.26) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 10.77 | | $ 11.10 | | $ 10.74 | | $ 10.41 | | $ 10.69 |
Total investment return (b) | (1.74)% | | 4.70% | | 5.15% | | (0.31)% | | 1.86% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.94% | | 1.29% | | 2.09% | | 2.19% | | 2.04% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.80% | | 0.80% | | 0.82% | | 0.82% | | 0.81% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 69%(d) | | 77%(d) | | 30% | | 92%(d) | | 17%(d) |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 239,053 | | $ 281,054 | | $ 200,869 | | $ 159,575 | | $ 155,477 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | The portfolio turnover rates not including mortgage dollar rolls were 37%, 53%, 80%, and 5% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | January 29, 1993 |
Service Class | June 4, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek current income.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio
prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market
20 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a
security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method and includes any realized gains and losses from repayments of principal on mortgage-backed securities. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased, other than temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase, for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
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(G) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities
lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any portfolio securities on loan.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(I) Dollar Rolls. The Portfolio may enter into dollar roll transactions in which it sells mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") from its portfolio to a counterparty from whom it simultaneously agrees to buy a similar security on a delayed delivery basis. The Portfolio generally transfers MBS where the MBS are "to be announced," therefore, the Portfolio accounts for these transactions as purchases and sales.
When accounted for as purchase and sales, the securities sold in connection with the dollar rolls are removed from the portfolio and a realized gain or loss is recognized. The securities the Portfolio has agreed to acquire are included at market value in the Portfolio of Investments and liabilities for such purchase commitments are included as payables for investments purchased. During the roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future as well as by the earnings on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls may be renewed without physical delivery of the securities subject to the contract. The Portfolio maintains liquid assets from its portfolio having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest. Dollar roll transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the securities returned to the Portfolio at the end of the roll period, while substantially similar, could be inferior to what was initially sold to the counterparty.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(J) Debt Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Investments in the Portfolio are not guaranteed, even though some of the Portfolio’s underlying investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The principal risk of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities is that the underlying debt may be prepaid ahead of schedule, if interest rates fall, thereby reducing the value of the Portfolio’s investment. If interest rates rise, less of the debt may be prepaid and the Portfolio may lose money because the Portfolio may be unable to invest in higher yielding assets. The Portfolio is subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise. Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner.
(K) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a
timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(L) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(M) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio entered into futures contracts to help manage the duration and yield curve positioning of the portfolio while minimizing the exposure to wider bid/ask spreads in traditional bonds. These derivatives are not accounted for as hedging instruments.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Liability Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (a) | $(52,513) | $(52,513) |
Total Fair Value | $(52,513) | $(52,513) |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $(455,191) | $(455,191) |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $(455,191) | $(455,191) |
24 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $(52,513) | $(52,513) |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $(52,513) | $(52,513) |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Futures Contracts Short (a) | $(6,514,789) |
(a) | Positions were open for eight months during the reporting period. |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the
facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.50% up to $500 million; 0.475% from $500 million to $1 billion; and 0.45% in excess of $1 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.50%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $1,759,609 and paid the Subadvisor in the amount of $879,786.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 12,052 | $ 220,896 | $ (225,247) | $ — | $ — | $ 7,701 | $ 1 | $ — | 7,701 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $324,870,732 | $4,931,049 | $(3,315,043) | $1,616,006 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$3,729,716 | $(2,445,239) | $2,199,881 | $3,484,358 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $1,861,364, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $— | $1,861 |
The Portfolio utilized $1,977,653 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $4,531,111 | $4,927,835 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian
fees which totaled $4,515 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of U.S. government securities were $82,552 and $73,846, respectively. Purchases and sales of securities, other than U.S. government securities and short-term securities, were $155,959 and $207,183, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
26 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 4,793,173 | $ 53,204,116 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 115,356 | 1,259,194 |
Shares redeemed | (6,824,773) | (75,876,782) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,916,244) | $ (21,413,472) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 5,754,098 | $ 64,738,684 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 105,587 | 1,180,531 |
Shares redeemed | (1,001,790) | (11,226,218) |
Net increase (decrease) | 4,857,895 | $ 54,692,997 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 2,828,368 | $ 31,058,251 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 302,513 | 3,271,917 |
Shares redeemed | (6,238,804) | (68,415,243) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,107,923) | $ (34,085,075) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 15,621,490 | $ 173,215,081 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 338,268 | 3,747,304 |
Shares redeemed | (9,342,684) | (103,745,957) |
Net increase (decrease) | 6,617,074 | $ 73,216,428 |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
28 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or MacKay that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and MacKay personnel. In
addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and MacKay; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and MacKay; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and MacKay. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Investments and MacKay resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of MacKay, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of MacKay and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated MacKay’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay and New York Life Investments’ and MacKay’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed MacKay’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s
30 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to MacKay as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or MacKay had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including MacKay, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and MacKay must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and MacKay to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board
recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to MacKay is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that
addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
32 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
34 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
36 | MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI519
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/1/2017 | -1.95% | 3.01% | 0.29% |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Since Inception |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1 | -1.54% | 3.47% |
Morningstar Intermediate Core Bond Category Average2 | -1.53 | 3.29 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures performance of the investment-grade, U.S. dollar denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasurys, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Intermediate Core Bond Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in investment-grade U.S. fixed-income issues including government, corporate, and securitized debt, and hold less than 5% in below-investment-grade exposures. Their durations (a measure of interest-rate sensitivity) typically range between 75% and 125% of the three-year average of the effective duration of the Morningstar Core Bond Index. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $998.50 | $1.51 | $1,023.69 | $1.53 | 0.30% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
‡ Less than one–tenth of a percent
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 9 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.125%-2.875%, due 3/31/23–11/15/31 |
2. | UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year, 2.00%-3.00%, due 1/25/52 |
3. | UMBS, 30 Year, 2.00%-5.50%, due 6/1/36–12/1/51 |
4. | U.S. Treasury Bonds, 1.25%-4.625%, due 2/15/40–11/15/50 |
5. | GNMA II, Single Family, 30 Year, 2.00%-2.50%, due 1/15/52 |
6. | GNMA II, 30 Year, 2.50%-5.00%, due 11/20/42–2/20/50 |
7. | UMBS, Single Family, 15 Year, 1.50%-2.00%, due 1/25/37 |
8. | FHLMC Gold Pools, 30 Year, 3.00%-5.50%, due 7/1/38–1/1/49 |
9. | FHLMC, Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates, 2.903%, due 6/25/29 |
10. | UMBS, 30 Year, 2.50%-4.50%, due 12/1/47–5/1/50 |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Kenneth Sommer and AJ Rzad, CFA, of NYL Investors LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio returned −1.95% for Initial Class shares. Over the same period, Initial Class shares underperformed the −1.54% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark. Although the Portfolio seeks investment results that correspond to the total return performance of fixed-income securities in the aggregate, as represented by the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s performance will typically lag that of the Index because the Portfolio incurs fees and expenses that the Index does not. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, Initial Class shares underperformed the −1.53% return of the Morningstar Intermediate Core Bond Category Average.1
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
U.S. Treasury futures were used to maintain a duration2 equal to that of the Index; they did not materially affect the performance of the Portfolio. Treasury futures were also used to reduce variations between the Portfolio and the Index. These trades reduced tracking error between the Portfolio and the Index.
During the reporting period, which credit-rating categories were strong performers and which credit rating categories were weak?
Credits rated BBB generated the highest excess return followed by credits rated AA, while credits rated A outperformed credits rated AAA.3 All the investment-grade rating categories produced positive excess returns in 2021, outperforming matched duration Treasury securities.
What was the Portfolio’s duration strategy during the reporting period?
The Portfolio employs a passive strategy that attempts to replicate the duration of the Index. The Portfolio’s duration strategy had a neutral impact on performance during the reporting period. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio’s duration was approximately 6.71 years, which matched the duration of the Index.
Which market segments made the strongest contributions to the Portfolio’s performance, and which market segments detracted the most?
During the reporting period, all broad sectors in the Index produced negative total returns. The U.S. government agency sector made the strongest positive contribution to performance. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The commercial mortgage-backed securities sector provided the next-highest contribution to performance, followed by the mortgage-backed securities sector.
The Treasury and corporate sectors detracted the most from the Portfolio’s total return during the reporting period. Within the corporate sector, the industrials and financials subsectors were the weakest performers. In the non-corporate sector, the sovereign subsector detracted the most from the Portfolio’s total return.
Were there any significant changes to the Portfolio’s benchmark during the reporting period?
There were no changes to the Index that were sufficiently material to lead us to change the Portfolio’s investment strategy.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
2. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
3. | An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), and in the opinion of S&P, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. An obligation rated ‘AA’ by S&P is deemed by S&P to differ from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. In the opinion of S&P, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. An obligation rated ‘A’ by S&P is deemed by S&P to be somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. In the opinion of S&P, however, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong. An obligation rated ‘BBB’ by S&P is deemed by S&P to exhibit adequate protection parameters. In the opinion of S&P, however, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. When applied to Portfolio holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Portfolio. |
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
8 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 98.5% |
Asset-Backed Security 0.0% ‡ |
Automobile Asset-Backed Security 0.0% ‡ |
GM Financial Consumer Automobile Receivables Trust | |
Series 2018-3, Class A3 | | |
3.02%, due 5/16/23 | $ 47,470 | $ 47,577 |
Total Asset-Backed Security (Cost $47,467) | | 47,577 |
Corporate Bonds 29.3% |
Aerospace & Defense 0.7% |
Boeing Co. (The) | | |
3.25%, due 3/1/28 | 560,000 | 579,603 |
5.15%, due 5/1/30 | 650,000 | 757,316 |
Lockheed Martin Corp. | | |
4.07%, due 12/15/42 | 305,000 | 359,014 |
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. | | |
7.75%, due 2/15/31 | 260,000 | 370,300 |
Raytheon Technologies Corp. | | |
3.125%, due 7/1/50 | 450,000 | 459,571 |
3.15%, due 12/15/24 | 305,000 | 320,137 |
3.50%, due 3/15/27 | 260,000 | 278,497 |
3.65%, due 8/16/23 | 2,000 | 2,079 |
| | 3,126,517 |
Apparel 0.0% ‡ |
NIKE, Inc. | | |
3.625%, due 5/1/43 | 90,000 | 102,620 |
Auto Manufacturers 0.4% |
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. | | |
4.35%, due 1/17/27 | 1,425,000 | 1,569,783 |
Toyota Motor Credit Corp. | | |
2.25%, due 10/18/23 | 340,000 | 348,580 |
| | 1,918,363 |
Banks 6.0% |
Bank of America Corp. | | |
0.523%, due 6/14/24 (a) | 900,000 | 894,027 |
2.972%, due 7/21/52 (a) | 695,000 | 697,067 |
3.248%, due 10/21/27 | 480,000 | 510,913 |
3.419%, due 12/20/28 (a) | 1,685,000 | 1,799,015 |
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The) | | |
Series G | | |
3.00%, due 2/24/25 | 485,000 | 508,828 |
Barclays plc | | |
5.25%, due 8/17/45 | 270,000 | 357,471 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Banks (continued) |
BNP Paribas SA | | |
3.25%, due 3/3/23 | $ 495,000 | $ 509,677 |
Citigroup, Inc. | | |
0.981%, due 5/1/25 (a) | 1,750,000 | 1,736,200 |
2.561%, due 5/1/32 (a) | 250,000 | 251,296 |
4.45%, due 9/29/27 | 1,435,000 | 1,600,054 |
4.65%, due 7/30/45 | 170,000 | 214,360 |
Cooperatieve Rabobank UA | | |
5.25%, due 5/24/41 | 480,000 | 673,010 |
Credit Suisse Group AG | | |
3.80%, due 6/9/23 | 335,000 | 347,077 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | |
1.948%, due 10/21/27 (a) | 2,100,000 | 2,090,761 |
4.80%, due 7/8/44 | 400,000 | 510,863 |
HSBC Holdings plc | | |
3.90%, due 5/25/26 | 1,375,000 | 1,482,885 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (a) | | |
1.578%, due 4/22/27 | 2,340,000 | 2,312,420 |
4.26%, due 2/22/48 | 575,000 | 702,920 |
Lloyds Banking Group plc | | |
3.75%, due 1/11/27 | 1,265,000 | 1,368,889 |
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | | |
3.455%, due 3/2/23 | 560,000 | 576,565 |
Morgan Stanley | | |
0.79%, due 5/30/25 (a) | 630,000 | 621,767 |
2.511%, due 10/20/32 (a) | 700,000 | 699,256 |
3.625%, due 1/20/27 | 1,700,000 | 1,843,069 |
NatWest Group plc | | |
3.875%, due 9/12/23 | 270,000 | 281,541 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | |
3.00%, due 4/22/26 | 2,425,000 | 2,547,248 |
3.50%, due 3/8/22 | 97,000 | 97,554 |
4.75%, due 12/7/46 | 575,000 | 717,630 |
| | 25,952,363 |
Beverages 0.6% |
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. | | |
4.60%, due 4/15/48 | 740,000 | 904,901 |
Coca-Cola Co. (The) | | |
2.60%, due 6/1/50 | 450,000 | 439,374 |
Constellation Brands, Inc. | | |
3.60%, due 2/15/28 | 125,000 | 134,965 |
Diageo Capital plc | | |
5.875%, due 9/30/36 | 268,000 | 374,737 |
Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. | | |
4.985%, due 5/25/38 | 90,000 | 111,347 |
Molson Coors Beverage Co. | | |
4.20%, due 7/15/46 | 90,000 | 99,761 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
9
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Beverages (continued) |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | |
2.75%, due 3/1/23 | $ 380,000 | $ 389,344 |
2.85%, due 2/24/26 | 260,000 | 273,903 |
| | 2,728,332 |
Biotechnology 0.4% |
Amgen, Inc. | | |
3.125%, due 5/1/25 | 305,000 | 321,506 |
3.375%, due 2/21/50 | 405,000 | 421,253 |
Baxalta, Inc. | | |
3.60%, due 6/23/22 | 39,000 | 39,327 |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | | |
3.65%, due 3/1/26 | 490,000 | 527,904 |
4.60%, due 9/1/35 | 205,000 | 248,044 |
| | 1,558,034 |
Building Materials 0.0% ‡ |
Johnson Controls International plc | | |
6.00%, due 1/15/36 | 75,000 | 103,362 |
Chemicals 0.5% |
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. | | |
4.493%, due 11/15/25 | 450,000 | 497,229 |
Ecolab, Inc. | | |
2.70%, due 11/1/26 | 260,000 | 273,002 |
Mosaic Co. (The) | | |
4.05%, due 11/15/27 | 480,000 | 529,651 |
Nutrien Ltd. | | |
5.875%, due 12/1/36 | 260,000 | 349,535 |
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) | | |
3.95%, due 1/15/26 | 305,000 | 331,897 |
| | 1,981,314 |
Computers 1.0% |
Apple, Inc. | | |
2.90%, due 9/12/27 | 300,000 | 319,759 |
3.35%, due 2/9/27 | 16,000 | 17,363 |
4.25%, due 2/9/47 | 205,000 | 256,013 |
4.50%, due 2/23/36 | 845,000 | 1,060,153 |
Dell International LLC | | |
5.45%, due 6/15/23 | 145,000 | 152,959 |
6.02%, due 6/15/26 | 375,000 | 433,444 |
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. | | |
4.40%, due 10/15/22 (b) | 205,000 | 209,597 |
International Business Machines Corp. | | |
1.875%, due 8/1/22 | 300,000 | 302,513 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Computers (continued) |
International Business Machines Corp. (continued) | | |
3.45%, due 2/19/26 | $ 275,000 | $ 294,661 |
3.50%, due 5/15/29 | 1,215,000 | 1,318,568 |
| | 4,365,030 |
Cosmetics & Personal Care 0.1% |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | | |
2.70%, due 2/2/26 | 260,000 | 274,628 |
Unilever Capital Corp. | | |
3.10%, due 7/30/25 | 100,000 | 106,049 |
| | 380,677 |
Diversified Financial Services 0.5% |
American Express Co. | | |
1.65%, due 11/4/26 | 765,000 | 767,149 |
Mastercard, Inc. | | |
3.85%, due 3/26/50 | 450,000 | 540,815 |
Visa, Inc. | | |
2.80%, due 12/14/22 | 480,000 | 488,862 |
4.30%, due 12/14/45 | 200,000 | 251,673 |
| | 2,048,499 |
Electric 2.1% |
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC | | |
Series AC | | |
4.25%, due 2/1/49 | 300,000 | 372,630 |
Commonwealth Edison Co. | | |
3.65%, due 6/15/46 | 465,000 | 514,873 |
Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc. | | |
Series 06-A | | |
5.85%, due 3/15/36 | 640,000 | 843,261 |
DTE Electric Co. | | |
3.375%, due 3/1/25 | 205,000 | 215,974 |
Duke Energy Carolinas LLC | | |
3.875%, due 3/15/46 | 790,000 | 889,645 |
4.00%, due 9/30/42 | 260,000 | 298,439 |
Edison International | | |
2.95%, due 3/15/23 | 205,000 | 208,258 |
Entergy Louisiana LLC | | |
4.20%, due 4/1/50 | 350,000 | 416,048 |
Florida Power & Light Co. | | |
2.75%, due 6/1/23 | 120,000 | 122,102 |
3.80%, due 12/15/42 | 575,000 | 652,781 |
MidAmerican Energy Co. | | |
3.95%, due 8/1/47 | 380,000 | 446,254 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Electric (continued) |
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. | | |
2.70%, due 2/15/23 | $ 115,000 | $ 117,108 |
Ohio Power Co. | | |
Series G | | |
6.60%, due 2/15/33 | 190,000 | 256,256 |
PPL Electric Utilities Corp. | | |
3.95%, due 6/1/47 | 125,000 | 145,992 |
Public Service Electric and Gas Co. | | |
2.70%, due 5/1/50 | 450,000 | 434,494 |
San Diego Gas & Electric Co. | | |
4.15%, due 5/15/48 | 260,000 | 309,252 |
Sempra Energy | | |
3.80%, due 2/1/38 | 260,000 | 285,278 |
Southern California Edison Co. | | |
Series C | | |
4.125%, due 3/1/48 | 260,000 | 291,653 |
Southern Co. (The) | | |
2.95%, due 7/1/23 | 205,000 | 209,940 |
4.40%, due 7/1/46 | 525,000 | 615,017 |
Virginia Electric and Power Co. | | |
4.00%, due 1/15/43 | 390,000 | 448,145 |
Xcel Energy, Inc. | | |
3.30%, due 6/1/25 | 830,000 | 871,396 |
| | 8,964,796 |
Environmental Control 0.2% |
Republic Services, Inc. | | |
3.20%, due 3/15/25 | 305,000 | 319,921 |
Waste Management, Inc. | | |
3.15%, due 11/15/27 | 305,000 | 325,680 |
| | 645,601 |
Food 0.3% |
General Mills, Inc. | | |
4.20%, due 4/17/28 | 90,000 | 100,505 |
Kroger Co. (The) | | |
2.20%, due 5/1/30 | 650,000 | 647,430 |
Sysco Corp. | | |
3.25%, due 7/15/27 | 305,000 | 324,331 |
Tyson Foods, Inc. | | |
5.10%, due 9/28/48 | 300,000 | 403,481 |
| | 1,475,747 |
Forest Products & Paper 0.1% |
Fibria Overseas Finance Ltd. | | |
5.50%, due 1/17/27 | 480,000 | 538,205 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Gas 0.1% |
NiSource, Inc. | | |
3.49%, due 5/15/27 | $ 260,000 | $ 279,094 |
Healthcare-Products 0.4% |
Abbott Laboratories | | |
3.75%, due 11/30/26 | 175,000 | 193,381 |
4.90%, due 11/30/46 | 275,000 | 375,980 |
Boston Scientific Corp. | | |
4.70%, due 3/1/49 | 225,000 | 284,979 |
Medtronic, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 3/15/45 | 449,000 | 588,029 |
Stryker Corp. | | |
3.65%, due 3/7/28 | 260,000 | 283,800 |
| | 1,726,169 |
Healthcare-Services 0.9% |
Aetna, Inc. | | |
6.625%, due 6/15/36 | 260,000 | 368,567 |
Anthem, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 12/1/47 | 305,000 | 371,568 |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings | | |
3.60%, due 2/1/25 | 305,000 | 321,958 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | |
3.10%, due 3/15/26 | 575,000 | 614,612 |
3.75%, due 7/15/25 | 1,700,000 | 1,843,248 |
4.25%, due 4/15/47 | 300,000 | 367,161 |
| | 3,887,114 |
Home Builders 0.1% |
PulteGroup, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 3/1/26 | 210,000 | 238,774 |
Household Products & Wares 0.1% |
Clorox Co. (The) | | |
3.90%, due 5/15/28 | 260,000 | 291,351 |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | |
2.75%, due 2/15/26 | 260,000 | 274,872 |
| | 566,223 |
Housewares 0.0% ‡ |
Newell Brands, Inc. | | |
4.35%, due 4/1/23 (b) | 175,000 | 180,250 |
Insurance 0.8% |
Allstate Corp. (The) | | |
5.35%, due 6/1/33 | 260,000 | 327,060 |
American International Group, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 5/1/36 | 350,000 | 485,763 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Insurance (continued) |
Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp. | | |
4.30%, due 5/15/43 | $ 405,000 | $ 484,570 |
Chubb INA Holdings, Inc. | | |
3.35%, due 5/3/26 | 205,000 | 219,786 |
MetLife, Inc. | | |
3.60%, due 11/13/25 | 1,590,000 | 1,714,584 |
Prudential Financial, Inc. | | |
3.935%, due 12/7/49 | 150,000 | 174,971 |
| | 3,406,734 |
Internet 0.3% |
Alphabet, Inc. | | |
3.375%, due 2/25/24 | 350,000 | 368,766 |
Amazon.com, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 8/22/37 | 935,000 | 1,098,937 |
| | 1,467,703 |
Machinery—Construction & Mining 0.1% |
Caterpillar, Inc. | | |
5.30%, due 9/15/35 | 310,000 | 411,742 |
Machinery-Diversified 0.1% |
Deere & Co. | | |
3.90%, due 6/9/42 | 170,000 | 201,840 |
Media 1.9% |
Charter Communications Operating LLC | | |
4.908%, due 7/23/25 | 850,000 | 935,942 |
5.75%, due 4/1/48 | 800,000 | 997,647 |
Comcast Corp. | | |
3.30%, due 4/1/27 | 725,000 | 779,247 |
3.40%, due 7/15/46 | 1,415,000 | 1,498,711 |
Discovery Communications LLC | | |
3.95%, due 3/20/28 | 400,000 | 434,717 |
TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp. | | |
2.35%, due 12/1/22 | 560,000 | 567,294 |
ViacomCBS, Inc. | | |
4.95%, due 1/15/31 | 650,000 | 774,319 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) | | |
3.00%, due 9/15/22 | 715,000 | 727,479 |
3.80%, due 3/22/30 | 650,000 | 729,092 |
6.40%, due 12/15/35 | 485,000 | 694,061 |
| | 8,138,509 |
Mining 0.2% |
Barrick North America Finance LLC | | |
5.70%, due 5/30/41 | 125,000 | 169,880 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Mining (continued) |
BHP Billiton Finance USA Ltd. | | |
3.85%, due 9/30/23 | $ 480,000 | $ 504,575 |
| | 674,455 |
Miscellaneous—Manufacturing 0.3% |
3M Co. | | |
4.00%, due 9/14/48 | 300,000 | 360,421 |
Eaton Corp. | | |
4.00%, due 11/2/32 | 260,000 | 298,744 |
General Electric Co. | | |
4.125%, due 10/9/42 | 94,000 | 104,731 |
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | | |
3.50%, due 9/15/22 | 290,000 | 295,985 |
4.20%, due 11/21/34 | 90,000 | 102,519 |
| | 1,162,400 |
Multi-National 0.2% |
International Bank for Reconstruction & Development | | |
3.00%, due 9/27/23 | 900,000 | 935,256 |
Oil & Gas 0.7% |
BP Capital Markets America, Inc. | | |
1.749%, due 8/10/30 | 300,000 | 288,480 |
3.588%, due 4/14/27 | 300,000 | 323,969 |
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. | | |
6.25%, due 3/15/38 | 125,000 | 164,464 |
Chevron Corp. | | |
3.191%, due 6/24/23 | 485,000 | 499,365 |
ConocoPhillips Co. | | |
5.95%, due 3/15/46 | 340,000 | 503,699 |
EOG Resources, Inc. | | |
3.90%, due 4/1/35 | 205,000 | 232,369 |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | |
4.114%, due 3/1/46 | 465,000 | 542,610 |
Hess Corp. | | |
7.125%, due 3/15/33 | 125,000 | 167,016 |
Shell International Finance BV | | |
3.75%, due 9/12/46 | 310,000 | 348,088 |
| | 3,070,060 |
Oil & Gas Services 0.0% ‡ |
Halliburton Co. | | |
3.80%, due 11/15/25 | 28,000 | 30,101 |
Pharmaceuticals 2.3% |
AbbVie, Inc. | | |
3.20%, due 11/6/22 | 490,000 | 498,282 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Pharmaceuticals (continued) |
AbbVie, Inc. (continued) | | |
3.75%, due 11/14/23 | $ 95,000 | $ 99,460 |
3.80%, due 3/15/25 | 175,000 | 186,283 |
4.70%, due 5/14/45 | 530,000 | 657,534 |
4.75%, due 3/15/45 | 100,000 | 124,728 |
Allergan Funding SCS | | |
3.80%, due 3/15/25 | 50,000 | 52,392 |
4.75%, due 3/15/45 | 25,000 | 27,748 |
AstraZeneca plc | | |
6.45%, due 9/15/37 | 490,000 | 720,350 |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | | |
2.75%, due 2/15/23 | 25,000 | 25,567 |
3.40%, due 7/26/29 | 1,480,000 | 1,620,606 |
3.55%, due 8/15/22 | 180,000 | 183,415 |
3.625%, due 5/15/24 | 560,000 | 589,914 |
Cigna Corp. | | |
4.90%, due 12/15/48 | 175,000 | 226,122 |
CVS Health Corp. | | |
1.875%, due 2/28/31 | 10,000 | 9,594 |
2.75%, due 12/1/22 | 380,000 | 385,274 |
4.25%, due 4/1/50 | 325,000 | 392,800 |
Eli Lilly and Co. | | |
3.95%, due 3/15/49 | 300,000 | 362,769 |
GlaxoSmithKline Capital, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 5/15/28 | 305,000 | 341,363 |
Johnson & Johnson | | |
3.55%, due 3/1/36 | 350,000 | 400,363 |
4.95%, due 5/15/33 | 300,000 | 382,781 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | |
3.70%, due 2/10/45 | 260,000 | 299,222 |
Mylan, Inc. | | |
4.20%, due 11/29/23 | 75,000 | 78,593 |
5.20%, due 4/15/48 | 90,000 | 111,415 |
Novartis Capital Corp. | | |
4.00%, due 11/20/45 | 310,000 | 376,048 |
Pfizer, Inc. | | |
3.00%, due 6/15/23 | 180,000 | 186,272 |
3.20%, due 9/15/23 | 25,000 | 25,973 |
4.00%, due 12/15/36 | 1,165,000 | 1,384,949 |
| | 9,749,817 |
Pipelines 1.7% |
Enbridge, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 6/10/44 | 260,000 | 303,601 |
Energy Transfer LP | | |
4.05%, due 3/15/25 | 2,655,000 | 2,812,980 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Pipelines (continued) |
Enterprise Products Operating LLC | | |
3.70%, due 2/15/26 | $ 475,000 | $ 509,493 |
4.80%, due 2/1/49 | 400,000 | 486,804 |
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP | | |
5.80%, due 3/15/35 | 305,000 | 382,565 |
Kinder Morgan, Inc. | | |
4.30%, due 6/1/25 | 565,000 | 610,562 |
MPLX LP | | |
4.125%, due 3/1/27 | 855,000 | 935,435 |
Phillips 66 Partners LP | | |
4.68%, due 2/15/45 | 487,000 | 570,950 |
TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. | | |
4.875%, due 1/15/26 | 310,000 | 345,197 |
4.875%, due 5/15/48 | 325,000 | 413,006 |
| | 7,370,593 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.3% |
American Tower Corp. | | |
5.00%, due 2/15/24 | 170,000 | 182,918 |
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | | |
2.90%, due 10/15/26 | 205,000 | 216,176 |
ERP Operating LP | | |
3.25%, due 8/1/27 | 260,000 | 277,255 |
Realty Income Corp. | | |
4.65%, due 3/15/47 | 150,000 | 193,863 |
Simon Property Group LP | | |
4.25%, due 11/30/46 | 443,000 | 524,371 |
| | 1,394,583 |
Retail 1.2% |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | | |
2.375%, due 3/15/51 | 850,000 | 780,835 |
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | | |
4.05%, due 5/3/47 | 385,000 | 442,918 |
McDonald's Corp. | | |
3.375%, due 5/26/25 | 1,485,000 | 1,578,231 |
Starbucks Corp. | | |
2.55%, due 11/15/30 | 875,000 | 892,369 |
Target Corp. | | |
2.35%, due 2/15/30 | 175,000 | 179,839 |
3.50%, due 7/1/24 | 300,000 | 318,084 |
Walmart, Inc. | | |
2.85%, due 7/8/24 | 250,000 | 261,236 |
3.30%, due 4/22/24 | 90,000 | 94,340 |
4.30%, due 4/22/44 | 625,000 | 792,867 |
| | 5,340,719 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Semiconductors 0.8% |
Applied Materials, Inc. | | |
5.10%, due 10/1/35 | $ 260,000 | $ 336,410 |
Broadcom, Inc. | | |
4.15%, due 11/15/30 | 650,000 | 720,887 |
Intel Corp. | | |
3.70%, due 7/29/25 | 1,460,000 | 1,575,393 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | | |
4.65%, due 5/20/35 | 260,000 | 323,272 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | | |
2.625%, due 5/15/24 | 350,000 | 363,311 |
| | 3,319,273 |
Software 1.0% |
Fiserv, Inc. | | |
4.20%, due 10/1/28 | 625,000 | 700,641 |
Microsoft Corp. | | |
2.40%, due 2/6/22 | 10,000 | 10,001 |
2.921%, due 3/17/52 | 455,000 | 483,082 |
3.30%, due 2/6/27 | 390,000 | 424,992 |
Oracle Corp. | | |
2.95%, due 5/15/25 | 1,955,000 | 2,029,975 |
4.00%, due 7/15/46 | 205,000 | 212,774 |
5.375%, due 7/15/40 | 350,000 | 427,389 |
| | 4,288,854 |
Telecommunications 1.8% |
AT&T, Inc. | | |
2.55%, due 12/1/33 | 1,551,000 | 1,516,943 |
3.55%, due 9/15/55 | 501,000 | 502,818 |
3.60%, due 7/15/25 | 310,000 | 330,910 |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | |
2.95%, due 2/28/26 | 485,000 | 515,425 |
Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV | | |
8.75%, due 6/15/30 (b) | 260,000 | 377,900 |
Telefonica Emisiones SA | | |
7.045%, due 6/20/36 | 350,000 | 499,334 |
T-Mobile US, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 4/15/30 | 650,000 | 710,940 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | |
4.016%, due 12/3/29 | 565,000 | 633,422 |
5.50%, due 3/16/47 | 725,000 | 1,011,559 |
Vodafone Group plc | | |
4.375%, due 5/30/28 | 1,330,000 | 1,496,497 |
| | 7,595,748 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Transportation 1.1% |
Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC | | |
3.25%, due 6/15/27 | $ 956,000 | $ 1,028,771 |
Canadian National Railway Co. | | |
6.25%, due 8/1/34 | 260,000 | 357,719 |
CSX Corp. | | |
3.35%, due 9/15/49 | 575,000 | 607,372 |
Norfolk Southern Corp. | | |
3.942%, due 11/1/47 | 341,000 | 394,635 |
Union Pacific Corp. | | |
2.75%, due 3/1/26 | 1,680,000 | 1,759,995 |
United Parcel Service, Inc. | | |
3.40%, due 11/15/46 | 480,000 | 539,471 |
| | 4,687,963 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $123,373,054) | | 126,013,434 |
Foreign Government Bonds 3.2% |
Canada 0.5% |
Province of Ontario Canada | | |
2.50%, due 4/27/26 | 1,120,000 | 1,171,339 |
Province of Quebec Canada | | |
2.50%, due 4/20/26 | 775,000 | 811,897 |
| | 1,983,236 |
Japan 0.1% |
Japan Bank for International Cooperation | | |
2.875%, due 6/1/27 | 576,000 | 612,993 |
Luxembourg 0.4% |
European Investment Bank | | |
2.25%, due 8/15/22 | 1,375,000 | 1,391,863 |
2.375%, due 5/24/27 | 520,000 | 545,570 |
| | 1,937,433 |
Mexico 1.0% |
Mexico Government Bond | | |
4.125%, due 1/21/26 | 3,830,000 | 4,203,463 |
Norway 0.1% |
Equinor ASA | | |
5.10%, due 8/17/40 | 385,000 | 504,621 |
Panama 0.2% |
Panama Government Bond | | |
3.75%, due 3/16/25 | 750,000 | 794,257 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Foreign Government Bonds (continued) |
Peru 0.3% |
Peruvian Government Bond | | |
7.35%, due 7/21/25 | $ 1,045,000 | $ 1,244,867 |
Philippines 0.4% |
Asian Development Bank | | |
2.75%, due 3/17/23 | 900,000 | 923,583 |
Philippine Government Bond | | |
5.00%, due 1/13/37 | 600,000 | 744,664 |
| | 1,668,247 |
Republic of Korea 0.2% |
Korea Development Bank (The) | | |
3.25%, due 2/19/24 | 650,000 | 680,075 |
Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $13,309,133) | | 13,629,192 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities 14.9% |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 13.2% |
FHLMC, Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates | |
REMIC, Series K094, Class A2 | | |
2.903%, due 6/25/29 | 4,000,000 | 4,322,921 |
GNMA II, Single Family, 30 Year (c) | |
2.00%, due 1/15/52 TBA | 6,350,000 | 6,407,329 |
2.50%, due 1/15/52 TBA | 6,300,000 | 6,451,587 |
UMBS, Single Family, 15 Year (c) | |
1.50%, due 1/25/37 TBA | 3,500,000 | 3,509,366 |
2.00%, due 1/25/37 TBA | 3,950,000 | 4,044,508 |
UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year (c) | |
2.00%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 17,350,000 | 15,302,704 |
2.50%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 13,500,000 | 13,773,229 |
3.00%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 3,100,000 | 3,211,486 |
| | 57,023,130 |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 1.7% |
BANK | |
Series 2018-BN14, Class A3 | | |
3.966%, due 9/15/60 | 800,000 | 880,317 |
Benchmark Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2018-B1, Class A2 | | |
3.571%, due 1/15/51 | 98,176 | 99,715 |
Series 2018-B1, Class A5 | | |
3.666%, due 1/15/51 (d) | 800,000 | 870,115 |
Series 2018-B6, Class A3 | | |
3.995%, due 10/10/51 | 900,000 | 996,636 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2016-C6, Class A3 | | |
3.217%, due 11/10/49 (d) | $ 300,000 | $ 315,622 |
Series 2017-C8, Class A3 | | |
3.305%, due 6/15/50 | 180,518 | 187,317 |
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2017-P8, Class A4 | | |
3.465%, due 9/15/50 | 300,000 | 322,044 |
Series 2015-GC35, Class A4 | | |
3.818%, due 11/10/48 | 300,000 | 321,574 |
CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2017-CX9, Class A5 | | |
3.446%, due 9/15/50 | 300,000 | 320,629 |
GS Mortgage Securities Trust | |
Series 2016-GS3, Class A4 | | |
2.85%, due 10/10/49 | 300,000 | 312,310 |
Series 2014-GC22, Class A5 | | |
3.862%, due 6/10/47 | 300,000 | 315,513 |
Series 2018-GS9, Class A4 | | |
3.992%, due 3/10/51 (d) | 800,000 | 887,713 |
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust | |
Series 2013-C7, Class A4 | | |
2.918%, due 2/15/46 | 300,000 | 303,715 |
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust | |
Series 2018-H3, Class A4 | | |
3.914%, due 7/15/51 | 500,000 | 547,641 |
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2015-SG1, Class A4 | | |
3.789%, due 9/15/48 | 296,023 | 311,606 |
WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2012-C8, Class A3 | | |
3.001%, due 8/15/45 | 174,754 | 175,574 |
| | 7,168,041 |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $63,887,024) | | 64,191,171 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies 51.1% |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 5.2% |
FFCB | | |
0.68%, due 1/13/27 | 1,125,000 | 1,089,351 |
FHLB | | |
3.25%, due 11/16/28 | 2,200,000 | 2,457,733 |
FHLMC | | |
2.375%, due 1/13/22 | 500,000 | 500,325 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
FHLMC Gold Pools, 15 Year | | |
2.50%, due 10/1/31 | $ 49,982 | $ 52,309 |
2.50%, due 2/1/32 | 186,672 | 193,958 |
2.50%, due 2/1/33 | 181,131 | 188,177 |
2.50%, due 4/1/33 | 255,990 | 265,306 |
2.50%, due 6/1/33 | 36,932 | 38,273 |
2.50%, due 7/1/33 | 92,080 | 95,652 |
3.00%, due 9/1/27 | 104,693 | 109,794 |
3.00%, due 4/1/32 | 116,450 | 122,498 |
3.00%, due 6/1/32 | 29,490 | 30,984 |
3.00%, due 9/1/32 | 14,730 | 15,486 |
3.00%, due 10/1/32 | 65,042 | 68,379 |
3.00%, due 5/1/33 | 82,757 | 86,988 |
3.00%, due 9/1/33 | 65,525 | 68,784 |
3.50%, due 12/1/25 | 20,316 | 21,397 |
3.50%, due 5/1/33 | 69,086 | 73,045 |
3.50%, due 9/1/33 | 20,118 | 21,241 |
FHLMC Gold Pools, 20 Year | | |
3.00%, due 9/1/36 | 99,815 | 105,901 |
3.00%, due 11/1/37 | 51,662 | 54,179 |
3.00%, due 12/1/37 | 90,165 | 94,560 |
3.50%, due 2/1/37 | 90,331 | 96,627 |
3.50%, due 1/1/38 | 92,130 | 98,229 |
4.50%, due 5/1/38 | 59,445 | 64,787 |
5.50%, due 1/1/29 | 24,775 | 27,098 |
FHLMC Gold Pools, 30 Year | | |
3.00%, due 9/1/46 | 422,951 | 444,181 |
3.00%, due 12/1/46 | 27,966 | 29,215 |
3.00%, due 2/1/47 | 36,338 | 38,362 |
3.00%, due 3/1/47 | 162,314 | 170,116 |
3.00%, due 4/1/47 | 45,828 | 47,934 |
3.00%, due 1/1/48 | 300,358 | 313,215 |
3.00%, due 2/1/48 | 178,651 | 186,183 |
3.00%, due 3/1/48 | 161,941 | 168,688 |
3.00%, due 4/1/48 | 489,502 | 518,527 |
3.00%, due 6/1/48 | 286,017 | 297,743 |
3.50%, due 6/1/43 | 124,489 | 134,505 |
3.50%, due 9/1/44 | 100,096 | 107,817 |
3.50%, due 8/1/45 | 158,737 | 169,515 |
3.50%, due 8/1/46 | 220,794 | 236,744 |
3.50%, due 8/1/47 | 20,253 | 21,508 |
3.50%, due 9/1/47 | 49,686 | 52,685 |
3.50%, due 11/1/47 | 107,517 | 113,934 |
3.50%, due 12/1/47 | 227,238 | 241,012 |
3.50%, due 1/1/48 | 22,628 | 23,992 |
3.50%, due 3/1/48 | 309,811 | 327,859 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
FHLMC Gold Pools, 30 Year (continued) | | |
3.50%, due 5/1/48 | $ 99,914 | $ 105,506 |
3.50%, due 6/1/48 | 117,720 | 124,081 |
3.50%, due 8/1/48 | 126,381 | 133,374 |
3.50%, due 9/1/48 | 131,179 | 138,577 |
3.50%, due 11/1/48 | 47,204 | 49,793 |
3.50%, due 12/1/48 | 124,951 | 132,163 |
4.00%, due 4/1/46 | 200,469 | 217,167 |
4.00%, due 5/1/46 | 62,018 | 67,156 |
4.00%, due 4/1/47 | 45,283 | 48,554 |
4.00%, due 6/1/47 | 114,174 | 122,530 |
4.00%, due 8/1/47 | 231,568 | 248,714 |
4.00%, due 10/1/47 | 54,107 | 57,670 |
4.00%, due 12/1/47 | 140,748 | 150,629 |
4.00%, due 1/1/48 | 45,227 | 48,491 |
4.00%, due 5/1/48 | 61,240 | 65,483 |
4.00%, due 9/1/48 | 230,292 | 244,871 |
4.00%, due 12/1/48 | 127,454 | 135,579 |
4.50%, due 9/1/46 | 12,401 | 13,435 |
4.50%, due 9/1/46 | 31,633 | 34,311 |
4.50%, due 10/1/46 | 96,838 | 105,011 |
4.50%, due 2/1/47 | 21,462 | 23,230 |
4.50%, due 11/1/47 | 25,430 | 27,460 |
4.50%, due 2/1/48 | 48,725 | 52,549 |
4.50%, due 4/1/48 | 59,436 | 64,024 |
4.50%, due 6/1/48 | 33,825 | 36,383 |
4.50%, due 7/1/48 | 126,442 | 135,744 |
4.50%, due 8/1/48 | 123,972 | 133,033 |
5.00%, due 9/1/38 | 42,285 | 47,915 |
5.00%, due 11/1/41 | 64,586 | 73,149 |
5.00%, due 3/1/47 | 124,180 | 137,043 |
5.00%, due 9/1/48 | 215,385 | 235,518 |
5.00%, due 1/1/49 | 84,300 | 92,501 |
5.50%, due 7/1/38 | 66,063 | 75,647 |
FNMA | | |
0.65%, due 12/10/25 | 2,000,000 | 1,954,086 |
1.375%, due 9/6/22 | 725,000 | 730,454 |
1.875%, due 4/5/22 | 300,000 | 301,212 |
UMBS, 15 Year | | |
2.50%, due 9/1/34 | 441,135 | 456,817 |
2.50%, due 10/1/34 | 454,347 | 470,529 |
2.50%, due 3/1/35 | 907,354 | 937,941 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.50%, due 5/1/50 | 2,432,143 | 2,500,227 |
3.50%, due 12/1/47 | 1,545,781 | 1,635,218 |
4.50%, due 1/1/49 | 163,517 | 175,007 |
| | 22,223,578 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 7.8% |
UMBS, 10 Year | | |
3.00%, due 4/1/25 | $ 27,277 | $ 28,510 |
3.50%, due 3/1/22 | 1,199 | 1,261 |
UMBS, 15 Year | | |
2.50%, due 10/1/27 | 112,350 | 116,613 |
2.50%, due 4/1/30 | 97,640 | 101,315 |
2.50%, due 10/1/31 | 152,822 | 158,727 |
2.50%, due 2/1/32 | 153,358 | 159,292 |
2.50%, due 2/1/32 | 160,770 | 166,983 |
2.50%, due 8/1/32 | 391,091 | 409,132 |
2.50%, due 3/1/33 | 226,374 | 236,891 |
2.50%, due 6/1/33 | 132,633 | 137,725 |
3.00%, due 11/1/31 | 107,568 | 113,060 |
3.00%, due 1/1/32 | 110,920 | 116,492 |
3.00%, due 6/1/32 | 81,895 | 86,052 |
3.00%, due 1/1/33 | 123,436 | 129,794 |
3.00%, due 2/1/33 | 160,577 | 170,341 |
3.00%, due 4/1/33 | 152,641 | 160,479 |
3.00%, due 5/1/33 | 210,099 | 220,669 |
3.00%, due 9/1/33 | 24,566 | 25,744 |
3.00%, due 9/1/34 | 643,556 | 675,400 |
3.50%, due 5/1/26 | 23,645 | 24,910 |
3.50%, due 11/1/31 | 28,530 | 30,001 |
3.50%, due 5/1/33 | 68,762 | 72,739 |
3.50%, due 6/1/33 | 86,295 | 91,231 |
3.50%, due 7/1/33 | 41,683 | 44,037 |
3.50%, due 9/1/33 | 50,268 | 53,143 |
4.00%, due 5/1/24 | 30,222 | 31,707 |
4.00%, due 11/1/29 | 86,190 | 90,466 |
UMBS, 20 Year | | |
3.00%, due 2/1/37 | 141,495 | 149,867 |
3.00%, due 1/1/38 | 273,899 | 286,814 |
4.00%, due 2/1/37 | 26,688 | 28,916 |
4.00%, due 8/1/38 | 161,349 | 172,405 |
5.00%, due 8/1/31 | 73,854 | 80,629 |
5.50%, due 8/1/27 | 40,643 | 44,482 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.00%, due 8/1/50 | 1,778,958 | 1,775,056 |
2.00%, due 9/1/50 | 2,392,146 | 2,386,900 |
2.00%, due 10/1/50 | 2,268,372 | 2,271,512 |
2.00%, due 1/1/51 | 3,191,980 | 3,190,881 |
2.00%, due 12/1/51 (e) | 2,000,000 | 2,003,768 |
2.50%, due 4/1/46 | 26,745 | 27,378 |
2.50%, due 10/1/46 | 120,847 | 124,005 |
3.00%, due 9/1/42 | 562,845 | 594,304 |
3.00%, due 3/1/43 | 1,653,361 | 1,739,546 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
UMBS, 30 Year (continued) | | |
3.00%, due 12/1/43 | $ 661,559 | $ 697,300 |
3.00%, due 10/1/44 | 426,127 | 449,356 |
3.00%, due 10/1/46 | 68,421 | 71,528 |
3.00%, due 12/1/46 | 712,681 | 750,571 |
3.00%, due 2/1/47 | 114,549 | 120,132 |
3.00%, due 8/1/47 | 591,971 | 625,565 |
3.00%, due 10/1/47 | 504,247 | 532,317 |
3.00%, due 11/1/47 | 85,691 | 89,491 |
3.00%, due 6/1/48 | 64,253 | 66,811 |
3.00%, due 9/1/49 | 693,412 | 718,576 |
3.50%, due 5/1/45 | 503,217 | 543,467 |
3.50%, due 9/1/45 | 41,807 | 44,627 |
3.50%, due 12/1/45 | 106,100 | 113,235 |
3.50%, due 12/1/45 | 244,433 | 263,768 |
3.50%, due 1/1/46 | 179,413 | 193,742 |
3.50%, due 1/1/46 | 147,554 | 158,181 |
3.50%, due 4/1/46 | 63,859 | 68,345 |
3.50%, due 9/1/46 | 319,318 | 343,780 |
3.50%, due 10/1/46 | 135,096 | 143,914 |
3.50%, due 10/1/46 | 58,051 | 61,746 |
3.50%, due 1/1/47 | 111,250 | 118,775 |
3.50%, due 7/1/47 | 23,542 | 25,015 |
3.50%, due 7/1/47 | 133,834 | 144,229 |
3.50%, due 10/1/47 | 84,335 | 89,419 |
3.50%, due 11/1/47 | 268,954 | 285,062 |
3.50%, due 11/1/47 | 116,025 | 123,054 |
3.50%, due 11/1/47 | 319,944 | 339,248 |
3.50%, due 12/1/47 | 22,811 | 24,184 |
3.50%, due 8/1/48 | 153,799 | 162,203 |
3.50%, due 9/1/48 | 188,451 | 199,064 |
3.50%, due 2/1/49 | 359,896 | 379,288 |
3.50%, due 6/1/49 | 741,169 | 781,752 |
4.00%, due 8/1/44 | 156,267 | 171,546 |
4.00%, due 2/1/45 | 129,472 | 141,452 |
4.00%, due 9/1/45 | 22,825 | 24,764 |
4.00%, due 5/1/46 | 103,468 | 112,199 |
4.00%, due 9/1/46 | 43,076 | 46,821 |
4.00%, due 9/1/46 | 50,143 | 54,020 |
4.00%, due 2/1/47 | 19,239 | 20,823 |
4.00%, due 4/1/47 | 9,230 | 9,916 |
4.00%, due 5/1/47 | 69,271 | 74,468 |
4.00%, due 5/1/47 | 54,610 | 58,605 |
4.00%, due 6/1/47 | 211,466 | 226,274 |
4.00%, due 10/1/47 | 22,821 | 24,483 |
4.00%, due 11/1/47 | 22,770 | 24,395 |
4.00%, due 12/1/47 | 56,735 | 60,434 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
UMBS, 30 Year (continued) | | |
4.00%, due 1/1/48 | $ 126,907 | $ 135,671 |
4.00%, due 1/1/48 | 24,271 | 26,058 |
4.00%, due 1/1/48 | 142,792 | 152,248 |
4.00%, due 2/1/48 | 68,699 | 73,323 |
4.00%, due 6/1/48 | 281,651 | 300,155 |
4.00%, due 7/1/48 | 167,966 | 178,818 |
4.00%, due 7/1/48 | 65,464 | 69,626 |
4.00%, due 7/1/48 | 267,472 | 284,639 |
4.00%, due 8/1/48 | 43,167 | 45,890 |
4.00%, due 9/1/48 | 169,676 | 180,668 |
4.00%, due 9/1/48 | 41,725 | 44,421 |
4.00%, due 10/1/48 | 29,581 | 31,472 |
4.00%, due 11/1/48 | 75,430 | 80,263 |
4.00%, due 1/1/49 | 62,985 | 66,972 |
4.00%, due 9/1/49 | 1,076,416 | 1,144,312 |
4.50%, due 7/1/46 | 24,848 | 26,922 |
4.50%, due 12/1/46 | 33,909 | 36,921 |
4.50%, due 4/1/47 | 262,092 | 283,479 |
4.50%, due 5/1/47 | 10,706 | 11,569 |
4.50%, due 7/1/47 | 150,173 | 161,031 |
4.50%, due 7/1/47 | 46,688 | 50,648 |
4.50%, due 8/1/47 | 4,770 | 5,141 |
4.50%, due 2/1/48 | 164,324 | 176,715 |
4.50%, due 4/1/48 | 27,719 | 29,845 |
4.50%, due 4/1/48 | 13,769 | 14,821 |
4.50%, due 4/1/48 | 39,667 | 42,739 |
4.50%, due 5/1/48 | 92,414 | 99,254 |
4.50%, due 6/1/48 | 56,947 | 60,984 |
4.50%, due 8/1/48 | 105,226 | 112,700 |
4.50%, due 10/1/48 | 37,681 | 40,442 |
4.50%, due 9/1/49 | 516,312 | 553,541 |
5.00%, due 6/1/39 | 98,779 | 111,757 |
5.00%, due 6/1/40 | 23,296 | 26,424 |
5.00%, due 7/1/47 | 56,489 | 61,972 |
5.00%, due 1/1/48 | 108,140 | 118,417 |
5.00%, due 4/1/48 | 27,855 | 30,455 |
5.00%, due 5/1/48 | 60,002 | 65,411 |
5.00%, due 9/1/48 | 51,673 | 56,614 |
5.50%, due 6/1/36 | 47,078 | 53,222 |
5.50%, due 5/1/44 | 68,000 | 77,306 |
5.50%, due 9/1/48 | 165,928 | 181,990 |
| | 33,611,978 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Government National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 3.0% |
GNMA I, 30 Year | | |
3.00%, due 6/15/45 | $ 18,710 | $ 19,468 |
3.00%, due 10/15/45 | 9,068 | 9,354 |
3.00%, due 5/15/48 | 62,392 | 64,929 |
3.50%, due 3/15/45 | 9,630 | 10,230 |
3.50%, due 4/15/45 | 16,977 | 17,960 |
3.50%, due 5/15/48 | 33,876 | 35,423 |
4.00%, due 8/15/46 | 42,338 | 45,757 |
4.00%, due 11/15/47 | 56,884 | 60,774 |
4.00%, due 7/15/49 | 86,922 | 92,599 |
4.50%, due 8/15/46 | 50,844 | 56,420 |
4.50%, due 2/15/47 | 5,385 | 6,010 |
4.50%, due 4/15/47 | 34,584 | 38,255 |
4.50%, due 8/15/47 | 189,068 | 212,715 |
4.50%, due 8/15/47 | 157,992 | 174,763 |
5.00%, due 4/15/47 | 28,952 | 32,809 |
5.00%, due 12/15/47 | 19,109 | 21,496 |
GNMA II, 30 Year | | |
2.50%, due 4/20/47 | 42,296 | 43,501 |
3.00%, due 11/20/45 | 335,596 | 350,297 |
3.00%, due 8/20/46 | 115,750 | 120,822 |
3.00%, due 9/20/46 | 62,336 | 65,070 |
3.00%, due 10/20/46 | 390,050 | 407,158 |
3.00%, due 1/20/47 | 449,976 | 469,690 |
3.00%, due 5/20/47 | 78,116 | 81,337 |
3.00%, due 12/20/47 | 235,080 | 244,159 |
3.00%, due 2/20/48 | 260,970 | 271,043 |
3.00%, due 3/20/48 | 309,477 | 321,263 |
3.00%, due 2/20/50 | 2,216,249 | 2,294,988 |
3.50%, due 11/20/42 | 151,895 | 159,997 |
3.50%, due 9/20/44 | 191,169 | 203,230 |
3.50%, due 7/20/45 | 470,413 | 499,459 |
3.50%, due 11/20/45 | 214,916 | 227,732 |
3.50%, due 7/20/46 | 22,857 | 24,073 |
3.50%, due 10/20/46 | 24,284 | 25,595 |
3.50%, due 11/20/46 | 297,496 | 312,906 |
3.50%, due 1/20/47 | 331,721 | 349,027 |
3.50%, due 5/20/47 | 242,459 | 254,701 |
3.50%, due 9/20/47 | 247,786 | 260,995 |
3.50%, due 10/20/47 | 443,526 | 467,952 |
3.50%, due 12/20/47 | 219,908 | 230,919 |
3.50%, due 7/20/48 | 119,172 | 124,882 |
3.50%, due 9/20/48 | 127,141 | 133,355 |
3.50%, due 10/20/48 | 127,436 | 133,569 |
3.50%, due 4/20/49 | 661,797 | 689,737 |
3.50%, due 7/20/49 | 756,186 | 788,186 |
4.00%, due 12/20/46 | 20,532 | 21,827 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
Government National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
GNMA II, 30 Year (continued) | | |
4.00%, due 1/20/47 | $ 157,368 | $ 167,812 |
4.00%, due 2/20/47 | 38,148 | 40,459 |
4.00%, due 3/20/47 | 28,364 | 30,241 |
4.00%, due 4/20/47 | 62,663 | 66,809 |
4.00%, due 5/20/47 | 51,742 | 55,174 |
4.00%, due 7/20/47 | 20,590 | 21,943 |
4.00%, due 11/20/47 | 255,694 | 272,491 |
4.00%, due 12/20/47 | 55,272 | 58,902 |
4.00%, due 4/20/48 | 192,900 | 204,819 |
4.00%, due 5/20/48 | 85,690 | 90,883 |
4.00%, due 6/20/48 | 35,417 | 37,438 |
4.00%, due 8/20/48 | 240,404 | 254,185 |
4.00%, due 9/20/48 | 126,966 | 134,437 |
4.00%, due 3/20/49 | 32,818 | 34,747 |
4.50%, due 8/20/46 | 70,312 | 77,365 |
4.50%, due 4/20/47 | 59,240 | 63,797 |
4.50%, due 11/20/47 | 54,405 | 58,231 |
4.50%, due 1/20/48 | 132,498 | 141,982 |
4.50%, due 3/20/48 | 53,434 | 57,164 |
4.50%, due 5/20/48 | 45,318 | 48,197 |
4.50%, due 6/20/48 | 74,845 | 79,598 |
4.50%, due 8/20/48 | 144,496 | 153,020 |
5.00%, due 8/20/45 | 84,917 | 94,559 |
5.00%, due 11/20/46 | 51,950 | 58,684 |
5.00%, due 11/20/47 | 53,588 | 58,081 |
5.00%, due 3/20/48 | 33,111 | 36,026 |
5.00%, due 6/20/48 | 70,110 | 74,976 |
| | 12,948,452 |
United States Treasury Bonds 4.4% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | |
1.25%, due 5/15/50 | 175,000 | 148,607 |
1.375%, due 8/15/50 | 150,000 | 131,397 |
1.625%, due 11/15/50 | 5,185,000 | 4,830,759 |
2.25%, due 8/15/49 | 475,000 | 508,380 |
2.375%, due 11/15/49 | 185,000 | 203,225 |
2.75%, due 8/15/47 | 235,000 | 273,463 |
2.75%, due 11/15/47 | 300,000 | 349,266 |
2.875%, due 11/15/46 | 140,000 | 165,588 |
2.875%, due 5/15/49 | 800,000 | 963,688 |
3.00%, due 2/15/47 | 815,000 | 986,277 |
3.00%, due 5/15/47 | 575,000 | 697,906 |
3.00%, due 2/15/48 | 1,950,000 | 2,380,066 |
3.00%, due 8/15/48 | 1,290,000 | 1,578,486 |
3.00%, due 2/15/49 | 845,000 | 1,038,888 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
United States Treasury Bonds (continued) |
U.S. Treasury Bonds (continued) | | |
3.125%, due 5/15/48 | $ 2,900,000 | $ 3,624,320 |
3.375%, due 11/15/48 | 550,000 | 719,619 |
3.625%, due 2/15/44 | 150,000 | 195,205 |
4.625%, due 2/15/40 | 200,000 | 287,258 |
| | 19,082,398 |
United States Treasury Notes 30.7% |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | |
0.125%, due 5/15/23 | 9,500,000 | 9,445,449 |
0.125%, due 5/31/23 | 1,500,000 | 1,490,684 |
0.125%, due 6/30/23 | 800,000 | 794,594 |
0.125%, due 7/15/23 | 6,300,000 | 6,254,473 |
0.125%, due 7/31/23 | 700,000 | 694,504 |
0.125%, due 8/15/23 | 4,000,000 | 3,967,344 |
0.125%, due 8/31/23 | 3,500,000 | 3,469,238 |
0.125%, due 9/15/23 | 2,250,000 | 2,229,434 |
0.125%, due 10/15/23 | 3,000,000 | 2,970,000 |
0.125%, due 12/15/23 | 1,500,000 | 1,482,773 |
0.125%, due 1/15/24 | 700,000 | 691,168 |
0.125%, due 2/15/24 | 400,000 | 394,781 |
0.25%, due 6/15/23 | 5,450,000 | 5,424,666 |
0.25%, due 9/30/23 | 2,000,000 | 1,985,938 |
0.25%, due 11/15/23 | 3,000,000 | 2,975,273 |
0.25%, due 3/15/24 | 1,400,000 | 1,383,266 |
0.25%, due 5/15/24 | 1,300,000 | 1,282,277 |
0.25%, due 6/15/24 | 300,000 | 295,582 |
0.25%, due 5/31/25 | 1,850,000 | 1,799,559 |
0.25%, due 6/30/25 | 700,000 | 680,066 |
0.25%, due 8/31/25 | 950,000 | 920,275 |
0.375%, due 10/31/23 | 1,500,000 | 1,491,152 |
0.375%, due 4/15/24 | 1,000,000 | 989,961 |
0.375%, due 7/15/24 | 400,000 | 395,063 |
0.375%, due 8/15/24 | 1,250,000 | 1,233,496 |
0.375%, due 9/15/24 | 1,700,000 | 1,675,961 |
0.375%, due 4/30/25 | 2,025,000 | 1,980,070 |
0.375%, due 7/31/27 | 975,000 | 926,060 |
0.50%, due 11/30/23 | 500,000 | 498,086 |
0.50%, due 4/30/27 | 500,000 | 479,609 |
0.50%, due 6/30/27 | 1,150,000 | 1,100,406 |
0.50%, due 8/31/27 | 2,500,000 | 2,385,449 |
0.625%, due 10/15/24 | 1,000,000 | 991,875 |
0.625%, due 7/31/26 | 1,500,000 | 1,458,574 |
0.625%, due 12/31/27 | 450,000 | 430,576 |
0.625%, due 5/15/30 | 175,000 | 163,625 |
0.625%, due 8/15/30 | 250,000 | 233,145 |
0.75%, due 12/31/23 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,195 |
0.75%, due 11/15/24 | 2,125,000 | 2,113,047 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
United States Treasury Notes (continued) |
U.S. Treasury Notes (continued) | | |
0.875%, due 11/15/30 | $ 200,000 | $ 190,148 |
1.00%, due 12/15/24 | 3,000,000 | 3,003,281 |
1.00%, due 7/31/28 | 525,000 | 511,116 |
1.125%, due 2/29/28 | 400,000 | 394,188 |
1.125%, due 8/31/28 | 1,330,000 | 1,304,231 |
1.125%, due 2/15/31 | 250,000 | 242,627 |
1.25%, due 12/31/26 | 1,275,000 | 1,273,606 |
1.25%, due 3/31/28 | 200,000 | 198,219 |
1.25%, due 4/30/28 | 475,000 | 470,677 |
1.25%, due 5/31/28 | 3,900,000 | 3,861,457 |
1.25%, due 6/30/28 | 1,200,000 | 1,187,719 |
1.25%, due 9/30/28 | 685,000 | 676,946 |
1.25%, due 8/15/31 | 855,000 | 835,896 |
1.375%, due 10/31/28 | 1,950,000 | 1,942,078 |
1.375%, due 12/31/28 | 3,300,000 | 3,285,047 |
1.375%, due 11/15/31 | 2,700,000 | 2,665,828 |
1.50%, due 10/31/24 | 1,100,000 | 1,117,231 |
1.625%, due 8/15/29 | 1,050,000 | 1,065,217 |
1.625%, due 5/15/31 | 1,275,000 | 1,291,137 |
1.75%, due 6/30/24 | 2,875,000 | 2,937,666 |
1.75%, due 7/31/24 | 2,100,000 | 2,147,004 |
1.875%, due 8/31/24 | 650,000 | 666,529 |
2.00%, due 4/30/24 | 4,035,000 | 4,144,386 |
2.00%, due 5/31/24 | 1,400,000 | 1,438,445 |
2.125%, due 7/31/24 | 150,000 | 154,764 |
2.375%, due 5/15/29 | 825,000 | 879,302 |
2.50%, due 3/31/23 | 100,000 | 102,465 |
2.625%, due 6/30/23 | 1,900,000 | 1,957,520 |
2.625%, due 12/31/23 | 150,000 | 155,584 |
2.75%, due 5/31/23 | 1,700,000 | 1,752,461 |
2.75%, due 7/31/23 | 4,675,000 | 4,831,868 |
2.75%, due 8/31/23 | 8,300,000 | 8,584,664 |
2.75%, due 6/30/25 | 275,000 | 290,694 |
2.875%, due 9/30/23 | 2,875,000 | 2,984,609 |
2.875%, due 10/31/23 | 2,300,000 | 2,390,652 |
2.875%, due 11/30/23 | 600,000 | 624,563 |
2.875%, due 5/31/25 | 300,000 | 318,082 |
| | 132,055,601 |
Total U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (Cost $215,813,267) | | 219,922,007 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $416,429,945) | | 423,803,381 |
|
| Shares | | Value |
Exchange-Traded Fund 0.3% |
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 10,591 | | $ 1,403,519 |
Total Exchange-Traded Fund (Cost $1,405,108) | | | 1,403,519 |
Short-Term Investment 9.4% |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 9.4% |
J.P. Morgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, 0.026% (f) | 40,363,697 | | 40,363,697 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $40,363,697) | | | 40,363,697 |
Total Investments (Cost $458,198,750) | 108.2% | | 465,570,597 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (8.2) | | (35,352,171) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 430,218,426 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Fixed to floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(b) | Step coupon—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(c) | TBA—Security purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and maturity date. The actual principal amount and maturity date will be determined upon settlement. As of December 31, 2021, the total net market value was $52,700,209, which represented 12.3% of the Portfolio’s net assets. All or a portion of this security is a part of a mortgage dollar roll agreement. |
(d) | Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(e) | Delayed delivery security. |
(f) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts1:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Notes | 50 | March 2022 | $ 6,064,537 | $ 6,048,828 | $ (15,709) |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Notes | 43 | March 2022 | 5,601,162 | 5,610,156 | 8,994 |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Ultra Bonds | 52 | March 2022 | 7,574,623 | 7,614,750 | 40,127 |
U.S. Treasury Long Bonds | 131 | March 2022 | 21,001,176 | 21,017,313 | 16,137 |
U.S. Treasury Ultra Bonds | 27 | March 2022 | 5,288,494 | 5,322,375 | 33,881 |
Total Long Contracts | | | | | 83,430 |
Short Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Notes | (142) | March 2022 | (31,078,166) | (30,980,406) | 97,760 |
Net Unrealized Appreciation | | | | | $ 181,190 |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $854,400 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions. |
2. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund |
FFCB—Federal Farm Credit Bank |
FHLB—Federal Home Loan Bank |
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. |
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association |
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association |
REMIC—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit |
TBA—To Be Announced |
UMBS—Uniform Mortgage Backed Securities |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Security | $ — | | $ 47,577 | | $ — | | $ 47,577 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 126,013,434 | | — | | 126,013,434 |
Foreign Government Bonds | — | | 13,629,192 | | — | | 13,629,192 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | | 64,191,171 | | — | | 64,191,171 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies | — | | 219,922,007 | | — | | 219,922,007 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 423,803,381 | | — | | 423,803,381 |
Exchange-Traded Fund | 1,403,519 | | — | | — | | 1,403,519 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 40,363,697 | | — | | — | | 40,363,697 |
Total Investments in Securities | 41,767,216 | | 423,803,381 | | — | | 465,570,597 |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | 196,899 | | — | | — | | 196,899 |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ 41,964,115 | | $ 423,803,381 | | $ — | | $ 465,767,496 |
Liability Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | $ (15,709) | | $ — | | $ — | | $ (15,709) |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in securities, at value (identified cost $458,198,750) | $465,570,597 |
Cash | 17,118,235 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 854,400 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 4,625,415 |
Interest | 1,825,327 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 139,886 |
Other assets | 4,975 |
Total assets | 490,138,835 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 59,698,049 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 93,331 |
Professional fees | 49,791 |
Shareholder communication | 41,484 |
Custodian | 16,258 |
Trustees | 3,256 |
Accrued expenses | 18,240 |
Total liabilities | 59,920,409 |
Net assets | $430,218,426 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 41,779 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 413,868,080 |
| 413,909,859 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 16,308,567 |
Net assets | $430,218,426 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $430,218,426 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 41,778,586 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 10.30 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $ 8,275,680 |
Dividends | 54,589 |
Other | 7,909 |
Total income | 8,338,178 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 1,334,689 |
Professional fees | 94,041 |
Custodian | 57,945 |
Shareholder communication | 44,515 |
Trustees | 14,561 |
Miscellaneous | 41,991 |
Total expenses | 1,587,742 |
Net investment income (loss) | 6,750,436 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 7,398,786 |
Futures transactions | (3,385,263) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 4,013,523 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (25,498,841) |
Futures contracts | 475,903 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (25,022,938) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (21,009,415) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $(14,258,979) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 6,750,436 | $ 11,825,564 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 4,013,523 | 17,704,592 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (25,022,938) | 15,176,885 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (14,258,979) | 44,707,041 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (30,024,681) | (10,704,315) |
Service Class (a) | — | (2,561,185) |
| — | (13,265,500) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (30,024,681) | (13,265,500) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 12,804,844 | 583,487,098 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 30,024,681 | 13,265,500 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (325,959,338) | (409,275,329) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (283,129,813) | 187,477,269 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (327,413,473) | 218,918,810 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 757,631,899 | 538,713,089 |
End of year | $ 430,218,426 | $ 757,631,899 |
(a) | Service Class liquidated on November 22, 2020. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, | | May 1, 2017^ through December 31, 2017 |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.25 | | $ 10.62 | | $ 9.80 | | $ 10.04 | | $ 10.00 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.14 | | 0.18 | | 0.27 | | 0.26 | | 0.13 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.36) | | 0.60 | | 0.55 | | (0.33) | | 0.01 |
Total from investment operations | (0.22) | | 0.78 | | 0.82 | | (0.07) | | 0.14 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.31) | | (0.13) | | — | | (0.17) | | (0.10) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.42) | | (0.02) | | — | | — | | (0.00)‡ |
Total distributions | (0.73) | | (0.15) | | — | | (0.17) | | (0.10) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 10.30 | | $ 11.25 | | $ 10.62 | | $ 9.80 | | $ 10.04 |
Total investment return (b) | (1.95)% | | 7.40% | | 8.37%(c) | | (0.67)% | | 1.42% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.26% | | 1.59% | | 2.66% | | 2.67% | | 1.92%†† |
Net expenses (d) | 0.30% | | 0.29% | | 0.30% | | 0.31% | | 0.37%†† |
Portfolio turnover rate (e) | 239% | | 191% | | 65% | | 143% | | 104%(f) |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 430,218 | | $ 757,632 | | $ 422,163 | | $ 362,545 | | $ 140,759 |
^ | Inception date. |
‡ | Less than one cent per share. |
†† | Annualized. |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rate not including mortgage dollar rolls were 55%, 138%, 57%, 104% and 59% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and for the period ended December 31, 2017, respectively. |
(f) | Portfolio turnover rate is not annualized. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share class that has been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 1, 2017 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the total return performance of fixed-income securities in the aggregate, as represented by the Portfolio's primary benchmark index.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's
valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular
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close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased, other than temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase, for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at
year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any portfolio securities on loan.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(I) Dollar Rolls. The Portfolio may enter into dollar roll transactions in which it sells mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") from its portfolio to a counterparty from whom it simultaneously agrees to buy a similar security on a delayed delivery basis. The Portfolio generally transfers MBS where the MBS are "to be announced," therefore, the Portfolio accounts for these transactions as purchases and sales.
When accounted for as purchase and sales, the securities sold in connection with the dollar rolls are removed from the portfolio and a realized gain or loss is recognized. The securities the Portfolio has agreed to acquire are included at market value in the Portfolio of Investments and liabilities for such purchase commitments are included as payables for investments purchased. During the roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future as well as by the earnings on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls may be renewed without physical delivery of the securities subject to the contract. The Portfolio maintains liquid assets from its portfolio having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest. Dollar roll transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the securities returned to the Portfolio at the end of the roll period, while substantially similar, could be inferior to what was initially sold to the counterparty.
(J) Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Portfolio may purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Portfolio to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed delivery purchases are outstanding, the Portfolio will designate liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, the Portfolio assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its NAV. The Portfolio may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed delivery transaction after it is entered into, and may sell delayed delivery securities before
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they are delivered, which may result in a realized gain or loss. When the Portfolio has sold a security it owns on a delayed delivery basis, the Portfolio does not participate in future gains and losses with respect to the security. Delayed delivery transactions as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(K) Debt Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Investments in the Portfolio are not guaranteed, even though some of the Portfolio’s underlying investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The principal risk of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities is that the underlying debt may be prepaid ahead of schedule, if interest rates fall, thereby reducing the value of the Portfolio’s investment. If interest rates rise, less of the debt may be prepaid and the Portfolio may lose money because the Portfolio may be unable to invest in higher yielding assets. The Portfolio is subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise. Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner.
The Portfolio may invest in foreign debt securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic instruments. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets.
(L) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any
securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(M) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(N) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio entered into futures contracts in order to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates that might otherwise have an adverse effect upon the value of the Portfolio’s securities as well as help manage the duration and yield curve of the portfolio. These derivatives are not accounted for as hedging instruments.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Asset Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts (a) | $196,899 | $196,899 |
Total Fair Value | $196,899 | $196,899 |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Liability Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (a) | $(15,709) | $(15,709) |
Total Fair Value | $(15,709) | $(15,709) |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $(3,385,263) | $(3,385,263) |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $(3,385,263) | $(3,385,263) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $475,903 | $475,903 |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $475,903 | $475,903 |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Futures Contracts Long | $ 52,669,246 |
Futures Contracts Short | $(38,666,682) |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the
Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. NYL Investors LLC ("NYL Investors" or ''Subadvisor''), a registered investment adviser and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.25% up to $1 billion; and 0.20% in excess of $1 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.25% (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements).
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments and acquired (underlying) portfolio/fund fees and expenses) of Initial Class shares do not exceed 0.375% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $1,334,689 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $667,324.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street").
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
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Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $458,727,148 | $7,013,162 | $(2,172,199) | $4,840,963 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$7,933,232 | $1,531,886 | $6,843,449 | $16,308,567 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to straddle loss deferrals, wash sale adjustments, and mark to market of futures contracts.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $26,326,732 | $13,265,500 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 3,697,949 | — |
Total | $30,024,681 | $13,265,500 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $7,616 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of U.S. government securities were $415,626 and $564,211, respectively. Purchases and sales of securities, other than U.S. government securities and short-term securities, were $849,707 and $990,788, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 1,164,451 | $ 12,804,844 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,919,695 | 30,024,681 |
Shares redeemed | (29,666,867) | (325,959,338) |
Net increase (decrease) | (25,582,721) | $(283,129,813) |
Year ended December 31, 2020:(a) | | |
Shares sold | 41,854,751 | $ 468,357,354 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 958,902 | 10,704,315 |
Shares redeemed | (15,217,602) | (167,763,236) |
Net increase (decrease) | 27,596,051 | $ 311,298,433 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2020:(a) | | |
Shares sold | 10,398,358 | $ 115,129,744 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 230,808 | 2,561,185 |
Shares redeemed | (21,661,578) | (241,512,093) |
Net increase (decrease) | (11,032,412) | $(123,821,164) |
(a) | Service Class liquidated on November 22, 2020. |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
34 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and for the period May 1, 2017 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2017 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and for the period May 1, 2017 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors LLC (“NYL Investors”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or NYL Investors that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
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Investments and NYL Investors resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of NYL Investors, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of NYL Investors and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, NYL Investors with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as NYL Investors’ investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that NYL Investors provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated NYL Investors’ experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and NYL Investors’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at NYL Investors and New York Life Investments’ and NYL Investors’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed NYL Investors’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to NYL Investors as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or NYL Investors had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolio, the Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the one- and three-year periods ended July 31, 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments and NYL Investors regarding the Portfolio’s investment performance.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because NYL Investors is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including NYL Investors, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the
financial resources of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and NYL Investors must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and NYL Investors to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the
38 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to NYL Investors is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints, voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life
Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
42 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
44 | MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI555
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 17.35% | 14.41% | 11.17% | 0.58% |
Service Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 17.06 | 14.12 | 10.90 | 0.83 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
S&P 500® Index1 | 28.71% | 18.47% | 15.82% |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index2 | -1.54 | 3.57 | 2.89 |
Janus Balanced Composite Index3 | 14.32 | 11.87 | 10.07 |
Morningstar Allocation - 50% to 70% Equity Category Average4 | 13.91 | 9.97 | 8.30 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark. "S&P 500®" is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Portfolio has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as a secondary benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures performance of the investment-grade, U.S. dollar denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasurys, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Portfolio has selected the Janus Balanced Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Janus Balanced Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index (55% weighted) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (45% weighted). Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
4. | The Morningstar Allocation – 50% to 70% Equity Category Average is representative of funds that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These funds are dominated by domestic holdings and have equity exposures between 50% and 70%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,079.90 | $2.99 | $1,022.33 | $2.91 | 0.57% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,078.60 | $4.30 | $1,021.07 | $4.18 | 0.82% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.125%-1.375%, due 4/30/23–11/15/31 |
2. | Microsoft Corp. |
3. | Apple, Inc. |
4. | Alphabet, Inc., Class C |
5. | U.S. Treasury Bonds, 1.375%-2.75%, due 11/15/40–8/15/51 |
6. | Amazon.com, Inc. |
7. | UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year, 2.00%-3.50%, due 1/25/52–2/25/52 |
8. | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. |
9. | Mastercard, Inc., Class A |
10. | NVIDIA Corp. |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Jeremiah Buckley, CFA, E. Marc Pinto, CFA,1 Greg Wilensky and Michael Keough of Janus Capital Management LLC (“Janus Capital”), the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio returned 17.35% for Initial Class shares and 17.06% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 28.71% return of the S&P 500® Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and outperformed the −1.54% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which is a secondary benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the 14.32% return of the Janus Balanced Composite Index, which is an additional benchmark of the Portfolio, and the 13.91% return of the Morningstar Allocation—50% to 70% Equity Category Average.2
What factors affected the Portfolio’s performance relative to its primary prospectus benchmark during the reporting period?
Performance relative to the S&P 500® Index suffered given the Portfolio’s allocation to bonds during a period in which equities generated robust returns. However, the equity portion of the Portfolio outperformed the S&P 500® Index as we adjusted the Portfolio’s positioning to account for where we saw the strongest opportunities amid the continuing recovery. The fixed-income portion of the Portfolio outperformed the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as we adjusted the Portfolio’s allocations throughout the reporting period to account for the levels of risk and reward we observed across fixed-income sectors.
The Portfolio outperformed the Janus Balanced Composite Index, a blended benchmark of the S&P 500® Index (55%) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (45%). The Portfolio’s ability to dynamically adjust its allocation with changing market conditions proved beneficial given our decision to overweight the Portfolio’s equity exposure as the economic recovery continued during the reporting period. On average, 65% of the Portfolio was invested in stocks throughout the reporting period (based on month-end data). The equity allocation may vary based on market conditions, and the Portfolio’s positioning reflected our belief that equities offered greater risk-adjusted opportunities than fixed-income throughout the reporting period.
During the reporting period, which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to relative performance in the equity portion of Portfolio and which sectors were particularly weak?
Among sectors held in the equity portion of the Portfolio, the strongest positive contributions to performance relative to the S&P
500® Index came from information technology, where stock selection and overweight exposure bolstered returns. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Favorable stock selection made health care and consumer staples the Portfolio’s second and third strongest contributing sectors, respectively.
Conversely, disappointing stock selection and overweight exposure made consumer discretionary the weakest-contributing sector relative to the S&P 500® Index. Energy was the second weakest contributing sector due to the Portfolio’s zero weighting. Stock selection and an underweight position made financials the third weakest contributing sector.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the absolute performance of the equity portion of the Portfolio and which individual stocks detracted the most?
Shares in technology company Microsoft made the strongest positive contribution to the absolute performance of the equity portion of the Portfolio. The COVID-19 pandemic has radically accelerated the transformation to a digital economy, and companies such as Microsoft that offer services and products relevant to this shift in technology and capital spending continue to be rewarded by the market. Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform and subscription-based Office 365 suite continued to grow throughout the reporting period, and we believe the demand outlook for these products remains robust.
The Portfolio’s position in technology conglomerate Alphabet, the parent company of Google, was the second largest contributor to absolute performance. The stock continued to benefit from strength in the company’s cloud, digital advertising and YouTube segments. The company’s solid balance sheet and free cash flows also enabled it to continue buying back its shares during the reporting period.
Video-oriented semiconductor company Nvidia was the third strongest positive contributor to absolute performance. As large technology platform companies increased capital spending on network data centers and infrastructure during the reporting period, Nvidia - a leading producer of graphics processing units used in data centers—benefited. The company also experienced significant growth in product lines critical to the development of virtual and augmented reality platforms.
The weakest contribution to the Portfolio’s absolute performance came from holdings in video game company Activision Blizzard. Shares lost ground as the pandemic and staff turnover related to a recent lawsuit led to development delays, pushing the planned release of two of the company’s games from 2022 to 2023. The stock was also pressured on fears that the economic reopening
1. | As of April 2, 2021, Mr. Pinto no longer served as portfolio manager for the Portfolio. |
2. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
could lead to lower engagement with the company’s gaming franchises.
A position in media and entertainment company The Walt Disney Company was the second weakest contributor to absolute performance, also generating negative returns. Subscriber growth for the company’s Disney+ streaming platform fell short of analyst’ expectations, which negatively impacted the stock.
Fidelity National Information Services, a software solutions provider to the financial services industry, generated a negative return and was the third weakest contributor to absolute performance. Investors became concerned over heightened competition in the fintech space, which pressured the stock during the reporting period.
Did the equity portion of the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The equity portion of the Portfolio initiated a position in computer software company Cadence Design Systems, reflecting our belief that the company—a leader in electronic design automation that enables semiconductors to get smaller in chip size—was well positioned to benefit from the digital transformation of the economy. The Portfolio also initiated a position in financial services company Charles Schwab in the expectation that interest rates will normalize over time and a steeper yield curve will support financial companies broadly. We also believe the company has strong growth prospects and anticipate synergies and an upside to margins from the company’s late-2020 acquisition of TD Ameritrade.
The equity portion of the Portfolio sold its position in pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb during the reporting period. We became less confident in the company’s drug pipeline compared to other pharmaceutical companies and decided to rotate from Bristol Myers into what we deemed to be a more robust investment opportunity in AstraZeneca. The Portfolio also sold its position in railroad company CSX given concerns for lower volumes for railways amid the recovery. Labor challenges negatively affected on-time deliveries, and an expected capture of market share from the trucking industry failed to materialize.
How did sector weightings change in the equity portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the equity portion of the Portfolio increased its exposure to industrials, consumer staples and information technology, while decreasing its exposure to health care, consumer discretionary and real estate.
How was the equity portion of the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the largest overweight position in the equity portion of the Portfolio was in the information technology sector. The second largest sector overweight was in consumer discretionary. As of the same date, the most significantly underweight position in the equity portion of the Portfolio was in real estate, followed by underweight exposure to materials. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not hold stocks in the energy or utilities sectors.
What was the duration3 strategy of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the duration of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio was 5.73 years, or approximately 88% of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. We began reducing the Portfolio’s duration after the Democratic Party gained control of the U.S. Senate in early January 2021, expecting additional fiscal stimulus could lead to rising interest rates. We reduced duration further as both pandemic-related news and the economic outlook improved, while benchmark duration crept higher. While we steadily increased the Portfolio’s allocation to U.S. Treasury securities during the reporting period (although the allocation never reached Index levels), the Portfolio’s net duration remained largely unchanged through the second half of the reporting period. The Portfolio also maintained underweight exposure to interest rate risk versus the Index.
Ultimately, positioning relative to the Treasury yield curve4 hindered relative results in the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio, particularly when the curve steepened early in the reporting period, with long Treasury holdings being most impacted. However, underweight exposure to Treasury bonds and out-of-index exposure to TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) helped to offset some of those losses.
What specific factors, risks or market forces prompted significant decisions for the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
Although we consistently trimmed the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio’s allocation to corporate bonds during the reporting period, our overall favorable view on the U.S. economy led us to maintain overweight exposure to corporate bonds (including high-yield) and securitized credit such as asset-backed securities (ABS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). The Portfolio maintained underweight exposures to U.S. Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities (MBS).
3. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
4. | The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting. |
We decided to reduce the Portfolio’s corporate credit exposure primarily due to credit spreads5 narrowing as the reporting period progressed. Corporate bond sales were focused on the investment-grade market based on our view that the relatively tight level of spreads diminished their attractiveness on a risk-adjusted basis, compared to high yield. Within high yield, we adjusted positions, emphasizing names we believed to have the potential to be “rising stars” (securities that could see sufficient rating improvement to push them into the investment-grade market).
We added floating rate products such as bank loans and AAA/AA6 collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), believing the underlying bank loans had attractive valuations and their securitization into CLOs added additional value. We also added ABS exposure and were active in the CMBS allocation, focusing on relative-value opportunities identified through individual security analysis.
The fixed-income portion of the Portfolio was active in the TIPS market as well; we added exposure early in the reporting period on the expectation that inflation expectations would increase, and we reduced exposure as inflation expectations soared and valuations began to look expensive. We increased TIPS exposure again mid-year as market participants shifted focus to the potential transitory nature of inflation and the securities repriced at more attractive levels. However, as the outlook for inflation became less transitory, we steadily reduced exposure in the latter part of the reporting period.
During the reporting period, which market segments made the strongest positive contributions to the performance of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio and which market segments were particularly weak?
Asset allocation decisions drove the outperformance of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio versus the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The Portfolio’s out-of-index allocation to high-yield corporate bonds performed well, as the economic outlook continued to improve and investors’ demand for yield remained intact. Out-of-index exposure to TIPS was also a strong contributor, as we adjusted positioning with the ebb and flow of inflation expectations. Underweight exposure to MBS and strong security selection further enhanced relative performance.
The lack of exposure to government-related securities was a modest detractor. A small cash balance also modestly held back returns.
Did the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The largest asset allocation changes to the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio involved trimming corporate credit exposure, particularly holdings in the lowest tier of the investment-grade market. Instead, we sought opportunities for credit diversification across the securitized markets and in bank loans.
During the reporting period, how did sector (or industry) weightings change in the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio?
On a corporate industry basis, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio decreased its exposure to banking and technology while increasing its exposure to finance companies and life insurers.
How was the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, relative to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio held underweight exposure to U.S. Treasury securities and MBS. It also had no exposure to government-related securities. As of the same date, the Portfolio held overweight exposure to corporate credit, CMBS and ABS, and held out-of-benchmark positions in high-yield corporate credit, collateralized mortgage obligations, collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, TIPS and cash.
5. | The terms “spread” and “yield spread” may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
6. | An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), and in the opinion of S&P, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. An obligation rated ‘AA’ by S&P is deemed by S&P to differ from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. In the opinion of S&P, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. When applied to Portfolio holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Portfolio. |
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
10 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 34.4% |
Asset-Backed Securities 2.9% |
Automobile Asset-Backed Securities 0.5% |
Carvana Auto Receivables Trust | |
Series 2021-P4, Class A2 | | |
0.82%, due 4/10/25 | $ 772,000 | $ 771,922 |
Drive Auto Receivables Trust | |
Series 2017-3, Class D | | |
3.53%, due 12/15/23 (a) | 6,393 | 6,401 |
Exeter Automobile Receivables Trust | |
Series 2021-1A, Class C | | |
0.74%, due 1/15/26 | 211,000 | 210,391 |
Series 2021-1A, Class D | | |
1.08%, due 11/16/26 | 674,000 | 665,612 |
Series 2019-1A, Class E | | |
5.20%, due 1/15/26 (a) | 485,000 | 506,931 |
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA (a) | |
Series 2021-1, Class B | | |
0.875%, due 9/25/28 | 382,598 | 381,280 |
Series 2021-2, Class B | | |
0.889%, due 12/26/28 | 841,927 | 837,607 |
LAD Auto Receivables Trust | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A | | |
1.30%, due 8/17/26 (a) | 813,244 | 811,632 |
OneMain Direct Auto Receivables Trust (a) | |
Series 2018-1A, Class C | | |
3.85%, due 10/14/25 | 181,000 | 181,390 |
Series 2018-1A, Class D | | |
4.40%, due 1/14/28 | 180,000 | 180,383 |
Santander Bank NA-SBCLN | |
Series 2021-1A, Class B | | |
1.833%, due 12/15/31 (a) | 396,000 | 395,528 |
Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust | |
Series 2020-3, Class D | | |
1.64%, due 11/16/26 | 1,630,000 | 1,641,070 |
Tesla Auto Lease Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-B, Class A3 | | |
0.60%, due 9/22/25 | 503,000 | 496,905 |
Series 2021-B, Class B | | |
0.91%, due 9/22/25 | 258,000 | 254,409 |
Westlake Automobile Receivables Trust | |
Series 2020-1A, Class D | | |
2.80%, due 6/16/25 (a) | 741,000 | 755,614 |
| | 8,097,075 |
Credit Card Asset-Backed Securities 0.1% |
Mercury Financial Credit Card Master Trust | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A | | |
1.54%, due 3/20/26 (a) | 842,000 | 841,217 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Credit Card Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Newday Funding Master Issuer plc (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-2A, Class A2 | | |
0.999% (SOFR + 0.95%), due 7/15/29 | $ 449,000 | $ 450,666 |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2 | | |
1.15% (SOFR + 1.10%), due 3/15/29 | 792,000 | 800,042 |
| | 2,091,925 |
Other Asset-Backed Securities 2.3% |
Affirm Asset Securitization Trust | |
Series 2021-B, Class A | | |
1.03%, due 8/17/26 (a) | 721,000 | 716,073 |
Aqua Finance Trust | |
Series 2021-A, Class A | | |
1.54%, due 7/17/46 (a) | 468,455 | 464,273 |
Arbys Funding LLC | |
Series 2020-1A, Class A2 | | |
3.237%, due 7/30/50 (a) | 1,390,400 | 1,418,201 |
CBAM Ltd. (a)(b) | |
Series 2019-11RA, Class A1 | | |
1.305% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.18%), due 1/20/35 | 1,569,000 | 1,570,877 |
Series 2019-11RA, Class B | | |
1.875% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 1/20/35 | 801,000 | 801,133 |
CF Hippolyta LLC (a) | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A1 | | |
1.53%, due 3/15/61 | 974,150 | 955,876 |
Series 2021-1A, Class B1 | | |
1.98%, due 3/15/61 | 368,441 | 362,948 |
CIFC Funding 2016-I Ltd | |
Series 2016-1A, Class BRR | | |
1.875% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.70%), due 10/21/31 (a)(b) | 647,000 | 639,180 |
CIFC Funding 2021-VII Ltd (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-7A, Class A1 | | |
1.258% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.13%), due 1/23/35 | 1,140,000 | 1,139,314 |
Series 2021-7A, Class B | | |
1.728% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 1/23/35 | 648,000 | 643,154 |
Conn's Receivables Funding LLC | |
Series 2021-A, Class A | | |
1.05%, due 5/15/26 (a) | 929,619 | 928,967 |
DB Master Finance LLC (a) | |
Series 2019-1A, Class A2II | | |
4.021%, due 5/20/49 | 252,195 | 261,041 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
DB Master Finance LLC (a) (continued) | |
Series 2019-1A, Class A23 | | |
4.352%, due 5/20/49 | $ 365,585 | $ 391,277 |
Diamond Infrastructure Funding LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A | | |
1.76%, due 4/15/49 (a) | 1,031,000 | 1,011,624 |
Domino's Pizza Master Issuer LLC (a) | |
Series 2019-1A, Class A2 | | |
3.668%, due 10/25/49 | 1,620,142 | 1,705,208 |
Series 2018-1A, Class A2I | | |
4.116%, due 7/25/48 | 898,220 | 918,076 |
Series 2017-1A, Class A23 | | |
4.118%, due 7/25/47 | 206,938 | 216,553 |
Series 2018-1A, Class A2II | | |
4.328%, due 7/25/48 | 491,790 | 517,237 |
HPS Loan Management Ltd. (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-16A, Class A1 | | |
1.395% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.14%), due 1/23/35 | 1,729,000 | 1,727,957 |
Series 2021-16A, Class B | | |
1.955% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.70%), due 1/23/35 | 614,000 | 613,539 |
Jack in the Box Funding LLC (a) | |
Series 2019-1A, Class A2I | | |
3.982%, due 8/25/49 | 983,567 | 988,350 |
Series 2019-1A, Class A2II | | |
4.476%, due 8/25/49 | 983,568 | 1,020,925 |
Series 2019-1A, Class A23 | | |
4.97%, due 8/25/49 | 983,568 | 1,045,347 |
Lakeview CDO LLC | |
1.851%, due 11/10/32 (c)(d) | 39,504 | 39,504 |
Logan CLO II Ltd. (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-2A, Class A | | |
1.397% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 1/20/35 | 1,556,000 | 1,555,046 |
Series 2021-2A, Class B | | |
1.947% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.70%), due 1/20/35 | 623,000 | 622,520 |
NRZ Excess Spread-Collateralized Notes (a) | |
Series 2021-FHT1, Class A | | |
3.104%, due 7/25/26 | 756,030 | 753,387 |
Series 2020-PLS1, Class A | | |
3.844%, due 12/25/25 | 333,323 | 334,743 |
Oak Street Investment Grade Net Lease Fund | |
Series 2020-1A, Class A1 | | |
1.85%, due 11/20/50 (a) | 822,168 | 814,377 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Octagon Investment Partners 48 Ltd. | |
Series 2020-3A, Class AR | | |
1.277% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 10/20/34 (a)(b) | $ 1,134,000 | $ 1,132,668 |
Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC (a) | |
Series 2019-1A, Class A2 | | |
3.858%, due 12/5/49 | 855,540 | 879,327 |
Series 2018-1A, Class A2I | | |
4.262%, due 9/5/48 | 611,460 | 611,690 |
PRPM LLC | |
Series 2020-4, Class A1 | | |
2.951%, due 10/25/25 (a)(e) | 700,760 | 699,002 |
Regatta XXIII Funding Ltd. (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-4A, Class A1 | | |
1.26% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 1/20/35 | 1,710,411 | 1,709,376 |
Series 2021-4A, Class B | | |
1.81% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.70%), due 1/20/35 | 688,000 | 687,481 |
Taco Bell Funding LLC (a) | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2I | | |
1.946%, due 8/25/51 | 643,000 | 630,308 |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2II | | |
2.294%, due 8/25/51 | 774,000 | 765,115 |
Series 2018-1A, Class A2II | | |
4.94%, due 11/25/48 | 837,110 | 908,037 |
Series 2016-1A, Class A23 | | |
4.97%, due 5/25/46 | 487,050 | 508,165 |
Theorem Funding Trust | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A | | |
1.21%, due 12/15/27 (a) | 578,140 | 576,999 |
Upstart Securitization Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-4, Class A | | |
0.84%, due 9/20/31 | 776,735 | 769,073 |
Series 2021-5, Class A | | |
1.31%, due 11/20/31 | 490,000 | 488,208 |
Vantage Data Centers LLC (a) | |
Series 2020-1A, Class A2 | | |
1.645%, due 9/15/45 | 1,615,000 | 1,578,491 |
Series 2020-2A, Class A2 | | |
1.992%, due 9/15/45 | 705,000 | 691,401 |
VCAT LLC | |
Series 2021-NPL1, Class A1 | | |
2.289%, due 12/26/50 (a)(e) | 314,503 | 314,001 |
Wendy's Funding LLC (a) | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2II | | |
2.775%, due 6/15/51 | 513,420 | 512,171 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Wendy's Funding LLC (a) (continued) | |
Series 2019-1A, Class A2I | | |
3.783%, due 6/15/49 | $ 477,480 | $ 494,685 |
Series 2018-1A, Class A2II | | |
3.884%, due 3/15/48 | 87,360 | 90,696 |
Wingstop Funding LLC | |
Series 2020-1A, Class A2 | | |
2.841%, due 12/5/50 (a) | 811,920 | 810,665 |
Zaxby's Funding LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A2 | | |
3.238%, due 7/30/51 (a) | 617,453 | 626,766 |
| | 39,661,032 |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $49,841,714) | | 49,850,032 |
Corporate Bonds 10.6% |
Aerospace & Defense 0.2% |
Boeing Co. (The) | | |
2.196%, due 2/4/26 | 442,000 | 441,895 |
3.25%, due 2/1/28 | 472,000 | 491,819 |
3.625%, due 2/1/31 | 116,000 | 123,701 |
3.95%, due 8/1/59 | 599,000 | 622,187 |
4.875%, due 5/1/25 | 460,000 | 503,272 |
General Dynamics Corp. | | |
3.50%, due 4/1/27 | 456,000 | 496,430 |
TransDigm, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 1/15/29 | 952,000 | 948,839 |
| | 3,628,143 |
Auto Manufacturers 0.1% |
Ford Motor Co. | | |
3.25%, due 2/12/32 | 1,542,000 | 1,579,008 |
Banks 2.5% |
Bank of America Corp. (f) | | |
2.087%, due 6/14/29 | 1,528,000 | 1,517,260 |
2.592%, due 4/29/31 | 2,823,000 | 2,851,724 |
3.705%, due 4/24/28 | 509,000 | 552,383 |
3.97%, due 3/5/29 | 670,000 | 733,132 |
Series U | | |
5.20%, due 6/1/23 (g)(h) | 443,000 | 457,398 |
Series X | | |
6.25%, due 9/5/24 (g) | 1,172,000 | 1,261,365 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Banks (continued) |
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The) | | |
Series G | | |
4.70% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 4.358%), due 9/20/25 (b)(g) | $ 2,024,000 | $ 2,159,102 |
BNP Paribas SA | | |
2.588% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.05%), due 8/12/35 (a)(b) | 1,692,000 | 1,620,959 |
Citigroup, Inc. (f) | | |
3.887%, due 1/10/28 | 2,060,000 | 2,233,388 |
4.412%, due 3/31/31 | 1,375,000 | 1,570,332 |
Series D | | |
5.35%, due 5/15/23 (g) | 537,000 | 547,069 |
5.95%, due 1/30/23 (g) | 604,000 | 622,120 |
Series P | | |
5.95%, due 5/15/25 (g) | 584,000 | 624,880 |
Series M | | |
6.30%, due 5/15/24 (g) | 123,000 | 128,920 |
First Republic Bank | | |
4.625%, due 2/13/47 | 391,000 | 484,322 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | |
3.50%, due 4/1/25 | 2,399,000 | 2,536,784 |
Series R | | |
4.95% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.224%), due 2/10/25 (b)(g) | 368,000 | 381,800 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (f) | | |
2.083%, due 4/22/26 | 570,000 | 578,532 |
2.956%, due 5/13/31 | 1,316,000 | 1,362,552 |
3.96%, due 1/29/27 | 1,446,000 | 1,562,383 |
Series HH | | |
4.60%, due 2/1/25 (g) | 466,000 | 478,233 |
Series FF | | |
5.00%, due 8/1/24 (g) | 441,000 | 453,128 |
Morgan Stanley | | |
1.593%, due 5/4/27 (f) | 685,000 | 678,247 |
1.794%, due 2/13/32 (f) | 1,226,000 | 1,160,464 |
2.188%, due 4/28/26 (f) | 1,231,000 | 1,255,148 |
2.239%, due 7/21/32 (f) | 1,900,000 | 1,858,341 |
2.484%, due 9/16/36 (f) | 2,223,000 | 2,140,638 |
3.95%, due 4/23/27 | 1,131,000 | 1,245,096 |
4.35%, due 9/8/26 | 898,000 | 992,593 |
National Australia Bank Ltd. | | |
2.99%, due 5/21/31 (a) | 1,708,000 | 1,712,959 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Banks (continued) |
SVB Financial Group (b)(g) | | |
4.10% (10 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.064%), due 2/15/31 | $ 1,382,000 | $ 1,366,798 |
Series D | | |
4.25% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.074%), due 11/15/26 | 2,415,000 | 2,448,810 |
U.S. Bancorp | | |
2.491% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 0.95%), due 11/3/36 (b) | 1,471,000 | 1,465,343 |
Westpac Banking Corp. | | |
2.668% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.75%), due 11/15/35 (b) | 1,218,000 | 1,186,512 |
| | 42,228,715 |
Beverages 0.2% |
Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC | | |
4.90%, due 2/1/46 | 919,000 | 1,161,556 |
Diageo Capital plc | | |
1.375%, due 9/29/25 | 461,000 | 458,448 |
2.00%, due 4/29/30 | 713,000 | 705,468 |
2.125%, due 4/29/32 | 572,000 | 567,342 |
| | 2,892,814 |
Biotechnology 0.1% |
Royalty Pharma plc | | |
2.15%, due 9/2/31 | 954,000 | 901,205 |
3.35%, due 9/2/51 | 474,000 | 453,398 |
3.55%, due 9/2/50 | 899,000 | 891,331 |
| | 2,245,934 |
Building Materials 0.0% ‡ |
Standard Industries, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 7/15/30 (a) | 336,000 | 342,890 |
Chemicals 0.3% |
Axalta Coating Systems LLC | | |
3.375%, due 2/15/29 (a) | 1,696,000 | 1,640,880 |
CF Industries, Inc. | | |
4.95%, due 6/1/43 | 749,000 | 904,149 |
5.15%, due 3/15/34 | 77,000 | 93,015 |
5.375%, due 3/15/44 | 168,000 | 211,865 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Chemicals (continued) |
Element Solutions, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 9/1/28 (a) | $ 1,338,000 | $ 1,344,690 |
| | 4,194,599 |
Commercial Services 0.3% |
Global Payments, Inc. | | |
2.15%, due 1/15/27 | 651,000 | 653,590 |
2.90%, due 11/15/31 | 977,000 | 990,957 |
4.80%, due 4/1/26 | 629,000 | 698,292 |
GXO Logistics, Inc. (a) | | |
1.65%, due 7/15/26 | 885,000 | 863,530 |
2.65%, due 7/15/31 | 585,000 | 577,781 |
IHS Markit Ltd. | | |
4.75%, due 2/15/25 (a) | 416,000 | 452,920 |
| | 4,237,070 |
Computers 0.1% |
Seagate HDD Cayman | | |
3.125%, due 7/15/29 | 206,000 | 201,158 |
4.091%, due 6/1/29 | 488,000 | 505,268 |
4.125%, due 1/15/31 | 1,118,000 | 1,163,167 |
4.875%, due 6/1/27 | 44,000 | 47,960 |
| | 1,917,553 |
Diversified Financial Services 0.8% |
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC | | |
3.00%, due 10/29/28 | 757,000 | 767,701 |
3.30%, due 1/30/32 | 776,000 | 790,567 |
3.40%, due 10/29/33 | 569,000 | 579,307 |
3.85%, due 10/29/41 | 432,000 | 449,988 |
4.625%, due 10/15/27 | 1,147,000 | 1,268,818 |
Air Lease Corp. | | |
1.875%, due 8/17/26 | 1,020,000 | 1,003,116 |
3.00%, due 2/1/30 | 515,000 | 514,021 |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) (b)(g) | | |
Series H | | |
4.00% (10 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.079%), due 12/1/30 | 809,000 | 817,090 |
Series G | | |
5.375% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 4.971%), due 6/1/25 | 3,138,000 | 3,420,420 |
Rocket Mortgage LLC (a) | | |
2.875%, due 10/15/26 | 1,120,000 | 1,111,600 |
3.625%, due 3/1/29 | 1,013,000 | 1,016,799 |
3.875%, due 3/1/31 | 1,183,000 | 1,200,745 |
4.00%, due 10/15/33 | 1,145,000 | 1,159,747 |
| | 14,099,919 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Electric 0.4% |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | | |
Series C | | |
4.35% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.195%), due 1/15/27 (b)(g) | $ 717,000 | $ 740,302 |
Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc. | | |
2.775%, due 1/7/32 (a) | 1,005,000 | 992,986 |
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. | | |
1.875%, due 1/15/27 | 1,582,000 | 1,591,381 |
2.44%, due 1/15/32 | 470,000 | 471,050 |
NRG Energy, Inc. | | |
3.375%, due 2/15/29 (a) | 1,057,000 | 1,035,754 |
3.625%, due 2/15/31 (a) | 1,195,000 | 1,165,125 |
6.625%, due 1/15/27 | 332,000 | 345,126 |
| | 6,341,724 |
Electronics 0.1% |
Trimble, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 12/1/24 | 1,238,000 | 1,342,103 |
4.90%, due 6/15/28 | 672,000 | 764,278 |
| | 2,106,381 |
Food 0.7% |
JBS Finance Luxembourg SARL | | |
3.625%, due 1/15/32 (a) | 784,000 | 786,948 |
JBS USA LUX SA (a) | | |
3.00%, due 5/15/32 | 795,000 | 795,000 |
3.75%, due 12/1/31 | 742,000 | 753,130 |
5.50%, due 1/15/30 | 1,130,000 | 1,228,875 |
6.50%, due 4/15/29 | 1,551,000 | 1,706,115 |
6.75%, due 2/15/28 | 612,000 | 660,201 |
Kraft Heinz Foods Co. | | |
3.875%, due 5/15/27 | 991,000 | 1,070,421 |
4.375%, due 6/1/46 | 182,000 | 213,122 |
4.875%, due 10/1/49 | 424,000 | 532,520 |
5.00%, due 6/4/42 | 630,000 | 783,693 |
Mondelez International, Inc. | | |
2.75%, due 4/13/30 | 173,000 | 178,277 |
Performance Food Group, Inc. | | |
4.25%, due 8/1/29 (a) | 1,875,000 | 1,860,112 |
Pilgrim's Pride Corp. | | |
3.50%, due 3/1/32 (a) | 1,271,000 | 1,283,710 |
| | 11,852,124 |
Food Service 0.1% |
Aramark Services, Inc. | | |
6.375%, due 5/1/25 (a) | 1,470,000 | 1,536,150 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Healthcare-Services 0.9% |
Centene Corp. | | |
2.45%, due 7/15/28 | $ 1,025,000 | $ 1,009,625 |
2.50%, due 3/1/31 | 337,000 | 328,075 |
2.625%, due 8/1/31 | 443,000 | 434,140 |
3.00%, due 10/15/30 | 1,079,000 | 1,096,814 |
4.25%, due 12/15/27 | 1,112,000 | 1,159,260 |
DaVita, Inc. (a) | | |
3.75%, due 2/15/31 | 1,295,000 | 1,261,757 |
4.625%, due 6/1/30 | 1,054,000 | 1,079,032 |
HCA, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 9/1/30 | 2,329,000 | 2,461,462 |
3.50%, due 7/15/51 | 1,106,000 | 1,127,536 |
5.25%, due 6/15/49 | 339,000 | 435,385 |
5.375%, due 2/1/25 | 545,000 | 598,955 |
5.375%, due 9/1/26 | 220,000 | 247,225 |
5.50%, due 6/15/47 | 226,000 | 295,730 |
5.625%, due 9/1/28 | 310,000 | 362,232 |
5.875%, due 2/15/26 | 286,000 | 322,574 |
5.875%, due 2/1/29 | 459,000 | 546,921 |
Molina Healthcare, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 6/15/28 (a) | 2,834,000 | 2,919,020 |
| | 15,685,743 |
Insurance 0.3% |
Athene Global Funding (a) | | |
1.73%, due 10/2/26 | 1,988,000 | 1,951,194 |
2.646%, due 10/4/31 | 1,875,000 | 1,849,947 |
Prudential Financial, Inc. | | |
3.70% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.035%), due 10/1/50 (b) | 1,486,000 | 1,503,219 |
| | 5,304,360 |
Iron & Steel 0.1% |
Allegheny Technologies, Inc. | | |
5.875%, due 12/1/27 | 764,000 | 796,470 |
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | | |
4.50%, due 4/15/23 | 469,000 | 485,464 |
| | 1,281,934 |
Lodging 0.0% ‡ |
MGM Resorts International | | |
7.75%, due 3/15/22 | 182,000 | 184,275 |
Machinery-Diversified 0.0% ‡ |
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. | | |
4.95%, due 9/15/28 (e) | 659,000 | 749,093 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Media 0.7% |
CCO Holdings LLC | | |
4.25%, due 2/1/31 (a) | $ 1,231,000 | $ 1,241,808 |
4.50%, due 5/1/32 | 2,216,000 | 2,279,710 |
Charter Communications Operating LLC | | |
2.80%, due 4/1/31 | 811,000 | 802,478 |
4.80%, due 3/1/50 | 562,000 | 629,234 |
6.484%, due 10/23/45 | 256,000 | 349,590 |
Comcast Corp. | | |
3.75%, due 4/1/40 | 365,000 | 408,627 |
CSC Holdings LLC (a) | | |
3.375%, due 2/15/31 | 926,000 | 866,968 |
4.125%, due 12/1/30 | 1,351,000 | 1,318,914 |
4.625%, due 12/1/30 | 318,000 | 300,908 |
5.00%, due 11/15/31 | 586,000 | 564,758 |
Fox Corp. | | |
4.03%, due 1/25/24 | 429,000 | 453,063 |
GCI LLC | | |
4.75%, due 10/15/28 (a) | 2,154,000 | 2,210,542 |
| | 11,426,600 |
Miscellaneous—Manufacturing 0.1% |
General Electric Co. | | |
Series D | | |
3.533% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.33%), due 6/15/49 (b)(g) | 1,111,000 | 1,099,890 |
Oil & Gas 0.1% |
Continental Resources, Inc. | | |
5.75%, due 1/15/31 (a) | 1,214,000 | 1,429,631 |
Southwestern Energy Co. | | |
4.75%, due 2/1/32 | 892,000 | 939,369 |
| | 2,369,000 |
Pharmaceuticals 0.2% |
CVS Health Corp. | | |
5.05%, due 3/25/48 | 617,000 | 806,689 |
Elanco Animal Health, Inc. | | |
5.272%, due 8/28/23 (e) | 1,242,000 | 1,321,507 |
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV | | |
4.75%, due 5/9/27 | 406,000 | 402,293 |
5.125%, due 5/9/29 | 517,000 | 506,820 |
| | 3,037,309 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Pipelines 0.2% |
Cheniere Energy Partners LP | | |
3.25%, due 1/31/32 (a) | $ 956,000 | $ 965,560 |
4.00%, due 3/1/31 | 783,000 | 821,328 |
Energy Transfer LP | | |
4.95%, due 6/15/28 | 116,000 | 130,488 |
Hess Midstream Operations LP (a) | | |
4.25%, due 2/15/30 | 347,000 | 344,398 |
5.125%, due 6/15/28 | 1,336,000 | 1,391,110 |
| | 3,652,884 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.7% |
Agree LP | | |
2.00%, due 6/15/28 | 684,000 | 670,048 |
2.60%, due 6/15/33 | 513,000 | 503,142 |
2.90%, due 10/1/30 | 473,000 | 480,529 |
Equinix, Inc. | | |
2.15%, due 7/15/30 | 623,000 | 605,613 |
GLP Capital LP | | |
3.25%, due 1/15/32 | 1,143,000 | 1,149,161 |
5.25%, due 6/1/25 | 361,000 | 395,386 |
5.30%, due 1/15/29 | 86,000 | 97,627 |
5.375%, due 4/15/26 | 381,000 | 424,270 |
Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP | | |
2.00%, due 8/15/31 | 1,129,000 | 1,063,173 |
Iron Mountain Information Management Services, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 7/15/32 (a) | 2,011,000 | 2,058,198 |
MPT Operating Partnership LP | | |
3.50%, due 3/15/31 | 1,099,000 | 1,111,364 |
Rexford Industrial Realty LP | | |
2.15%, due 9/1/31 | 1,345,000 | 1,269,950 |
Sun Communities Operating LP | | |
2.70%, due 7/15/31 | 1,283,000 | 1,272,560 |
| | 11,101,021 |
Retail 0.3% |
1011778 BC ULC | | |
4.00%, due 10/15/30 (a) | 2,348,000 | 2,306,910 |
Dollar General Corp. | | |
4.125%, due 4/3/50 | 762,000 | 879,525 |
Lithia Motors, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 6/1/29 (a) | 1,847,000 | 1,885,602 |
| | 5,072,037 |
Semiconductors 0.6% |
Analog Devices, Inc. | | |
2.95%, due 4/1/25 | 676,000 | 709,876 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Semiconductors (continued) |
Broadcom, Inc. | | |
3.419%, due 4/15/33 (a) | $ 1,071,000 | $ 1,122,731 |
3.469%, due 4/15/34 (a) | 1,686,000 | 1,764,685 |
4.30%, due 11/15/32 | 719,000 | 807,995 |
Marvell Technology, Inc. | | |
1.65%, due 4/15/26 | 793,000 | 783,627 |
4.875%, due 6/22/28 | 883,000 | 1,011,334 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. | | |
2.67%, due 9/1/23 | 1,514,000 | 1,546,240 |
Micron Technology, Inc. | | |
2.703%, due 4/15/32 | 856,000 | 856,967 |
SK Hynix, Inc. (a) | | |
1.50%, due 1/19/26 | 1,067,000 | 1,043,624 |
2.375%, due 1/19/31 | 464,000 | 446,537 |
| | 10,093,616 |
Software 0.2% |
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | | |
2.60%, due 5/1/31 | 1,084,000 | 1,088,054 |
MSCI, Inc. (a) | | |
3.625%, due 9/1/30 | 1,643,000 | 1,679,967 |
3.875%, due 2/15/31 | 1,122,000 | 1,168,283 |
4.00%, due 11/15/29 | 104,000 | 108,680 |
| | 4,044,984 |
Telecommunications 0.2% |
AT&T, Inc. | | |
3.65%, due 9/15/59 | 105,000 | 106,038 |
3.80%, due 12/1/57 | 642,000 | 668,362 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | | |
Series T | | |
5.80%, due 3/15/22 | 419,000 | 422,143 |
T-Mobile US, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 4/15/25 | 718,000 | 760,702 |
3.75%, due 4/15/27 | 990,000 | 1,072,071 |
| | 3,029,316 |
Toys, Games & Hobbies 0.1% |
Hasbro, Inc. | | |
3.90%, due 11/19/29 | 1,490,000 | 1,642,779 |
5.10%, due 5/15/44 | 213,000 | 265,111 |
6.35%, due 3/15/40 | 420,000 | 579,481 |
| | 2,487,371 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $176,246,093) | | 179,822,457 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments 0.9% |
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber 0.2% |
Alpha 3 BV | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/18/28 (b) | $ 936,295 | $ 934,122 |
Diamond (BC) BV | |
Amendment No. 3 Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 9/29/28 (b) | 1,610,000 | 1,598,327 |
| | 2,532,449 |
Finance 0.1% |
ICON plc | |
LUX Term Loan | |
2.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 7/3/28 (b) | 1,779,217 | 1,778,475 |
Healthcare 0.1% |
Medline Borrower LP | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/23/28 (b) | 1,168,559 | 1,167,342 |
Healthcare, Education & Childcare 0.1% |
Elanco Animal Health, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
1.849% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 8/1/27 (b) | 1,864,344 | 1,838,321 |
High Tech Industries 0.1% |
Trans Union LLC | |
2021 Incremental Term Loan B6 | |
2.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 12/1/28 (b) | 1,821,000 | 1,815,435 |
Leasing 0.1% |
Castlelake Aviation One Designated Activity Co. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 10/22/26 (b) | 1,753,180 | 1,744,414 |
Manufacturing 0.2% |
Madison IAQ LLC | |
Term Loan | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 6/21/28 (b) | 2,156,744 | 2,154,049 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Manufacturing (continued) |
MKS Instruments, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
TBD, due 10/20/28 | $ 1,256,000 | $ 1,252,599 |
Standard Industries, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 9/22/28 (b) | 751,213 | 751,108 |
| | 4,157,756 |
Services Business 0.0% ‡ |
ICON plc | |
U.S. Term Loan | |
2.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 7/3/28 (b) | 443,292 | 443,108 |
Total Loan Assignments (Cost $15,493,723) | | 15,477,300 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities 6.7% |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 3.2% |
FNMA | |
REMIC, Series 2018-27, Class EA | | |
3.00%, due 5/25/48 | 702,112 | 727,499 |
REMIC, Series 2019-71, Class P | | |
3.00%, due 11/25/49 | 1,011,573 | 1,043,025 |
GNMA II, Single Family, 30 Year (i) | |
2.00%, due 1/15/52 TBA | 3,297,599 | 3,327,371 |
2.50%, due 1/15/52 TBA | 4,077,270 | 4,175,375 |
UMBS, Single Family, 15 Year (i) | |
1.50%, due 1/25/37 TBA | 404,515 | 405,597 |
2.00%, due 1/25/37 TBA | 2,603,869 | 2,666,169 |
UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year (i) | |
2.00%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 16,851,527 | 16,799,606 |
2.50%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 9,178,451 | 9,364,215 |
3.00%, due 1/25/52 TBA | 11,335,560 | 11,743,224 |
3.50%, due 2/25/52 TBA | 4,190,000 | 4,404,695 |
| | 54,656,776 |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 1.9% |
280 Park Avenue Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2017-280P, Class A | | |
0.99% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.88%), due 9/15/34 (a)(b) | 699,152 | 698,301 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
BBCMS Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2017-DELC, Class A | | |
0.96% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.85%), due 8/15/36 (a)(b) | $ 495,000 | $ 494,544 |
BBCMS Trust | |
Series 2015-SRCH, Class A2 | | |
4.197%, due 8/10/35 (a) | 875,000 | 967,685 |
BX Commercial Mortgage Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-VOLT, Class A | | |
0.81% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.70%), due 9/15/36 | 457,000 | 455,441 |
Series 2019-XL, Class A | | |
1.03% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.92%), due 10/15/36 | 985,234 | 985,506 |
Series 2021-VOLT, Class B | | |
1.06% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.95%), due 9/15/36 | 937,000 | 931,190 |
Series 2020-FOX, Class A | | |
1.11% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.00%), due 11/15/32 | 1,302,974 | 1,302,580 |
Series 2019-XL, Class B | | |
1.19% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.08%), due 10/15/36 | 162,350 | 162,146 |
Series 2020-FOX, Class B | | |
1.46% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.35%), due 11/15/32 | 237,671 | 237,599 |
Series 2020-FOX, Class C | | |
1.66% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.55%), due 11/15/32 | 237,671 | 237,599 |
Series 2021-VOLT, Class D | | |
1.76% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.65%), due 9/15/36 | 984,000 | 975,309 |
BX Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-LBA, Class AV | | |
0.91% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.80%), due 2/15/36 (b) | 1,122,000 | 1,117,711 |
Series 2021-LBA, Class AJV | | |
0.91% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.80%), due 2/15/36 (b) | 987,000 | 983,227 |
Series 2019-OC11, Class A | | |
3.202%, due 12/9/41 | 565,000 | 594,698 |
Series 2019-OC11, Class B | | |
3.605%, due 12/9/41 | 284,000 | 305,041 |
Series 2019-OC11, Class C | | |
3.856%, due 12/9/41 | 564,000 | 579,762 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
BXP Trust | |
Series 2017-GM, Class A | | |
3.379%, due 6/13/39 (a) | $ 396,000 | $ 418,245 |
CHT Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2017-CSMO, Class A | | |
1.04% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.93%), due 11/15/36 (a)(b) | 617,327 | 616,948 |
Cold Storage Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2020-ICE5, Class A | | |
1.01% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 11/15/37 | 1,480,384 | 1,479,043 |
Series 2020-ICE5, Class B | | |
1.41% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.30%), due 11/15/37 | 657,621 | 656,366 |
Series 2020-ICE5, Class C | | |
1.76% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.65%), due 11/15/37 | 660,569 | 658,513 |
Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates (a)(b) | |
Series 2019-ICE4, Class A | | |
1.09% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.98%), due 5/15/36 | 1,783,000 | 1,782,463 |
Series 2019-ICE4, Class C | | |
1.54% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.43%), due 5/15/36 | 333,000 | 331,964 |
CSMC Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-WEHO, Class A | | |
4.079% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.969%), due 4/15/23 | 834,266 | 830,441 |
Series 2020-UNFI, Class A | | |
4.168% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.668%), due 12/15/22 | 509,000 | 509,543 |
Extended Stay America Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-ESH, Class A | | |
1.19% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.08%), due 7/15/38 | 1,270,391 | 1,272,063 |
Series 2021-ESH, Class B | | |
1.49% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.38%), due 7/15/38 | 346,199 | 346,199 |
Great Wolf Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2019-WOLF, Class A | | |
1.144% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.034%), due 12/15/36 | 270,000 | 269,671 |
Series 2019-WOLF, Class B | | |
1.444% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.334%), due 12/15/36 | 303,000 | 301,667 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
Great Wolf Trust (a)(b) (continued) | |
Series 2019-WOLF, Class C | | |
1.743% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.633%), due 12/15/36 | $ 337,000 | $ 334,883 |
Life Mortgage Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-BMR, Class A | | |
0.81% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.70%), due 3/15/38 | 1,864,000 | 1,859,949 |
Series 2021-BMR, Class C | | |
1.21% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.10%), due 3/15/38 | 924,000 | 914,724 |
LUXE Trust | |
Series 2021-TRIP, Class A | | |
1.16% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.05%), due 10/15/38 (a)(b) | 1,971,000 | 1,970,090 |
Med Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-MDLN, Class C | | |
1.91% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.80%), due 11/15/38 | 280,000 | 279,298 |
Series 2021-MDLN, Class D | | |
2.11% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 11/15/38 | 284,000 | 283,288 |
Series 2021-MDLN, Class E | | |
3.26% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.15%), due 11/15/38 | 1,262,000 | 1,252,515 |
Series 2021-MDLN, Class F | | |
4.11% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 11/15/38 | 794,000 | 786,040 |
MHC Commercial Mortgage Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-MHC, Class A | | |
0.911% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.801%), due 4/15/38 | 1,947,744 | 1,943,473 |
Series 2021-MHC, Class C | | |
1.461% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.351%), due 4/15/38 | 938,912 | 936,854 |
VASA Trust | |
Series 2021-VASA, Class A | | |
1.01% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 7/15/39 (a)(b) | 525,000 | 522,813 |
VMC Finance LLC | |
Series 2021-HT1, Class A | | |
1.753% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.65%), due 1/18/37 (a)(b) | 799,000 | 799,495 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2021-SAVE, Class A | | |
1.26% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 2/15/40 (a)(b) | $ 497,235 | $ 497,723 |
| | 32,882,610 |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 1.6% |
Angel Oak Mortgage Trust (a) | |
Series 2020-3, Class A2 | | |
2.41%, due 4/25/65 (c) | 347,105 | 348,639 |
Series 2019-5, Class A1 | | |
2.593%, due 10/25/49 (j) | 230,851 | 230,267 |
Series 2019-6, Class A1 | | |
2.62%, due 11/25/59 (c) | 179,316 | 179,098 |
Bayview Financing Trust | |
Series 2021-2F, Class M1 | | |
1.60% (SOFR 30A + 1.55%), due 12/31/49 (a)(b)(d) | 95,126 | 95,288 |
Bayview MSR Opportunity Master Fund Trust | |
Series 2021-5, Class AF | | |
0.898% (SOFR 30A + 0.85%), due 11/25/51 (a)(b) | 1,016,607 | 1,013,902 |
Chase Mortgage Finance Corp. | |
Series 2021-CL1, Class M1 | | |
1.25% (SOFR 30A + 1.20%), due 2/25/50 (a)(b) | 1,182,621 | 1,185,697 |
CIM Trust | |
Series 2021-NR1, Class A1 | | |
2.569%, due 7/25/55 (a)(e) | 782,549 | 780,156 |
COLT Mortgage Loan Trust (a)(c) | |
Series 2020-3, Class A1 | | |
1.506%, due 4/27/65 | 141,795 | 141,781 |
Series 2020-2, Class A1 | | |
1.853%, due 3/25/65 | 122,554 | 122,732 |
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-R03, Class 1M2 | | |
1.70% (SOFR 30A + 1.65%), due 12/25/41 | 612,000 | 612,766 |
Series 2019-R05, Class 1M2 | | |
2.103% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 7/25/39 | 102,043 | 102,140 |
Series 2020-R02, Class 2M2 | | |
2.103% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 1/25/40 | 555,644 | 557,038 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust (a)(b) (continued) | |
Series 2019-R04, Class 2M2 | | |
2.202% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.10%), due 6/25/39 | $ 106,985 | $ 107,053 |
Series 2019-R07, Class 1M2 | | |
2.203% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.10%), due 10/25/39 | 232,834 | 233,349 |
Series 2019-R03, Class 1M2 | | |
2.253% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.15%), due 9/25/31 | 225,340 | 226,203 |
Series 2019-R02, Class 1M2 | | |
2.403% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.30%), due 8/25/31 | 94,034 | 94,422 |
Series 2018-R07, Class 1M2 | | |
2.502% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.40%), due 4/25/31 | 263,331 | 264,418 |
FHLMC STACR REMIC Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2020-DNA6, Class M2 | | |
2.05% (SOFR 30A + 2.00%), due 12/25/50 | 1,021,000 | 1,026,430 |
Series 2021-HQA1, Class M2 | | |
2.30% (SOFR 30A + 2.25%), due 8/25/33 | 1,395,000 | 1,404,227 |
Series 2020-HQA2, Class M2 | | |
3.203% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.10%), due 3/25/50 | 425,527 | 430,499 |
Series 2020-HQA4, Class M2 | | |
3.253% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.15%), due 9/25/50 | 176,385 | 176,937 |
FHLMC STACR Trust | |
Series 2019-DNA4, Class M2 | | |
2.053% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.95%), due 10/25/49 (a)(b) | 74,761 | 74,982 |
FHLMC Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes (b) | |
Series 2021-DNA2, Class M2 | | |
2.35% (SOFR 30A + 2.30%), due 8/25/33 (a) | 372,000 | 378,798 |
Series 2020-HQA5, Class M2 | | |
2.65% (SOFR 30A + 2.60%), due 11/25/50 (a) | 1,510,172 | 1,525,372 |
Series 2016-DNA1, Class M3 | | |
5.653% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.55%), due 7/25/28 | 285,323 | 297,120 |
Flagstar Mortgage TrustV | |
Series 2021-13IN, Class A2 | | |
3.00%, due 12/30/51 (a)(c) | 1,472,067 | 1,497,886 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
FNMA (b) | |
Series 2021-R02, Class 2M2 | | |
2.05% (SOFR 30A + 2.00%), due 11/25/41 (a) | $ 1,891,000 | $ 1,894,603 |
Series 2017-C01, Class 1M2 | | |
3.653% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.55%), due 7/25/29 | 508,648 | 520,854 |
Series 2016-C06, Class 1M2 | | |
4.353% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 4/25/29 | 407,798 | 421,007 |
Series 2015-C01, Class 1M2 | | |
4.403% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.30%), due 2/25/25 | 415,228 | 423,350 |
Series 2014-C04, Class 1M2 | | |
5.003% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.90%), due 11/25/24 | 57,880 | 60,266 |
Series 2015-C03, Class 1M2 | | |
5.103% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 7/25/25 | 310,742 | 319,312 |
Series 2015-C04, Class 1M2 | | |
5.803% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.70%), due 4/25/28 | 315,744 | 332,586 |
J.P. Morgan Mortgage Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-11, Class A11 | | |
0.90% (SOFR 30A + 0.85%), due 1/25/52 | 743,907 | 743,114 |
Series 2021-12, Class A11 | | |
0.90% (SOFR 30A + 0.85%), due 2/25/52 | 457,831 | 455,988 |
Lakeview LLC | |
Series 2021-CRT1 | | |
2.10%, due 1/10/33 (c)(d) | 158,429 | 158,825 |
Mello Mortgage Capital Acceptance (a) | |
Series 2021-INV2, Class A11 | | |
1.00% (SOFR 30A + 0.95%), due 8/25/51 (b) | 713,527 | 711,651 |
Series 2021-INV3, Class A11 | | |
1.00% (SOFR 30A + 0.95%), due 10/25/51 (b) | 888,729 | 891,502 |
Series 2021-INV4, Class A3 | | |
2.50%, due 12/25/51 (c) | 445,243 | 444,112 |
MRA Issuance Trust | |
Series 2021-NA1, Class A1X | | |
1.599% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.50%), due 3/8/22 (a)(b) | 1,505,000 | 1,505,312 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2018-2A, Class A1 | | |
4.50%, due 2/25/58 (a)(c) | $ 194,884 | $ 204,056 |
OBX Trust | |
Series 2021-INV3, Class A3 | | |
2.50%, due 10/25/51 (a)(c) | 440,979 | 440,984 |
PRPM LLC (a) | |
Series 2021-9, Class A1 | | |
2.363%, due 10/25/26 (c) | 1,015,424 | 1,007,043 |
Series 2021-10, Class A1 | | |
2.487%, due 10/25/26 (e) | 1,140,779 | 1,139,674 |
RCKT Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2021-3, Class A21 | | |
0.85% (SOFR 30A + 0.80%), due 7/25/51 (a)(b) | 665,391 | 662,119 |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust (a) | |
Series 2013-5, Class A1 | | |
2.50%, due 5/25/43 (j) | 214,612 | 213,458 |
Series 2020-2, Class A19 | | |
3.50%, due 3/25/50 (c) | 83,281 | 84,051 |
Spruce Hill Mortgage Loan Trust (a)(c) | |
Series 2020-SH1, Class A1 | | |
2.521%, due 1/28/50 | 35,596 | 35,744 |
Series 2020-SH1, Class A2 | | |
2.624%, due 1/28/50 | 187,142 | 189,635 |
Series 2020-SH2, Class A1 | | |
3.407%, due 6/25/55 | 161,090 | 161,359 |
UWM Mortgage Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-INV1, Class A9 | | |
0.95% (SOFR 30A + 0.90%), due 8/25/51 (b) | 860,844 | 861,406 |
Series 2021-INV4, Class A3 | | |
2.50%, due 12/25/51 (c) | 348,039 | 347,572 |
| | 27,336,783 |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $114,675,280) | | 114,876,169 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies 13.3% |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 0.6% |
FHLMC Gold Pools, Other | | |
3.00%, due 6/1/43 | 13,902 | 14,225 |
3.50%, due 7/1/42 | 26,382 | 28,352 |
3.50%, due 8/1/42 | 33,381 | 35,874 |
3.50%, due 8/1/42 | 29,871 | 32,102 |
3.50%, due 2/1/43 | 174,252 | 186,702 |
3.50%, due 2/1/44 | 220,580 | 237,054 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
FHLMC Gold Pools, Other (continued) | | |
3.50%, due 1/1/47 | $ 61,030 | $ 65,238 |
4.50%, due 5/1/44 | 448,064 | 494,102 |
UMBS, 15 Year | | |
2.50%, due 12/1/33 | 1,085,022 | 1,126,284 |
2.50%, due 11/1/34 | 213,871 | 223,254 |
2.50%, due 11/1/34 | 245,982 | 256,862 |
3.00%, due 5/1/31 | 925,919 | 970,758 |
3.00%, due 9/1/32 | 205,632 | 216,701 |
3.00%, due 10/1/32 | 72,331 | 76,024 |
3.00%, due 1/1/33 | 121,012 | 127,475 |
3.00%, due 10/1/34 | 106,315 | 112,304 |
3.00%, due 10/1/34 | 261,760 | 277,097 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.50%, due 1/1/50 | 46,777 | 48,086 |
2.50%, due 8/1/51 | 208,644 | 213,299 |
3.00%, due 1/1/45 | 124,091 | 130,364 |
3.00%, due 10/1/46 | 663,751 | 697,891 |
3.00%, due 4/1/47 | 15,939 | 16,641 |
3.00%, due 8/1/49 | 156,753 | 164,507 |
3.00%, due 8/1/49 | 62,686 | 66,386 |
3.00%, due 10/1/49 | 105,239 | 109,399 |
3.00%, due 11/1/49 | 101,295 | 105,292 |
3.00%, due 11/1/49 | 311,688 | 324,032 |
3.00%, due 12/1/49 | 83,709 | 86,944 |
3.00%, due 12/1/49 | 182,224 | 189,465 |
3.00%, due 12/1/49 | 149,878 | 155,697 |
3.00%, due 3/1/50 | 52,398 | 54,386 |
3.50%, due 12/1/44 | 439,641 | 473,935 |
3.50%, due 7/1/46 | 126,888 | 135,129 |
3.50%, due 9/1/47 | 261,214 | 276,854 |
3.50%, due 12/1/47 | 868,146 | 933,918 |
3.50%, due 2/1/48 | 194,958 | 208,194 |
3.50%, due 3/1/50 | 3,137 | 3,324 |
4.00%, due 3/1/47 | 35,042 | 38,138 |
4.00%, due 3/1/48 | 162,001 | 174,847 |
4.00%, due 4/1/48 | 3,030 | 3,226 |
4.00%, due 4/1/48 | 210,418 | 227,418 |
4.00%, due 5/1/48 | 442,978 | 472,537 |
4.50%, due 3/1/48 | 185,382 | 199,791 |
4.50%, due 12/1/48 | 223,888 | 245,835 |
5.00%, due 9/1/48 | 12,083 | 13,197 |
6.00%, due 4/1/40 | 450,750 | 522,082 |
| | 10,771,222 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 1.2% |
FNMA, Other | | |
3.00%, due 2/1/43 | $ 16,863 | $ 17,821 |
3.00%, due 5/1/43 | 80,990 | 85,878 |
3.00%, due 2/1/57 | 970,081 | 1,026,806 |
3.00%, due 6/1/57 | 15,765 | 16,685 |
3.50%, due 8/1/56 | 1,183,364 | 1,280,762 |
4.50%, due 6/1/45 | 156,456 | 171,789 |
5.00%, due 7/1/44 | 274,893 | 305,603 |
UMBS, 15 Year | | |
2.50%, due 11/1/34 | 269,874 | 281,561 |
3.00%, due 10/1/34 | 124,854 | 131,834 |
3.00%, due 11/1/34 | 24,066 | 25,586 |
3.00%, due 12/1/34 | 27,344 | 29,046 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.50%, due 1/1/50 | 114,327 | 117,518 |
2.50%, due 10/1/50 | 120,595 | 123,831 |
2.50%, due 1/1/51 | 335,843 | 343,860 |
2.50%, due 8/1/51 | 22,451 | 22,951 |
3.00%, due 1/1/43 | 52,857 | 55,780 |
3.00%, due 1/1/46 | 2,164 | 2,269 |
3.00%, due 9/1/46 | 841,963 | 887,793 |
3.00%, due 2/1/47 | 6,875,457 | 7,249,348 |
3.00%, due 3/1/47 | 521,528 | 549,477 |
3.00%, due 8/1/49 | 186,914 | 197,961 |
3.00%, due 9/1/49 | 40,337 | 42,236 |
3.50%, due 12/1/45 | 104,909 | 112,326 |
3.50%, due 7/1/46 | 311,762 | 335,656 |
3.50%, due 3/1/47 | 89,325 | 95,160 |
3.50%, due 7/1/47 | 78,535 | 83,835 |
3.50%, due 8/1/47 | 99,465 | 105,696 |
3.50%, due 8/1/47 | 89,336 | 96,835 |
3.50%, due 12/1/47 | 25,385 | 27,640 |
3.50%, due 12/1/47 | 45,823 | 50,037 |
3.50%, due 1/1/48 | 261,073 | 279,002 |
3.50%, due 3/1/48 | 37,505 | 40,848 |
3.50%, due 7/1/48 | 2,090,514 | 2,224,313 |
4.00%, due 1/1/48 | 544,448 | 591,709 |
4.00%, due 1/1/48 | 983,581 | 1,065,575 |
4.00%, due 3/1/48 | 188,426 | 205,953 |
4.00%, due 2/1/49 | 145,784 | 155,159 |
4.50%, due 11/1/42 | 70,023 | 77,379 |
4.50%, due 10/1/44 | 220,661 | 244,981 |
4.50%, due 3/1/45 | 328,195 | 364,366 |
4.50%, due 2/1/46 | 359,880 | 397,287 |
4.50%, due 3/1/48 | 180,830 | 194,617 |
4.50%, due 8/1/48 | 116,670 | 125,256 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) (continued) |
UMBS, 30 Year (continued) | | |
5.00%, due 5/1/48 | $ 164,097 | $ 180,003 |
6.00%, due 2/1/37 | 28,099 | 32,577 |
| | 20,052,605 |
Government National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 0.2% |
GNMA I, 30 Year | | |
4.00%, due 1/15/45 | 511,018 | 561,471 |
4.00%, due 7/15/47 | 432,829 | 462,421 |
4.00%, due 8/15/47 | 61,133 | 66,469 |
4.00%, due 11/15/47 | 48,367 | 52,664 |
4.00%, due 12/15/47 | 88,440 | 95,191 |
4.50%, due 8/15/46 | 553,432 | 625,947 |
GNMA II, 30 Year | | |
4.00%, due 8/20/47 | 24,417 | 26,184 |
4.00%, due 8/20/47 | 60,942 | 64,992 |
4.00%, due 8/20/47 | 19,720 | 21,071 |
4.00%, due 6/20/48 | 273,546 | 289,160 |
4.50%, due 2/20/48 | 60,831 | 65,085 |
4.50%, due 5/20/48 | 44,093 | 47,252 |
4.50%, due 5/20/48 | 166,114 | 177,171 |
5.00%, due 8/20/48 | 364,661 | 391,186 |
| | 2,946,264 |
United States Treasury Bonds 3.3% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | |
1.375%, due 11/15/40 | 2,707,000 | 2,466,965 |
1.375%, due 8/15/50 | 8,806,800 | 7,714,550 |
1.625%, due 11/15/50 | 14,468,900 | 13,480,380 |
1.75%, due 8/15/41 | 18,506,000 | 17,942,145 |
1.875%, due 2/15/51 | 4,236,100 | 4,191,092 |
2.00%, due 11/15/41 | 1,450,000 | 1,466,539 |
2.00%, due 8/15/51 | 1,178,000 | 1,200,824 |
2.375%, due 5/15/51 | 1,105,000 | 1,220,507 |
2.75%, due 8/15/42 | 6,590,900 | 7,509,507 |
| | 57,192,509 |
United States Treasury Inflation - Indexed Note 0.2% |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Notes | | |
0.125%, due 7/15/31 (k) | 2,567,541 | 2,885,842 |
United States Treasury Notes 7.8% |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | |
0.125%, due 4/30/23 | 5,587,000 | 5,557,101 |
0.125%, due 6/30/23 | 3,668,000 | 3,643,212 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
United States Treasury Notes (continued) |
U.S. Treasury Notes (continued) | | |
0.125%, due 8/31/23 | $ 5,858,000 | $ 5,806,514 |
0.25%, due 5/15/24 | 2,141,000 | 2,111,812 |
0.375%, due 10/31/23 | 3,094,700 | 3,076,446 |
0.375%, due 9/15/24 | 1,573,000 | 1,550,757 |
0.375%, due 1/31/26 | 4,346,900 | 4,205,286 |
0.50%, due 2/28/26 | 18,186,000 | 17,669,546 |
0.625%, due 7/31/26 | 5,191,000 | 5,047,639 |
0.75%, due 4/30/26 | 10,272,000 | 10,068,566 |
0.75%, due 8/31/26 | 1,362,400 | 1,331,906 |
0.875%, due 6/30/26 | 14,227,000 | 14,001,369 |
0.875%, due 9/30/26 | 9,580,200 | 9,409,179 |
1.125%, due 8/31/28 | 13,228,700 | 12,972,394 |
1.25%, due 11/30/26 (h) | 8,110,000 | 8,104,931 |
1.25%, due 4/30/28 | 580,000 | 574,721 |
1.25%, due 6/30/28 | 1,122,000 | 1,110,517 |
1.375%, due 11/15/31 | 27,809,400 | 27,457,437 |
| | 133,699,333 |
Total U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (Cost $227,051,489) | | 227,547,775 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $583,308,299) | | 587,573,733 |
|
| Shares | |
Common Stocks 64.8% |
Aerospace & Defense 1.0% |
General Dynamics Corp. | 52,401 | 10,924,037 |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | 30,618 | 6,528,982 |
| | 17,453,019 |
Air Freight & Logistics 1.2% |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 93,962 | 20,139,815 |
Airlines 0.2% |
Southwest Airlines Co. (l) | 85,860 | 3,678,242 |
Auto Components 0.4% |
Aptiv plc (l) | 38,652 | 6,375,647 |
Banks 1.4% |
Bank of America Corp. | 543,503 | 24,180,448 |
Beverages 1.1% |
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A | 19,434 | 4,877,351 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Beverages (continued) |
Monster Beverage Corp. (l) | 142,546 | $ 13,690,118 |
| | 18,567,469 |
Biotechnology 0.8% |
AbbVie, Inc. | 107,147 | 14,507,704 |
Building Products 0.2% |
Trane Technologies plc | 21,025 | 4,247,681 |
Capital Markets 2.9% |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | 89,971 | 7,566,561 |
CME Group, Inc. | 63,439 | 14,493,274 |
Morgan Stanley | 239,158 | 23,475,750 |
S&P Global, Inc. | 8,412 | 3,969,875 |
| | 49,505,460 |
Chemicals 0.5% |
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) | 23,603 | 8,312,032 |
Communications Equipment 0.5% |
Motorola Solutions, Inc. | 30,062 | 8,167,845 |
Consumer Finance 1.0% |
American Express Co. | 104,976 | 17,174,074 |
Electrical Equipment 0.5% |
Rockwell Automation, Inc. | 22,703 | 7,919,942 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.3% |
Corning, Inc. | 133,768 | 4,980,183 |
Entertainment 1.4% |
Activision Blizzard, Inc. | 83,504 | 5,555,521 |
Netflix, Inc. (l) | 9,084 | 5,472,565 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) (l) | 86,855 | 13,452,971 |
| | 24,481,057 |
Food & Staples Retailing 1.9% |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | 46,528 | 26,413,945 |
Sysco Corp. | 72,867 | 5,723,703 |
| | 32,137,648 |
Food Products 0.5% |
Hershey Co. (The) | 42,941 | 8,307,795 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 2.8% |
Abbott Laboratories | 118,330 | $ 16,653,764 |
Align Technology, Inc. (l) | 8,158 | 5,361,275 |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (l) | 68,217 | 8,837,512 |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (l) | 15,850 | 5,694,905 |
Medtronic plc | 54,524 | 5,640,508 |
Stryker Corp. | 22,762 | 6,087,014 |
| | 48,274,978 |
Health Care Providers & Services 2.4% |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 79,968 | 40,155,132 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 3.3% |
Booking Holdings, Inc. (l) | 4,120 | 9,884,827 |
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (l) | 74,098 | 11,558,547 |
McDonald's Corp. | 85,368 | 22,884,600 |
Starbucks Corp. | 97,179 | 11,367,028 |
| | 55,695,002 |
Household Products 1.0% |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | 100,431 | 16,428,503 |
Industrial Conglomerates 0.9% |
Honeywell International, Inc. | 75,727 | 15,789,837 |
Insurance 1.0% |
Progressive Corp. (The) | 172,259 | 17,682,386 |
Interactive Media & Services 3.8% |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (l) | 22,406 | 64,833,778 |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 2.9% |
Amazon.com, Inc. (l) | 14,683 | 48,958,114 |
IT Services 3.2% |
Accenture plc, Class A | 35,298 | 14,632,786 |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | 49,355 | 5,387,098 |
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 97,850 | 35,159,462 |
| | 55,179,346 |
Leisure Products 0.4% |
Hasbro, Inc. | 75,625 | 7,697,113 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 1.2% |
Illumina, Inc. (l) | 12,232 | 4,653,542 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Life Sciences Tools & Services (continued) |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 24,330 | $ 16,233,949 |
| | 20,887,491 |
Machinery 1.3% |
Deere & Co. | 47,313 | 16,223,155 |
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 16,260 | 5,172,631 |
| | 21,395,786 |
Media 1.2% |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 399,337 | 20,098,631 |
Multiline Retail 1.0% |
Dollar General Corp. | 69,302 | 16,343,491 |
Personal Products 0.3% |
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A | 12,886 | 4,770,397 |
Pharmaceuticals 2.4% |
AstraZeneca plc, Sponsored ADR | 68,043 | 3,963,505 |
Eli Lilly and Co. | 87,344 | 24,126,159 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 136,959 | 10,496,538 |
Zoetis, Inc. | 9,259 | 2,259,474 |
| | 40,845,676 |
Real Estate Management & Development 0.3% |
CBRE Group, Inc., Class A (l) | 49,885 | 5,413,021 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.2% |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (l) | 76,163 | 10,959,856 |
Lam Research Corp. | 39,381 | 28,320,846 |
Marvell Technology, Inc. | 45,916 | 4,017,191 |
NVIDIA Corp. | 109,669 | 32,254,750 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 70,441 | 13,276,015 |
| | 88,828,658 |
Software 8.3% |
Adobe, Inc. (l) | 48,349 | 27,416,784 |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (l) | 42,807 | 7,977,085 |
Microsoft Corp. | 288,867 | 97,151,749 |
salesforce.com, Inc. (l) | 38,579 | 9,804,081 |
| | 142,349,699 |
Specialty Retail 1.3% |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 54,163 | 22,478,187 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 3.9% |
Apple, Inc. | 371,478 | | $ 65,963,348 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.9% |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | 89,760 | | 14,960,299 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $588,699,923) | | | 1,105,164,934 |
Short-Term Investments 3.7% |
Affiliated Investment Company 3.7% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (m)(n) | 63,091,428 | | 63,091,428 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 0.0% ‡ |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (n)(o) | 467,415 | | 467,415 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $63,558,843) | | | 63,558,843 |
Total Investments (Cost $1,235,567,065) | 102.9% | | 1,756,297,510 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (2.9) | | (50,231,646) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 1,706,065,864 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(b) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(c) | Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Fair valued security—Represents fair value as measured in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2021, the total market value was $293,617, which represented less than one-tenth of a percent of the Portfolio’s net assets. |
(e) | Step coupon—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(f) | Fixed to floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(g) | Security is perpetual and, thus, does not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
(h) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $8,560,297; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $8,749,137. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $8,281,722. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $467,415. (See Note 2(H)) |
(i) | TBA—Security purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and maturity date. The actual principal amount and maturity date will be determined upon settlement. As of December 31, 2021, the total net market value was $52,886,252, which represented 3.1% of the Portfolio’s net assets. All or a portion of this security is a part of a mortgage dollar roll agreement. |
(j) | Collateral strip rate—A bond whose interest was based on the weighted net interest rate of the collateral. The coupon rate adjusts periodically based on a predetermined schedule. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(k) | Treasury Inflation Protected Security—Pays a fixed rate of interest on a principal amount that is continuously adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index-Urban Consumers. |
(l) | Non-income producing security. |
(m) | As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio's ownership exceeds 5% of the outstanding shares of the Underlying Portfolio's share class. |
(n) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(o) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. |
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association |
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association |
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
REMIC—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit |
SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
TBA—To Be Announced |
TBD—To Be Determined |
UMBS—Uniform Mortgage Backed Securities |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | $ — | | $ 49,850,032 | | $ — | | $ 49,850,032 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 179,822,457 | | — | | 179,822,457 |
Loan Assignments | — | | 15,477,300 | | — | | 15,477,300 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | | 114,876,169 | | — | | 114,876,169 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies | — | | 227,547,775 | | — | | 227,547,775 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 587,573,733 | | — | | 587,573,733 |
Common Stocks | 1,105,164,934 | | — | | — | | 1,105,164,934 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 63,091,428 | | — | | — | | 63,091,428 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 467,415 | | — | | — | | 467,415 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 63,558,843 | | — | | — | | 63,558,843 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 1,168,723,777 | | $ 587,573,733 | | $ — | | $ 1,756,297,510 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $1,172,475,637) including securities on loan of $8,560,297 | $1,693,206,082 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $63,091,428) | 63,091,428 |
Due from custodian | 3,266,227 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 30,379,215 |
Dividends and interest | 2,867,001 |
Portfolio shares sold | 2,310,438 |
Securities lending | 1,298 |
Other assets | 6,946 |
Total assets | 1,795,128,635 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 467,415 |
Due to custodian | 18,218 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 86,926,917 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 771,375 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 455,741 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 262,057 |
Shareholder communication | 64,450 |
Professional fees | 56,363 |
Custodian | 23,487 |
Trustees | 1,699 |
Accrued expenses | 15,049 |
Total liabilities | 89,062,771 |
Net assets | $1,706,065,864 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 100,725 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 1,068,361,937 |
| 1,068,462,662 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 637,603,202 |
Net assets | $1,706,065,864 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 453,021,965 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 26,587,395 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 17.04 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $1,253,043,899 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 74,137,564 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 16.90 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $ 12,958,919 |
Dividends-unaffiliated | 12,117,259 |
Securities lending | 24,605 |
Dividends-affiliated | 5,086 |
Total income | 25,105,869 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 8,540,186 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 2,864,852 |
Professional fees | 148,440 |
Shareholder communication | 94,178 |
Custodian | 82,675 |
Trustees | 32,506 |
Miscellaneous | 69,422 |
Total expenses | 11,832,259 |
Net investment income (loss) | 13,273,610 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments | 105,512,557 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments | 132,255,579 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 237,768,136 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $251,041,746 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 13,273,610 | $ 18,335,563 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 105,512,557 | 53,224,727 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 132,255,579 | 106,458,260 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 251,041,746 | 178,018,550 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (19,693,563) | (20,833,044) |
Service Class | (51,382,048) | (49,436,862) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (71,075,611) | (70,269,906) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 200,068,355 | 174,035,243 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 71,075,611 | 70,269,906 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (203,969,824) | (217,020,749) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 67,174,142 | 27,284,400 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 247,140,277 | 135,033,044 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 1,458,925,587 | 1,323,892,543 |
End of year | $1,706,065,864 | $1,458,925,587 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 15.21 | | $ 14.04 | | $ 12.31 | | $ 13.18 | | $ 11.82 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.17 | | 0.22 | | 0.27 | | 0.26 | | 0.25 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.42 | | 1.74 | | 2.48 | | (0.14) | | 1.89 |
Total from investment operations | 2.59 | | 1.96 | | 2.75 | | 0.12 | | 2.14 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.22) | | (0.27) | | (0.25) | | (0.25) | | (0.23) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.54) | | (0.52) | | (0.77) | | (0.74) | | (0.55) |
Total distributions | (0.76) | | (0.79) | | (1.02) | | (0.99) | | (0.78) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 17.04 | | $ 15.21 | | $ 14.04 | | $ 12.31 | | $ 13.18 |
Total investment return (b) | 17.35% | | 14.32% | | 22.93% | | 0.42% | | 18.35% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.03% | | 1.57% | | 2.01% | | 1.93% | | 1.95% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.57% | | 0.58% | | 0.58% | | 0.58% | | 0.58% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.57% | | 0.58% | | 0.58% | | 0.58%(d) | | 0.58%(d) |
Portfolio turnover rate (e) | 103% | | 106% | | 98% | | 132% | | 73% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 453,022 | | $ 416,712 | | $ 404,231 | | $ 371,106 | | $ 417,996 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | Expense waiver/reimbursement less than 0.01%. |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rate not including mortgage dollar rolls were 60%, 95%, 93%, 103% and 66% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 15.10 | | $ 13.94 | | $ 12.24 | | $ 13.11 | | $ 11.77 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.12 | | 0.18 | | 0.24 | | 0.22 | | 0.22 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.41 | | 1.74 | | 2.45 | | (0.13) | | 1.88 |
Total from investment operations | 2.53 | | 1.92 | | 2.69 | | 0.09 | | 2.10 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.19) | | (0.24) | | (0.22) | | (0.22) | | (0.21) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.54) | | (0.52) | | (0.77) | | (0.74) | | (0.55) |
Total distributions | (0.73) | | (0.76) | | (0.99) | | (0.96) | | (0.76) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 16.90 | | $ 15.10 | | $ 13.94 | | $ 12.24 | | $ 13.11 |
Total investment return (b) | 17.06% | | 14.03% | | 22.62% | | 0.17% | | 18.05% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.77% | | 1.31% | | 1.76% | | 1.69% | | 1.70% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.82% | | 0.83% | | 0.83% | | 0.83% | | 0.83% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) | 0.82% | | 0.83% | | 0.83% | | 0.83%(d) | | 0.83%(d) |
Portfolio turnover rate (e) | 103% | | 106% | | 98% | | 132% | | 73% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 1,253,044 | | $ 1,042,214 | | $ 919,661 | | $ 748,653 | | $ 730,439 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | Expense waiver/reimbursement less than 0.01%. |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rate not including mortgage dollar rolls were 60%, 95%, 93%, 103% and 66% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
30 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | February 17, 2012 |
Service Class | February 17, 2012 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth, consistent with preservation of capital and balanced by current income.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or
liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The
32 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Loan assignments, participations and commitments are valued at the average of bid quotations obtained from the engaged independent pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Certain loan assignments, participations and commitments may be valued by utilizing significant unobservable inputs obtained from the pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an
uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method and includes any realized gains and losses from repayments of principal on mortgage-backed securities. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Loan Assignments, Participations and Commitments. The Portfolio may invest in loan assignments and participations ("loans"). Commitments are agreements to make money available to a borrower in a specified amount, at a specified rate and within a specified time. The Portfolio records an investment when the borrower withdraws money on a commitment or when a funded loan is purchased (trade date) and records interest as earned. These loans pay interest at rates that are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR").
The loans in which the Portfolio may invest are generally readily marketable, but may be subject to some restrictions on resale. For example, the Portfolio may be contractually obligated to receive approval from the agent bank and/or borrower prior to the sale of these investments. If the Portfolio purchases an assignment from a lender, the Portfolio will generally have direct contractual rights against the borrower in favor of the lender. If the Portfolio purchases a participation interest either from a lender or a participant, the Portfolio typically will have established a direct contractual relationship with the seller of the participation interest, but not with the borrower. Consequently, the Portfolio is subject to the credit risk of the lender or participant who sold the participation interest to the Portfolio, in addition to the usual credit risk of the borrower. In the event that the borrower, selling participant or intermediate participants become insolvent or enter into bankruptcy, the Portfolio may incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment, or may suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.
Unfunded commitments represent the remaining obligation of the Portfolio to the borrower. At any point in time, up to the maturity date of the issue, the borrower may demand the unfunded portion. Unfunded amounts, if any, are marked to market and any unrealized gains or losses are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not hold any unfunded commitments.
(H) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the
Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(I) Dollar Rolls. The Portfolio may enter into dollar roll transactions in which it sells mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") from its portfolio to a counterparty from whom it simultaneously agrees to buy a similar security on a delayed delivery basis. The Portfolio generally transfers MBS where the MBS are "to be announced," therefore, the Portfolio accounts for these transactions as purchases and sales.
When accounted for as purchase and sales, the securities sold in connection with the dollar rolls are removed from the portfolio and a realized gain or loss is recognized. The securities the Portfolio has agreed to acquire are included at market value in the Portfolio of Investments and liabilities for such purchase commitments are included as payables for investments purchased. During the roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future as well as by the earnings on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls may be renewed without physical delivery of the securities subject to the contract. The Portfolio maintains liquid assets from its portfolio having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest. Dollar roll transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the securities returned to the Portfolio at the end of the roll period, while substantially similar, could be inferior to what was initially sold to the counterparty.
(J) Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry
34 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
The Portfolio may invest in high-yield debt securities (sometimes called “junk bonds”), which are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher rated debt securities. These securities pay investors a premium—a higher interest rate or yield than investment grade debt securities—because of the increased risk of loss. These securities can also be subject to greater price volatility. In times of unusual or adverse market, economic or political conditions, these securities may experience higher than normal default rates.
Investments in the Portfolio are not guaranteed, even though some of the Portfolio’s underlying investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The principal risk of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities is that the underlying debt may be prepaid ahead of schedule, if interest rates fall, thereby reducing the value of the Portfolio’s investment. If interest rates rise, less of the debt may be prepaid and the Portfolio may lose money because the Portfolio may be unable to invest in higher yielding assets. The Portfolio is subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise. Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner.
The Portfolio’s investments may include loans which are usually rated below investment grade and are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher rated debt securities. These investments pay investors a higher interest rate than investment grade debt securities because of the increased risk of loss. Although certain loans are collateralized, there is no guarantee that the value of the collateral will be sufficient to repay the loan. In a recession or serious credit event, the value of these investments could decline significantly. As a result, the Portfolio’s NAVs could go down and you could lose money.
In addition, loans generally are subject to extended settlement periods that may be longer than seven days. As a result, the Portfolio may be adversely affected by selling other investments at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions or engaging in borrowing transactions, such as borrowing against its credit facility, to raise cash to meet redemption obligations or pursue other investment opportunities.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities. As a result, the Portfolio may not have the protection of anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. In such cases, the Portfolio generally must rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities, both debt and equity securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in
emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(K) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the LIBOR, as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(L) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. Janus Capital Management LLC (“Janus” or the “Subadvisor”), a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Janus Henderson Group PLC, doing business as Janus Henderson Investors, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and Janus, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.55% up to $1 billion; 0.525% from $1 billion to $2 billion; and 0.515% in excess of $2 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.54%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $8,540,186 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $3,998,639.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). ��During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 33,485 | $ 334,441 | $ (304,835) | $ — | $ — | $ 63,091 | $ 5 | $ — | 63,091 |
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Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $1,237,503,727 | $525,700,938 | $(6,907,155) | $518,793,783 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$19,918,775 | $98,890,644 | $518,793,783 | $637,603,202 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale and cumulative bond amortization adjustments.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $34,359,548 | $33,150,432 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 36,716,063 | 37,119,474 |
Total | $71,075,611 | $70,269,906 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $8,391 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month LIBOR, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of U.S. government securities were $585,734 and $469,145, respectively. Purchases and sales of securities, other than U.S. government securities and short-term securities, were $1,028,760 and $1,139,469, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 572,943 | $ 9,276,043 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,225,913 | 19,693,563 |
Shares redeemed | (2,609,368) | (42,369,071) |
Net increase (decrease) | (810,512) | $ (13,399,465) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 758,889 | $ 10,891,846 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,448,943 | 20,833,044 |
Shares redeemed | (3,611,218) | (50,728,001) |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,403,386) | $ (19,003,111) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 11,911,903 | $ 190,792,312 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 3,222,617 | 51,382,048 |
Shares redeemed | (10,018,242) | (161,600,753) |
Net increase (decrease) | 5,116,278 | $ 80,573,607 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 11,648,966 | $ 163,143,397 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 3,461,335 | 49,436,862 |
Shares redeemed | (12,044,352) | (166,292,748) |
Net increase (decrease) | 3,065,949 | $ 46,287,511 |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
38 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Janus Capital Management LLC (“Janus”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Janus in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and Janus in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or Janus that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and Janus personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New
York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and Janus; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and Janus; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and Janus with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and Janus. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and Janus resulting from, among other things, the Board’s
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consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and Janus
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of Janus, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of Janus and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, Janus with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as Janus’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program;
(iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that Janus provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated Janus’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and Janus’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at Janus and New York Life Investments’ and Janus’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and Janus and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed Janus’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Janus regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to Janus as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or Janus had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and Janus
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Janus due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that Janus’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of Janus’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and Janus and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and Janus, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and Janus’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and Janus and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and Janus must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and Janus to continue to provide
high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to Janus from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to Janus in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between Janus and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall
42 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to Janus, the Board considered that any profits realized by Janus due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and Janus, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to Janus by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to Janus is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and Janus on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
44 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
46 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
48 | MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI524
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/2/2005 | 3.76% | 3.68% | 3.94% | 0.65% |
Service Class Shares | 5/2/2005 | 3.50 | 3.41 | 3.68 | 0.90 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index1 | 5.20% | 4.27% | 4.69% |
Morningstar Bank Loan Category Average2 | 4.23 | 3.16 | 3.89 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index is a broad-based index designed to reflect the performance of U.S. dollar facilities in the leveraged loan market. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Bank Loan Category Average is representative of funds that invest in floating-rate bank loans instead of bonds. In exchange for their credit risk, these loans offer high interest payments that typically float above a common short-term benchmark. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,013.40 | $3.20 | $1,022.03 | $3.21 | 0.63% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,012.10 | $4.46 | $1,020.77 | $4.48 | 0.88% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
Industry Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Electronics | 9.7% |
Healthcare, Education & Childcare | 7.3 |
Finance | 7.2 |
Telecommunications | 4.4 |
Hotels, Motels, Inns & Gaming | 4.2 |
Services: Business | 4.0 |
Insurance | 3.9 |
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber | 3.5 |
Containers, Packaging & Glass | 3.3 |
Aerospace & Defense | 3.0 |
Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing | 2.9 |
Broadcasting & Entertainment | 2.8 |
Utilities | 2.8 |
Manufacturing | 2.4 |
Beverage, Food & Tobacco | 2.3 |
Personal, Food & Miscellaneous Services | 2.2 |
Diversified/Conglomerate Service | 2.1 |
Buildings & Real Estate | 2.0 |
Healthcare | 2.0 |
Media | 1.8 |
Software | 1.8 |
Automobile | 1.7 |
Oil & Gas | 1.7 |
Retail Store | 1.6 |
Banking | 1.4 |
Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures & Entertainment | 1.3 |
Entertainment | 1.3 |
Commercial Services | 1.3 |
Machinery (Non–Agriculture, Non–Construct & Non–Electronic) | 1.0 |
Personal & Nondurable Consumer Products | 1.0 |
Mining, Steel, Iron & Non–Precious Metals | 0.9 |
Personal & Nondurable Consumer Products (Manufacturing Only) | 0.8 |
Printing & Publishing | 0.8 |
Retail | 0.8 |
High Tech Industries | 0.6 |
Personal Transportation | 0.5 |
Chemicals | 0.4% |
Affiliated Investment Company | 0.3 |
Cargo Transport | 0.3 |
Packaging | 0.3 |
Environmental Control | 0.3 |
Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares & Durable Consumer Products | 0.2 |
Ecological | 0.2 |
Pharmaceuticals | 0.2 |
Consumer Durables | 0.2 |
Electric | 0.2 |
Real Estate | 0.2 |
Packaging & Containers | 0.2 |
Radio and TV Broadcasting | 0.1 |
Animal Food | 0.1 |
Energy (Electricity) | 0.1 |
Lodging | 0.1 |
Auto Manufacturers | 0.1 |
Food | 0.1 |
Distribution & Wholesale | 0.1 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts | 0.1 |
Building Materials | 0.1 |
Oil & Gas Services | 0.1 |
Airlines | 0.1 |
Healthcare–Services | 0.0‡ |
Iron & Steel | 0.0‡ |
Machinery–Diversified | 0.0‡ |
Healthcare–Products | 0.0‡ |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 0.0‡ |
Health Care Providers & Services | 0.0‡ |
Metals & Mining | 0.0‡ |
Communications Equipment | 0.0‡ |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers | 0.0‡ |
Short–Term Investments | 5.0 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | –1.4 |
| 100.0% |
‡ | Less than one–tenth of a percent. |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | Asurion LLC, 3.104%-5.354%, due 11/3/23–1/20/29 |
2. | Sunshine Luxembourg VII SARL, 4.50%, due 10/1/26 |
3. | Univision Communications, Inc., TBD-6.625%, due 3/15/24–5/5/28 |
4. | UKG, Inc., 3.75%-5.75%, due 5/4/26–5/3/27 |
5. | Peraton Corp., 4.50%, due 2/1/28 |
6. | Scientific Games International, Inc., 2.854%-7.00%, due 8/14/24–5/15/28 |
7. | Prime Security Services Borrower LLC, 3.50%-6.25%, due 9/23/26–1/15/28 |
8. | IRB Holding Corp., 3.75%-7.00%, due 2/5/25–12/15/27 |
9. | MH Sub I LLC, 3.604%-4.75%, due 9/13/24 |
10. | Chariot Buyer LLC, 4.00%, due 11/3/28 |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Robert H. Dial, Mark A. Campellone and Arthur S. Torrey of NYL Investors LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio returned 3.76% for Initial Class shares and 3.50% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 5.20% return of the S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes underperformed the 4.23% return of the Morningstar Bank Loan Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
Market conditions were generally favorable during the reporting period, with the floating-rate market realizing positive performance consistent with other risk assets, including equities and high yield, although floating-rate securities demonstrated lower trading volatility. Risk assets continued to recover from the pandemic-related market sell-off that occurred in February and March of 2020. Those segments of the loan market that underperformed the most during 2020, especially lower-credit-quality and more pandemic-sensitive sectors, tended to outperform in the current reporting period. The Portfolio has historically been positioned with higher credit quality and less exposure to COVID-19-impacted sectors and underperformed as a result.
What was the Portfolio’s duration2 strategy during the reporting period?
Floating-rate loans are, by their nature, a low-duration asset. Loans earn a stated spread3 over a floating reference rate, which during the reporting period was the London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”)4. Issuers can generally borrow under a 30- to 90-day range with LIBOR. The weighted-average time to LIBOR
reset on the Portfolio averaged less than 40 days during the reporting period.
What specific factors, risks or market forces prompted significant decisions for the Portfolio during the reporting period?
As noted above, as financial markets and the economy continued to recover during the reporting period, we selectively and modestly added to the Portfolio’s high-yield bond allocation in addition to more COVID-19-sensitive floating-rate loans that continued to rally. The Portfolio also saw a modest decrease in its overweight position relative to the Index in credits rated BB, and a corresponding increase in credits rated B.5
During the reporting period, which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which market segments were particularly weak?
During the reporting period the Portfolio realized its largest contributions to absolute performance from its out-of-benchmark bond positions, followed by its underweight exposure to home furnishings and overweight exposure to utilities. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The most significant detractors from the Portfolio’s absolute performance were from underweight positions in electronics, oil & gas, and business services.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s largest loan purchases during the reporting period included issues from insurer Asurion, health care product and services provider UDG Healthcare and Chamberlain Group, corporate parent to LiftMaster, Merlin and Grifco; this reflected our favorable view toward the relative value, business prospects and management of these issuers. The largest sales during the reporting period were bonds from Asurion (mentioned above),
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
2. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
3. | The terms “spread” and “yield spread” may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
4. | LIBOR is a composite of interest rates at which banks borrow from one another in the London market, and it is a widely used benchmark for short-term interest rates. |
5. | An obligation rated ‘BB’ by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) is deemed by S&P to be less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. In the opinion of S&P, however, the obligor faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. An obligation rated ‘B’ by S&P is deemed by S&P to be more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but in the opinion of S&P, the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. It is the opinion of S&P that adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. When applied to Portfolio holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Portfolio. |
8 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
health care company Organon International and media company Red Ventures. These sales were conducted as rebalancing trades for the Portfolio.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
As the economy and markets continued to recover from the onset of COVID-19, we increased the Portfolio’s exposure to out-of-benchmark positions in high-yield bonds, health care and building materials. Conversely, the Portfolio’s benchmark-relative exposure fell in utilities, electronics and gaming.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, we remain cautiously optimistic about floating-rate market performance. The Portfolio maintained its overweight positions relative to the Index in gaming, building materials and utilities, and we expect to continue to do so in the prevailing environment. As of the end of the reporting period, the Portfolio continued to hold underweight exposure to electronics, health care and cable TV, while looking for opportunities to add exposure in these underweight sectors subject to our underwriting criteria. From a ratings perspective, the Portfolio moved closer to a market-weight position in credit rated BB and better, and moved to an overweight position in credit rated B, reflecting our view on improving credit fundamentals for the loan market and better relative performance. As of the end of the reporting period, we are also looking to maintain lower cash balances through additional purchases, subject to market conditions and flows into or out of the Portfolio.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 96.1% |
Corporate Bonds 3.6% |
Aerospace & Defense 0.2% |
Howmet Aerospace, Inc. | | |
6.875%, due 5/1/25 | $ 200,000 | $ 229,942 |
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. | | |
7.50%, due 4/15/25 (a) | 900,000 | 943,875 |
| | 1,173,817 |
Airlines 0.1% |
United Airlines, Inc. (a) | | |
4.375%, due 4/15/26 | 200,000 | 208,547 |
4.625%, due 4/15/29 | 600,000 | 618,750 |
| | 827,297 |
Auto Manufacturers 0.1% |
Ford Motor Co. | | |
9.00%, due 4/22/25 | 600,000 | 733,560 |
Building Materials 0.1% |
Koppers, Inc. | | |
6.00%, due 2/15/25 (a) | 500,000 | 508,745 |
Chemicals 0.2% |
Kraton Polymers LLC | | |
4.25%, due 12/15/25 (a) | 400,000 | 414,044 |
SCIL IV LLC | | |
5.375%, due 11/1/26 (a) | 350,000 | 359,187 |
Unifrax Escrow Issuer Corp. | | |
5.25%, due 9/30/28 (a) | 330,000 | 333,548 |
WR Grace Holdings LLC | | |
5.625%, due 8/15/29 (a) | 300,000 | 307,125 |
| | 1,413,904 |
Commercial Services 0.4% |
Herc Holdings, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 7/15/27 (a) | 850,000 | 884,000 |
PECF USS Intermediate Holding III Corp. | | |
8.00%, due 11/15/29 (a) | 80,000 | 82,840 |
Prime Security Services Borrower LLC | | |
6.25%, due 1/15/28 (a) | 1,000,000 | 1,042,500 |
Sotheby's | | |
5.875%, due 6/1/29 (a) | 900,000 | 918,000 |
Team Health Holdings, Inc. | | |
6.375%, due 2/1/25 (a) | 500,000 | 470,625 |
| | 3,397,965 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Distribution & Wholesale 0.1% |
IAA, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 6/15/27 (a) | $ 500,000 | $ 518,125 |
KAR Auction Services, Inc. | | |
5.125%, due 6/1/25 (a) | 350,000 | 355,250 |
| | 873,375 |
Electric 0.2% |
Vistra Operations Co. LLC | | |
5.00%, due 7/31/27 (a) | 1,500,000 | 1,556,730 |
Entertainment 0.1% |
Scientific Games International, Inc. | | |
7.00%, due 5/15/28 (a) | 900,000 | 958,500 |
Environmental Control 0.3% |
GFL Environmental, Inc. (a) | | |
3.75%, due 8/1/25 | 1,000,000 | 1,010,000 |
4.25%, due 6/1/25 | 500,000 | 514,473 |
4.75%, due 6/15/29 | 1,000,000 | 1,008,750 |
| | 2,533,223 |
Food 0.1% |
Post Holdings, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 12/15/29 (a) | 240,000 | 252,151 |
U.S. Foods, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 4/15/25 (a) | 500,000 | 520,625 |
| | 772,776 |
Healthcare-Products 0.0% ‡ |
Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc. | | |
5.25%, due 10/1/29 (a) | 200,000 | 202,728 |
Healthcare-Services 0.0% ‡ |
Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 4/15/29 (a) | 120,000 | 123,300 |
Iron & Steel 0.0% ‡ |
Carpenter Technology Corp. | | |
6.375%, due 7/15/28 | 310,000 | 329,559 |
Lodging 0.1% |
Boyd Gaming Corp. | | |
4.75%, due 12/1/27 | 400,000 | 408,000 |
8.625%, due 6/1/25 (a) | 500,000 | 535,760 |
| | 943,760 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Machinery-Diversified 0.0% ‡ |
GrafTech Finance, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 12/15/28 (a) | $ 220,000 | $ 223,300 |
Media 0.1% |
Radiate Holdco LLC | | |
4.50%, due 9/15/26 (a) | 370,000 | 373,700 |
Univision Communications, Inc. | | |
6.625%, due 6/1/27 (a) | 600,000 | 646,500 |
| | 1,020,200 |
Oil & Gas Services 0.1% |
USA Compression Partners LP | | |
6.875%, due 4/1/26 | 360,000 | 374,400 |
Packaging & Containers 0.2% |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC | | |
4.00%, due 9/1/29 (a) | 400,000 | 396,300 |
Ardagh Packaging Finance plc | | |
5.25%, due 4/30/25 (a) | 1,000,000 | 1,032,500 |
| | 1,428,800 |
Pharmaceuticals 0.1% |
Bausch Health Cos., Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 11/1/25 (a) | 300,000 | 304,875 |
Organon & Co. | | |
5.125%, due 4/30/31 (a) | 600,000 | 626,808 |
| | 931,683 |
Real Estate 0.2% |
Realogy Group LLC (a) | | |
5.75%, due 1/15/29 | 1,330,000 | 1,363,250 |
7.625%, due 6/15/25 | 240,000 | 254,400 |
| | 1,617,650 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.1% |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 7/15/28 (a) | 350,000 | 359,625 |
RHP Hotel Properties LP | | |
4.75%, due 10/15/27 | 300,000 | 306,000 |
| | 665,625 |
Retail 0.4% |
1011778 BC ULC | | |
4.00%, due 10/15/30 (a) | 1,040,000 | 1,021,800 |
IRB Holding Corp. | | |
7.00%, due 6/15/25 (a) | 580,000 | 613,623 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Retail (continued) |
LBM Acquisition LLC | | |
6.25%, due 1/15/29 (a) | $ 1,000,000 | $ 988,750 |
Michaels Cos., Inc. (The) (a) | | |
5.25%, due 5/1/28 | 450,000 | 450,198 |
7.875%, due 5/1/29 | 600,000 | 591,000 |
| | 3,665,371 |
Software 0.1% |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp. (a) | | |
3.875%, due 7/1/28 | 300,000 | 301,500 |
4.875%, due 7/1/29 | 300,000 | 304,236 |
| | 605,736 |
Telecommunications 0.3% |
Frontier Communications Holdings LLC | | |
5.875%, due 10/15/27 (a) | 280,000 | 296,100 |
LogMeIn, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 9/1/27 (a) | 1,100,000 | 1,113,200 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 1/15/29 (a) | 670,000 | 648,225 |
Telesat Canada | | |
4.875%, due 6/1/27 (a) | 600,000 | 529,800 |
| | 2,587,325 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $28,710,226) | | 29,469,329 |
Loan Assignments 92.5% |
Aerospace & Defense 2.8% |
AI Convoy (Luxembourg) SARL | |
USD Facility Term Loan B | |
4.50% (6 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 1/18/27 (b) | 857,308 | 857,308 |
Arcline FM Holdings LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 6/23/28 (b) | 2,921,250 | 2,913,947 |
Asplundh Tree Expert LLC | |
Amendment No. 1 Term Loan | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 9/7/27 (b) | 2,637,863 | 2,624,201 |
Cobham Ultra U.S. Co-borrower LLC | |
Term Loan | |
TBD, due 11/17/28 | 1,000,000 | 998,750 |
Dynasty Acquisition Co., Inc. (b) | |
2020 Term Loan B1 | |
3.724% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 4/6/26 | 1,521,047 | 1,479,045 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Aerospace & Defense (continued) |
Dynasty Acquisition Co., Inc. (b) (continued) | |
2020 Term Loan B2 | |
3.724% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 4/6/26 | $ 817,767 | $ 795,185 |
Kestrel Bidco, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 12/11/26 (b) | 2,222,455 | 2,152,386 |
Russell Investments U.S. Institutional Holdco, Inc. | |
2025 Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 5/30/25 (b) | 4,367,733 | 4,365,549 |
SkyMiles IP Ltd. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/20/27 (b) | 1,185,714 | 1,252,263 |
TransDigm, Inc. (b) | |
Tranche Refinancing Term Loan E | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 5/30/25 | 962,850 | 947,685 |
Tranche Refinancing Term Loan F | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 12/9/25 | 2,574,341 | 2,536,897 |
United AirLines, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 4/21/28 (b) | 2,779,000 | 2,781,701 |
| | 23,704,917 |
Animal Food 0.1% |
Alltech, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 10/13/28 (b) | 533,333 | 534,000 |
Automobile 1.7% |
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 4/6/24 (b) | 1,304,652 | 1,301,390 |
Autokiniton U.S. Holdings, Inc. | |
Closing Date Term Loan B | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 4/6/28 (b) | 3,044,700 | 3,047,745 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Automobile (continued) |
Belron Finance 2019 LLC | |
Dollar Second Incremental Term Loan | |
2.438% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 10/30/26 (b) | $ 1,225,000 | $ 1,214,664 |
Belron Finance U.S. LLC | |
First Incremental Term Loan | |
2.438% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 11/13/25 (b) | 970,000 | ��� 963,533 |
Belron Group SA | |
Dollar Third Incremental Term Loan | |
3.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.42%), due 4/13/28 (b) | 960,244 | 958,563 |
Chassix, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan 6.50%-7.75% | |
(3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%, 3 Month LIBOR + 5.50%), due 11/15/23 (b) | 1,936,124 | 1,710,242 |
Clarios Global LP | |
First Lien Amendment No. 1 Dollar Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/30/26 (b) | 1,275,217 | 1,265,653 |
KAR Auction Services, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B6 | |
2.375% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 9/19/26 (b) | 730,675 | 716,975 |
Wand Newco 3, Inc. | |
First Lien Tranche Term Loan B1 | |
3.175% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 2/5/26 (b) | 2,640,169 | 2,600,567 |
| | 13,779,332 |
Banking 1.4% |
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (b) | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 5/15/26 | 1,462,500 | 1,440,563 |
Term Loan B1 | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 3/11/28 | 744,375 | 738,792 |
Broadstreet Partners, Inc. | |
2020 Initial Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 1/27/27 (b) | 2,515,548 | 2,482,008 |
Brookfield Property REIT, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
2.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 8/27/25 (b) | 1,349,596 | 1,329,689 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Banking (continued) |
Edelman Financial Engines Center LLC (The) | |
2021 First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 4/7/28 (b) | $ 1,653,441 | $ 1,650,915 |
Greenhill & Co., Inc. | |
New Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/12/24 (b)(c) | 556,909 | 555,284 |
Jane Street Group LLC | |
Dollar Term Loan | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 1/26/28 (b) | 3,797,046 | 3,766,594 |
| | 11,963,845 |
Beverage, Food & Tobacco 2.3% |
8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc. | |
First Lien Term Loan | |
3.852% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/1/25 (b) | 2,541,796 | 2,500,492 |
American Seafoods Group LLC | |
First Lien Tranche Term Loan B | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 8/21/23 (b) | 569,125 | 566,279 |
Arctic Glacier Group Holdings, Inc. | |
Specified Refinancing Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 3/20/24 (b)(c) | 619,218 | 582,452 |
CHG PPC Parent LLC | |
First Lien 2021-1 U.S. Term Loan | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 12/8/28 (b) | 1,320,000 | 1,310,100 |
City Brewing Co. LLC | |
First Lien Closing Date Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 4/5/28 (b) | 1,695,750 | 1,595,065 |
Froneri International Ltd. | |
First Lien Facility Term Loan B2 | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 1/29/27 (b) | 1,462,725 | 1,440,784 |
H-Food Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.792% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.69%), due 5/23/25 (b) | 1,253,291 | 1,244,152 |
JBS USA Lux SA | |
New Term Loan | |
2.102% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 5/1/26 (b) | 3,317,324 | 3,306,267 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Beverage, Food & Tobacco (continued) |
Sotheby's | |
2021 Second Refinancing Term Loan | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 1/15/27 (b) | $ 2,285,431 | $ 2,286,384 |
Sunshine Investments BV | |
Facility Term Loan B3 | |
2.908% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 3/28/25 (b) | 2,960,000 | 2,937,800 |
United Natural Foods, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/22/25 (b) | 1,133,728 | 1,130,894 |
| | 18,900,669 |
Broadcasting & Entertainment 2.8% |
Altice France SA | |
USD Incremental Term Loan B13 | |
4.118% (2 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 8/14/26 (b) | 1,212,500 | 1,205,428 |
Charter Communications Operating LLC | |
Term Loan B1 | |
1.86% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 4/30/25 (b) | 2,805,195 | 2,797,545 |
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
3.629% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 8/21/26 (b) | 1,211,900 | 1,193,533 |
Diamond Sports Group LLC | |
Term Loan | |
3.36% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 8/24/26 (b) | 2,927,588 | 1,347,736 |
Gray Television, Inc. | |
Term Loan C | |
2.599% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 1/2/26 (b) | 2,506,446 | 2,484,515 |
Nexstar Media, Inc. | |
Term Loan B4 | |
2.599% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 9/18/26 (b) | 2,911,767 | 2,903,966 |
Numericable U.S. LLC (b) | |
USD Term Loan B11 | |
2.879% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 7/31/25 | 1,880,726 | 1,844,052 |
USD Term Loan B12 | |
3.811% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.69%), due 1/31/26 | 959,976 | 950,376 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Broadcasting & Entertainment (continued) |
Terrier Media Buyer, Inc. | |
First Lien 2021 Term Loan B | |
3.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 12/17/26 (b) | $ 3,284,325 | $ 3,267,082 |
Univision Communications, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
TBD, due 5/5/28 | 2,080,000 | 2,074,151 |
First Lien 2017 Replacement Repriced Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 3/15/24 (b) | 3,576,393 | 3,571,282 |
| | 23,639,666 |
Buildings & Real Estate 2.0% |
Allspring Buyer LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 11/1/28 (b) | 1,596,774 | 1,598,484 |
Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. | |
2028 Term Loan | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 5/19/28 (b) | 1,492,500 | 1,482,799 |
Core & Main LP | |
Tranche Term Loan B | |
2.602% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 7/27/28 (b) | 2,531,542 | 2,513,345 |
Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/12/28 (b) | 2,501,013 | 2,495,386 |
Cushman & Wakefield U.S. Borrower LLC | |
Replacement Term Loan | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 8/21/25 (b) | 2,913,143 | 2,890,773 |
SRS Distribution, Inc. | |
2021 Refinancing Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 6/2/28 (b) | 2,074,800 | 2,069,354 |
VC GB Holdings I Corp. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 7/21/28 (b) | 500,000 | 495,391 |
Wilsonart LLC | |
Tranche Term Loan E | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 12/31/26 (b) | 2,924,077 | 2,920,421 |
| | 16,465,953 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Cargo Transport 0.3% |
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.224% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 12/30/26 (b) | $ 2,466,174 | $ 2,449,338 |
Chemicals 0.2% |
Ineos U.S. Finance LLC | |
2028 Dollar Term Loan | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 11/8/28 (b) | 466,667 | 463,458 |
LSF11 A5 Holdco LLC | |
Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/15/28 (b) | 1,333,333 | 1,331,111 |
| | 1,794,569 |
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber 3.5% |
Alpha 3 BV | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/18/28 (b) | 1,018,880 | 1,016,515 |
Aruba Investments Holdings LLC | |
First Lien Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/24/27 (b) | 529,334 | 529,334 |
Cabot Microelectronics Corp. | |
Term Loan B1 | |
2.125% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 11/17/25 (b) | 780,043 | 778,093 |
Diamond (BC) BV | |
Amendment No. 3 Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 9/29/28 (b) | 1,250,000 | 1,240,938 |
Flex Acquisition Co., Inc. | |
2021 Specified Refinancing Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 3/2/28 (b) | 825,586 | 823,227 |
Herens Holdco SARL | |
USD Facility Term Loan B | |
4.75% (6 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 7/3/28 (b) | 1,492,500 | 1,489,617 |
INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH | |
2026 Tranche Dollar Term Loan B | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 1/29/26 (b) | 1,930,300 | 1,925,474 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber (continued) |
Ineos U.S. Finance LLC | |
2024 New Dollar Term Loan | |
2.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 4/1/24 (b) | $ 1,433,924 | $ 1,424,738 |
Innophos Holdings, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 2/5/27 (b) | 1,473,750 | 1,468,224 |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 5/5/28 (b) | 2,985,000 | 2,995,928 |
Minerals Technologies, Inc. | |
New Term Loan B1 | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 2/14/24 (b)(c) | 618,032 | 618,032 |
Nouryon Finance BV | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.102% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 10/1/25 (b) | 2,463,066 | 2,449,724 |
Olympus Water U.S. Holding Corp. | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/9/28 (b) | 1,250,000 | 1,244,445 |
Oxea Holding Vier GmbH | |
Tranche Term Loan B2 | |
3.438% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/14/24 (b) | 2,225,000 | 2,206,225 |
SCIH Salt Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Incremental Term Loan B1 | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 3/16/27 (b) | 2,731,355 | 2,700,627 |
Sparta U.S. Holdco LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 8/2/28 (b) | 900,000 | 899,250 |
Tricorbraun Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Closing Date Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 3/3/28 (b) | 1,773,703 | 1,759,015 |
Tronox Finance LLC | |
First Lien Refinancing Term Loan 2.354%-2.474% | |
(1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%, 3 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 3/10/28 (b) | 969,316 | 959,138 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber (continued) |
Venator Finance SARL | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 8/8/24 (b) | $ 1,422,712 | $ 1,409,670 |
W. R. Grace Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 9/22/28 (b) | 1,500,000 | 1,501,125 |
| | 29,439,339 |
Commercial Services 0.9% |
ADMI Corp. | |
Amendment No.4 Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.875% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.38%), due 12/23/27 (b) | 1,488,750 | 1,478,205 |
MHI Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 9/21/26 (b) | 1,878,555 | 1,877,771 |
Prime Security Services Borrower LLC | |
First Lien 2021 Refinancing Term Loan B1 | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%, 3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 9/23/26 (b) | 4,142,951 | 4,136,833 |
| | 7,492,809 |
Consumer Durables 0.2% |
SWF Holdings I Corp. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 10/6/28 (b) | 2,100,000 | 2,077,251 |
Containers, Packaging & Glass 3.3% |
Alliance Laundry Systems LLC | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 10/8/27 (b) | 1,762,714 | 1,761,140 |
Altium Packaging LLC | |
First Lien 2021 Term Loan | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 2/3/28 (b) | 3,083,085 | 3,047,919 |
Anchor Glass Container Corp. | |
First Lien July 2017 Additional Term Loan | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 12/7/23 (b) | 2,083,314 | 1,794,255 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Containers, Packaging & Glass (continued) |
Berlin Packaging LLC (b) | |
Tranche Initial Term Loan B4 | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 3/11/28 | $ 1,985,025 | $ 1,970,137 |
Tranche Term Loan B5 | |
4.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/11/28 | 1,077,300 | 1,074,158 |
Berry Global, Inc. | |
Term Loan Z | |
1.864% (2 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 7/1/26 (b) | 1,964,896 | 1,950,363 |
Charter Next Generation, Inc. | |
2021 First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 12/1/27 (b) | 845,351 | 846,671 |
Clearwater Paper Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.125% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 7/26/26 (b) | 416,667 | 414,583 |
Graham Packaging Co., Inc. | |
2021 Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 8/4/27 (b) | 3,273,315 | 3,261,041 |
Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/3/24 (b) | 2,843,018 | 2,801,897 |
Pactiv Evergreen, Inc. | |
Tranche U.S. Term Loan B3 | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 9/24/28 (b) | 498,750 | 497,191 |
Pretium PKG Holdings, Inc. (b) | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 10/2/28 | 1,720,000 | 1,714,778 |
Second Lien Initial Term Loan | |
7.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 6.75%), due 10/1/29 | 750,000 | 749,063 |
Reynolds Consumer Products LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 2/4/27 (b) | 1,291,932 | 1,283,534 |
RLG Holdings LLC | |
First Lien Closing Date Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 7/7/28 (b) | 800,000 | 797,334 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Containers, Packaging & Glass (continued) |
Tank Holding Corp. (b) | |
First Lien 2020 Refinancing Term Loan 3.354%-5.50% | |
(1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%, 3 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 3/26/26 | $ 1,204,376 | $ 1,195,042 |
First Lien 2020 Incremental Term Loan | |
5.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 3/26/26 (c) | 1,045,917 | 1,048,531 |
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc. (b) | |
Tranche Delayed Draw Term Loan B3 4.00%-4.50% | |
(3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 9/15/28 (c) | 25,682 | 25,650 |
Tranche Term Loan B1 | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/17/24 | 716,800 | 716,203 |
Tranche Initial Term Loan B3 | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 9/15/28 | 449,273 | 448,712 |
| | 27,398,202 |
Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing 2.9% |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC | |
Initial U.S. Dollar Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 5/12/28 (b) | 4,305,006 | 4,283,481 |
Bright Bidco BV | |
2018 Refinancing Term Loan B | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 6/30/24 (b) | 1,910,101 | 1,465,763 |
EWT Holdings III Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.625% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 4/1/28 (b) | 1,741,250 | 1,723,838 |
Filtration Group Corp. | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 3/31/25 (b) | 1,758,065 | 1,742,682 |
Gardner Denver, Inc. | |
2020 GDI Tranche Dollar Term Loan B2 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 3/1/27 (b) | 1,978,506 | 1,955,940 |
GYP Holdings III Corp. | |
First Lien 2021 Incremental Term Loan | |
2.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 6/1/25 (b) | 1,388,004 | 1,384,823 |
Ingersoll-Rand Services Co. | |
2020 Spinco Tranche Dollar Term Loan B1 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 3/1/27 (b) | 857,791 | 848,007 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing (continued) |
Iron Mountain Information Management LLC | |
Incremental Term Loan B | |
1.851% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 1/2/26 (b) | $ 1,804,688 | $ 1,775,361 |
LTI Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 9/6/25 (b) | 1,062,988 | 1,049,480 |
QUIKRETE Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Fourth Amendment Term Loan B1 | |
TBD, due 6/11/28 | 1,500,000 | 1,494,219 |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
2.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 2/1/27 (b) | 2,290,057 | 2,261,907 |
Red Ventures LLC (b) | |
First Lien Term Loan B2 | |
2.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 11/8/24 | 982,538 | 975,345 |
First Lien Term Loan B3 | |
4.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 11/8/24 | 1,980,000 | 1,965,150 |
WP CPP Holdings LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 4/30/25 (b) | 990,222 | 947,519 |
| | 23,873,515 |
Diversified/Conglomerate Service 2.1% |
Applied Systems, Inc. (b) | |
First Lien Closing Date Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 9/19/24 | 2,536,196 | 2,533,817 |
Second Lien 2021 Term Loan | |
6.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 5.50%), due 9/19/25 | 445,140 | 448,200 |
Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 6/15/25 (b) | 1,957,288 | 1,943,832 |
Brightview Landscapes LLC | |
First Lien 2018 Initial Term Loan | |
2.625% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 8/15/25 (b) | 1,086,263 | 1,079,927 |
Change Healthcare Holdings, Inc. | |
Closing Date Term Loan | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/1/24 (b) | 1,392,122 | 1,390,556 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Diversified/Conglomerate Service (continued) |
Greeneden U.S. Holdings I LLC | |
2020 Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 12/1/27 (b) | $ 1,426,109 | $ 1,430,269 |
IRI Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 12/1/25 (b) | 3,160,017 | 3,148,167 |
MKS Instruments, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B6 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 2/2/26 (b) | 689,164 | 686,924 |
Monitronics International, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
7.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 6.50%), due 3/29/24 (b)(c) | 941,682 | 872,625 |
TruGreen LP | |
First Lien Second Refinancing Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 11/2/27 (b) | 2,705,996 | 2,706,840 |
Verint Systems, Inc. | |
Refinancing Term Loan | |
2.099% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 6/28/24 (b) | 588,235 | 583,824 |
Verscend Holding Corp. | |
Term Loan B1 | |
4.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 8/27/25 (b) | 1,049,720 | 1,048,408 |
| | 17,873,389 |
Ecological 0.2% |
GFL Environmental, Inc. | |
2020 Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 5/30/25 (b) | 2,031,640 | 2,034,687 |
Electronics 9.7% |
Avast Software BV | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
2.224% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 3/22/28 (b) | 192,500 | 191,813 |
Barracuda Networks, Inc. | |
First Lien 2020 Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 2/12/25 (b) | 1,934,210 | 1,939,649 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Electronics (continued) |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition 1 Co. (b) | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 10/30/26 | $ 1,854,263 | $ 1,839,893 |
Amendment No. 2 Incremental Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 10/30/26 | 1,237,500 | 1,234,406 |
Castle U.S. Holding Corp. (b) | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.974% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 1/29/27 | 1,422,984 | 1,408,755 |
Dollar Term Loan B2 | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 1/29/27 | 2,484,375 | 2,459,531 |
Commscope, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/6/26 (b) | 4,214,244 | 4,156,298 |
CoreLogic, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 6/2/28 (b) | 4,488,750 | 4,478,650 |
DCert Buyer, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 10/16/26 (b) | 2,459,962 | 2,455,569 |
Diebold Nixdorf, Inc. | |
New Dollar Term Loan B | |
2.875% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 11/6/23 (b) | 635,075 | 626,608 |
ECi Macola/MAX Holding LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/9/27 (b) | 1,980,000 | 1,976,287 |
Epicor Software Corp. | |
Term Loan C | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 7/30/27 (b) | 3,063,423 | 3,059,769 |
Flexera Software LLC | |
First Lien Term Loan B1 | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/3/28 (b) | 2,389,129 | 2,387,800 |
Gainwell Acquisition Corp. | |
First Lien Term Loan B | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 10/1/27 (b) | 521,053 | 522,030 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Electronics (continued) |
Generation Bridge LLC (b) | |
Term Loan B | |
5.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 12/1/28 | $ 1,469,388 | $ 1,467,551 |
Term Loan C | |
5.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 12/1/28 (c)(d) | 30,612 | 30,574 |
Go Daddy Operating Co. LLC | |
Tranche Term Loan B2 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 2/15/24 (b) | 1,174,028 | 1,166,934 |
Helios Software Holdings, Inc. | |
2021 Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.974% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/11/28 (b) | 497,143 | 493,569 |
Hyland Software, Inc. (b) | |
First Lien 2018 Refinancing Term Loan | |
4.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 7/1/24 | 3,554,549 | 3,557,510 |
Second Lien 2021 Refinancing Term Loan | |
7.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 6.25%), due 7/7/25 | 535,333 | 539,181 |
ION Trading Finance Ltd. | |
2021 Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.974% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 4/1/28 (b) | 995,000 | 996,066 |
MA FinanceCo. LLC (b) | |
Tranche Term Loan B3 | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 6/21/24 | 247,333 | 245,272 |
Tranche Term Loan B4 | |
5.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 6/5/25 (c)(d) | 493,631 | 501,035 |
McAfee LLC | |
USD Term Loan B | |
3.852% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 9/30/24 (b) | 3,502,089 | 3,502,089 |
MH Sub I LLC (b) | |
First Lien Amendment No. 2 Initial Term Loan | |
3.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 9/13/24 | 3,008,732 | 2,989,927 |
First Lien 2020 June New Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 9/13/24 | 2,081,173 | 2,084,207 |
Misys Ltd. (b) | |
First Lien Dollar Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 6/13/24 | 2,658,352 | 2,643,635 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Electronics (continued) |
Misys Ltd. (b) (continued) | |
Second Lien Dollar Term Loan | |
8.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 7.25%), due 6/13/25 | $ 900,000 | $ 897,625 |
Project Alpha Intermediate Holding, Inc. | |
2021 Refinancing Term Loan | |
5.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 4/26/24 (b) | 2,005,867 | 2,007,371 |
Project Leopard Holdings, Inc. (b) | |
2018 Repricing Term Loan | |
5.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 7/5/24 | 1,078,060 | 1,078,734 |
2019 Incremental Term Loan | |
5.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 7/5/24 (c) | 973,866 | 974,474 |
Proofpoint, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 8/31/28 (b) | 2,500,000 | 2,491,875 |
Rocket Software, Inc. (b) | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 11/28/25 | 875,250 | 870,217 |
First Lien 2021 Dollar Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 11/28/25 | 1,492,500 | 1,488,396 |
Seattle SpinCo, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 6/21/24 (b) | 1,670,303 | 1,656,385 |
Sharp Midco LLC | |
Term Loan | |
TBD, due 12/14/28 | 1,800,000 | 1,800,000 |
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (b) | |
Term Loan B3 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 4/16/25 | 632,545 | 624,814 |
Term Loan B4 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 4/16/25 | 513,482 | 507,206 |
Term Loan B5 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 4/16/25 | 1,910,460 | 1,887,111 |
Surf Holdings SARL | |
First Lien Dollar Tranche Term Loan | |
3.69% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 3/5/27 (b) | 2,020,747 | 2,003,066 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Electronics (continued) |
Tempo Acquisition LLC | |
Extended Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 11/2/26 (b) | $ 1,945,066 | $ 1,946,891 |
ThoughtWorks, Inc. | |
Incremental Term Loan | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 3/24/28 (b) | 427,668 | 426,866 |
TIBCO Software, Inc. (b) | |
Term Loan B3 | |
3.86% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 6/30/26 | 2,969,887 | 2,946,128 |
Second Lien Term Loan | |
7.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 7.25%), due 3/3/28 | 400,000 | 400,700 |
Trader Corp. | |
First Lien 2017 Refinancing Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 9/28/23 (b) | 2,283,127 | 2,277,419 |
UKG, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 5/4/26 (b) | 1,710,625 | 1,705,065 |
Vertiv Group Corp. | |
Term Loan B | |
2.844% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 3/2/27 (b) | 1,965,150 | 1,950,105 |
VS Buyer LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.09% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 2/28/27 (b) | 982,500 | 977,096 |
WEX, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 3/31/28 (b) | 992,500 | 986,297 |
| | 80,858,449 |
Energy (Electricity) 0.1% |
Covanta Holding Corp. (b) | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 11/30/28 | 558,188 | 558,362 |
Initial Term Loan C | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 11/30/28 (c) | 41,812 | 41,825 |
| | 600,187 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Entertainment 1.2% |
Alterra Mountain Co. | |
Term Loan B2 | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 8/17/28 (b) | $ 3,398,189 | $ 3,391,110 |
Formula One Management Ltd. | |
USD Facility Term Loan B3 | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 2/1/24 (b) | 2,568,089 | 2,561,669 |
J&J Ventures Gaming LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 4/26/28 (b) | 3,990,000 | 3,990,000 |
| | 9,942,779 |
Finance 7.2% |
AAdvantage Loyality IP Ltd. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 4/20/28 (b) | 1,400,000 | 1,449,350 |
Acuity Specialty Products, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 8/12/24 (b)(c) | 400,355 | 391,013 |
Acuris Finance U.S., Inc. | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 2/16/28 (b) | 2,269,531 | 2,273,503 |
ADMI Corp. | |
Amendment No. 5 Incremental Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 12/23/27 (b) | 748,125 | 746,151 |
AlixPartners LLP | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 2/4/28 (b) | 1,488,750 | 1,481,306 |
Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC (b) | |
First Lien Tranche Term Loan 1 3.59%-3.60% | |
(1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 1/29/27 | 1,111,847 | 1,094,126 |
First Lien Tranche Term Loan 2 | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 1/29/27 | 992,500 | 989,709 |
Blue Tree Holdings, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
2.72% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/4/28 (b) | 496,250 | 491,908 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Finance (continued) |
Boxer Parent Co., Inc. | |
2021 Replacement Dollar Term Loan | |
3.974% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/2/25 (b) | $ 2,266,542 | $ 2,255,681 |
Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 6/21/24 (b) | 1,648,554 | 1,610,873 |
Colouroz Investment 1 GmbH | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan C | |
5.25% (0.75% PIK) (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 9/21/23 (b)(c)(e) | 288,160 | 285,938 |
Colouroz Investment 2 LLC GmbH | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan B2 | |
5.25% (0.75% PIK) (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 9/21/23 (b)(c)(e) | 1,743,130 | 1,729,690 |
Covia Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 7/31/26 (b) | 709,736 | 702,284 |
CPC Acquisition Corp. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 12/29/27 (b) | 1,985,000 | 1,960,188 |
Deerfield Dakota Holding LLC | |
First Lien Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 4/9/27 (b) | 985,000 | 985,528 |
Endurance International Group Holdings, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 2/10/28 (b) | 3,885,032 | 3,846,182 |
Greenrock Finance, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial USD Term Loan B | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 6/28/24 (b)(c) | 962,453 | 954,935 |
ICON plc | |
LUX Term Loan | |
2.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 7/3/28 (b) | 1,814,910 | 1,814,153 |
iStar, Inc. | |
Term Loan 2.849%-2.86% | |
(1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 6/28/23 (b) | 630,585 | 629,009 |
LBM Acquisition LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 12/17/27 (b) | 849,535 | 841,570 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Finance (continued) |
LSF11 Skyscraper Holdco SARL | |
USD Facility Term Loan B3 | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 9/29/27 (b) | $ 794,015 | $ 793,023 |
Minimax Viking GmbH | |
Facility Term Loan B1C | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 7/31/25 (b) | 2,172,686 | 2,163,180 |
ON Semiconductor Corp. | |
2019 New Replacement Term Loan B4 | |
2.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 9/19/26 (b) | 483,850 | 483,185 |
Onex TSG Intermediate Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 2/28/28 (b) | 995,000 | 993,756 |
Pactiv Evergreen, Inc. | |
Tranche U.S. Term Loan B2 | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 2/5/26 (b) | 1,114,991 | 1,107,226 |
Park River Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 12/28/27 (b) | 1,326,665 | 1,313,029 |
Peraton Corp. | |
First Lien Term Loan B | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 2/1/28 (b) | 5,558,000 | 5,558,000 |
Pluto Acquisition I, Inc. | |
First Lien 2021 Term Loan 4.09%-4.18% | |
(1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%, 3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 6/22/26 (b) | 2,089,500 | 2,078,181 |
PODS LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 3/31/28 (b) | 2,977,537 | 2,965,309 |
Potters Industries LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 12/14/27 (b) | 794,000 | 794,496 |
RealPage, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/24/28 (b) | 2,377,887 | 2,368,375 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Finance (continued) |
Spa Holdings 3 Oy | |
USD Facility Term Loan B | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 2/4/28 (b) | $ 794,015 | $ 794,015 |
Triton Water Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 3/31/28 (b) | 3,218,813 | 3,180,088 |
Truck Hero, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 1/31/28 (b) | 1,071,900 | 1,067,210 |
WCG Purchaser Corp. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (2 Month LIBOR + 4.00%, 3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 1/8/27 (b) | 2,261,023 | 2,260,317 |
WildBrain Ltd. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 3/24/28 (b) | 3,617,662 | 3,607,110 |
WIN Waste Innovations Holdings, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 3/24/28 (b) | 2,228,800 | 2,223,228 |
| | 60,282,825 |
Healthcare 2.0% |
AHP Health Partners, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 8/24/28 (b) | 855,000 | 856,069 |
Carestream Dental Technology Parent Ltd. | |
First Lien Tranche Term Loan B | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 9/1/24 (b) | 333,333 | 332,500 |
Chariot Buyer LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 11/3/28 (b) | 4,800,000 | 4,794,000 |
CHG Healthcare Services, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 9/29/28 (b) | 1,296,750 | 1,295,291 |
ICU Medical, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
TBD, due 12/15/28 | 600,000 | 600,750 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Healthcare (continued) |
LSCS Holdings, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
TBD, due 11/23/28 | $ 700,000 | $ 700,000 |
Medical Solutions Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 11/1/28 (b) | 432,000 | 430,812 |
Medline Borrower LP | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/23/28 (b) | 2,100,000 | 2,097,812 |
U.S. Anesthesia Partners, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 10/1/28 (b) | 3,491,250 | 3,478,158 |
WP CityMD Bidco LLC | |
Second Amendment Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 12/22/28 (b) | 2,166,667 | 2,162,333 |
| | 16,747,725 |
Healthcare, Education & Childcare 7.3% |
Agiliti Health, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.875% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 1/4/26 (b) | 875,250 | 868,686 |
Akorn Operating Co. LLC | |
Term Loan | |
8.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 7.50%), due 10/1/25 (b) | 55,191 | 55,467 |
Alvogen Pharma U.S., Inc. | |
January 2020 Term Loan | |
6.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 5.25%), due 12/31/23 (b) | 1,251,622 | 1,190,083 |
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.625% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 5/4/25 (b) | 3,143,485 | 3,104,192 |
athenahealth, Inc. | |
First Lien Term Loan B1 | |
4.40% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 2/11/26 (b) | 2,807,449 | 2,803,064 |
Auris Luxembourg III SARL | |
Facility Term Loan B2 | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 2/27/26 (b) | 1,149,937 | 1,138,917 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Healthcare, Education & Childcare (continued) |
Avantor Funding, Inc. | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan B4 | |
2.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 11/21/24 (b) | $ 252,358 | $ 251,790 |
Bausch Health Cos., Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 6/2/25 (b) | 3,990,130 | 3,970,179 |
Carestream Dental Technology Parent Ltd. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 9/1/24 (b) | 957,500 | 945,531 |
Carestream Health, Inc. (b) | |
Second Lien 2023 Extended Term Loan | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 8/8/23 | 1,574,858 | 1,527,613 |
First Lien 2023 Extended Term Loan | |
7.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 6.75%), due 5/8/23 | 1,825,388 | 1,828,239 |
DaVita, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B1 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 8/12/26 (b) | 1,700,857 | 1,691,172 |
Ecovyst Catalyst Technologies LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 6/9/28 (b) | 1,791,000 | 1,789,508 |
Elanco Animal Health, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
1.849% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 8/1/27 (b) | 1,541,438 | 1,519,923 |
Endo Luxembourg Finance Co. I SARL | |
2021 Term Loan | |
5.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 3/27/28 (b) | 1,486,760 | 1,444,325 |
Envision Healthcare Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/10/25 (b) | 1,818,750 | 1,457,274 |
eResearchTechnology, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 2/4/27 (b) | 1,975,955 | 1,982,871 |
FC Compassus LLC | |
Term Loan B1 | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 12/31/26 (b)(c) | 2,051,156 | 2,046,541 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Healthcare, Education & Childcare (continued) |
Grifols Worldwide Operations Ltd. | |
Dollar Tranche Term Loan B | |
2.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 11/15/27 (b) | $ 925,556 | $ 911,480 |
HCA, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 6/30/28 (b) | 597,000 | 599,736 |
Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc. | |
Incremental Term Loan B2 | |
2.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 3/15/28 (b) | 661,667 | 658,772 |
Insulet Corp. | |
Term Loan B | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 5/4/28 (b) | 1,393,000 | 1,394,741 |
Journey Personal Care Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 3/1/28 (b) | 995,000 | 993,135 |
LifePoint Health, Inc. | |
First Lien Term Loan B | |
3.852% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/16/25 (b) | 3,376,733 | 3,370,824 |
Mallinckrodt International Finance SA | |
2017 Term Loan B | |
6.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 5.25%), due 9/24/24 (b)(f) | 964,650 | 901,948 |
National Mentor Holdings, Inc. (b) | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/2/28 | 1,566,205 | 1,548,585 |
First Lien Initial Term Loan C | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/2/28 (c) | 49,563 | 49,005 |
Organon & Co. | |
Dollar Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 6/2/28 (b) | 2,646,625 | 2,647,729 |
Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. | |
Second Amendment New Term Loan | |
3.103% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 6/30/25 (b) | 2,610,690 | 2,607,789 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Healthcare, Education & Childcare (continued) |
Petco Health and Wellness Co., Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 3/3/28 (b) | $ 1,985,000 | $ 1,981,278 |
Raptor Acquisition Corp. | |
First Lien Term Loan B | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 11/1/26 (b) | 1,250,000 | 1,249,610 |
Select Medical Corp. | |
Tranche Term Loan B | |
2.36% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 3/6/25 (b) | 3,048,392 | 3,022,669 |
Sound Inpatient Physicians, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 6/27/25 (b)(c) | 482,500 | 480,238 |
Sunshine Luxembourg VII SARL | |
Facility Term Loan B3 | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/1/26 (b) | 6,462,835 | 6,466,875 |
Team Health Holdings, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 2/6/24 (b) | 2,828,378 | 2,699,081 |
| | 61,198,870 |
High Tech Industries 0.6% |
Altar Bidco, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
TBD, due 11/17/28 | 1,875,000 | 1,866,797 |
NAB Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 11/23/28 (b) | 900,000 | 895,050 |
Tempo Acquisition LLC | |
Third Incremental Term Loan | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 8/31/28 (b) | 598,500 | 599,497 |
Trans Union LLC | |
2021 Incremental Term Loan B6 | |
2.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 12/1/28 (b) | 1,567,742 | 1,562,951 |
| | 4,924,295 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares & Durable Consumer Products 0.2% |
Serta Simmons Bedding LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 11/8/23 (b) | $ 2,493,459 | $ 1,538,464 |
Hotels, Motels, Inns & Gaming 4.2% |
Aimbridge Acquisition Co., Inc. | |
First Lien 2019 Initial Term Loan | ��� |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 2/2/26 (b) | 2,694,312 | 2,630,322 |
AP Gaming I LLC | |
First Lien Incremental Term Loan B | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 2/15/24 (b) | 1,815,988 | 1,804,072 |
Caesars Resort Collection LLC | |
Term Loan B | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 12/23/24 (b) | 2,375,662 | 2,360,517 |
Churchill Downs, Inc. | |
Facility Term Loan B | |
2.11% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 12/27/24 (b) | 1,927,254 | 1,917,618 |
Entain plc | |
USD Facility Term Loan B | |
3.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/29/27 (b) | 1,279,286 | 1,274,887 |
Everi Holdings, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 8/3/28 (b) | 1,470,362 | 1,466,227 |
Four Seasons Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien 2013 Term Loan | |
2.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 11/30/23 (b) | 1,431,979 | 1,424,998 |
Golden Entertainment, Inc. | |
First Lien Facility Term Loan B | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 10/21/24 (b) | 1,347,150 | 1,342,940 |
Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC | |
Refinanced Term Loan B2 | |
1.852% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 6/22/26 (b) | 235,804 | 233,642 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Hotels, Motels, Inns & Gaming (continued) |
Oceankey U.S. II Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 12/15/28 (b) | $ 1,000,000 | $ 995,000 |
PCI Gaming Authority | |
Facility Term Loan B | |
2.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 5/29/26 (b) | 2,449,126 | 2,437,263 |
Penn National Gaming, Inc. | |
Facility Term Loan B1 | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 10/15/25 (b) | 1,030,831 | 1,029,074 |
Scientific Games International, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan B5 | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 8/14/24 (b) | 4,255,005 | 4,235,857 |
Station Casinos LLC | |
Facility Term Loan B1 | |
2.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 2/8/27 (b) | 1,631,498 | 1,615,183 |
Travel + Leisure Co. | |
Term Loan B | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 5/30/25 (b) | 1,942,311 | 1,910,142 |
UFC Holdings LLC | |
First Lien Term Loan B3 | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 4/29/26 (b) | 4,134,697 | 4,117,468 |
Whatabrands LLC | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 8/3/28 (b) | 2,000,000 | 1,991,666 |
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 5/30/25 (b) | 2,426,061 | 2,399,525 |
| | 35,186,401 |
Insurance 3.9% |
Acrisure LLC (b) | |
First Lien 2020 Term Loan | |
3.724% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 2/15/27 | 3,006,864 | 2,969,278 |
First Lien 2021-2 Additional Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%, 3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 2/15/27 | 1,050,000 | 1,048,031 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Insurance (continued) |
Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC | |
Term Loan B4 | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 11/5/27 (b) | $ 1,995,000 | $ 1,990,725 |
AmWINS Group, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 2/19/28 (b) | 1,980,006 | 1,963,506 |
AssuredPartners, Inc. | |
2020 February Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 2/12/27 (b) | 3,157,084 | 3,128,333 |
Asurion LLC (b) | |
New Term Loan B7 | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 11/3/24 | 1,439,504 | 1,432,007 |
Replacement Term Loan B6 | |
3.229% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.13%), due 11/3/23 | 888,306 | 885,451 |
New Term Loan B8 | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 12/23/26 | 990,000 | 982,369 |
New Term Loan B9 | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 7/31/27 | 496,250 | 492,631 |
Second Lien New Term Loan B3 | |
5.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.25%), due 1/31/28 | 300,000 | 299,438 |
Second Lien New Term Loan B4 | |
5.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.25%), due 1/20/29 | 2,500,000 | 2,488,542 |
Broadstreet Partners, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B2 | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 1/27/27 (b) | 698,250 | 693,304 |
Hub International Ltd. (b) | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.875% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 4/25/25 | 1,404,422 | 1,386,086 |
Incremental Term Loan B3 | |
4.00% (2 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/25/25 | 2,987,443 | 2,984,330 |
NFP Corp. | |
Closing Date Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 2/15/27 (b) | 1,929,289 | 1,895,872 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Insurance (continued) |
Ryan Specialty Group LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 9/1/27 (b) | $ 987,500 | $ 986,266 |
Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. (b) | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 12/31/25 | 2,924,997 | 2,900,866 |
2019 Term Loan | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 9/3/26 | 975,000 | 973,375 |
USI, Inc. | |
2017 New Term Loan | |
3.224% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 5/16/24 (b) | 2,872,500 | 2,849,759 |
| | 32,350,169 |
Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures & Entertainment 1.3% |
Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc. | |
2020 Replacement Term Loan | |
2.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 5/24/27 (b) | 2,282,010 | 2,252,059 |
Boyd Gaming Corp. | |
Refinancing Term Loan B | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 9/15/23 (b) | 1,378,707 | 1,377,127 |
Creative Artists Agency LLC | |
Closing Date Term Loan | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/27/26 (b) | 1,470,000 | 1,465,406 |
Fitness International LLC (b) | |
Term Loan A | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 1/8/25 | 1,147,500 | 1,067,175 |
Term Loan B | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/18/25 | 270,764 | 252,487 |
Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC | |
Term Loan B | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 3/24/25 (b) | 1,018,273 | 1,005,544 |
Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. | |
2019 Refinancing Term Loan | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 8/29/25 (b) | 1,313,765 | 1,288,803 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures & Entertainment (continued) |
William Morris Endeavor Entertainment LLC (IMG Worldwide Holdings LLC) | |
First Lien Term Loan B1 | |
2.86% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 5/18/25 (b) | $ 2,617,945 | $ 2,559,042 |
| | 11,267,643 |
Machinery (Non-Agriculture, Non-Construct & Non-Electronic) 1.0% |
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.375% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 7/31/26 (b) | 467,143 | 467,143 |
Brown Group Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 6/7/28 (b) | 1,164,852 | 1,161,940 |
Columbus McKinnon Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.25% (6 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 5/14/28 (b) | 1,461,576 | 1,461,576 |
CPM Holdings, Inc. (b) | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.599% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 11/17/25 | 1,454,995 | 1,442,871 |
Second Lien Initial Term Loan | |
8.349% (1 Month LIBOR + 8.25%), due 11/16/26 (c)(d) | 797,980 | 794,987 |
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.354% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 3/28/25 (b) | 1,804,683 | 1,771,127 |
Welbilt, Inc. | |
2018 Term Loan B | |
2.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 10/23/25 (b) | 1,284,178 | 1,278,293 |
| | 8,377,937 |
Manufacturing 2.4% |
ASP Blade Holdings, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 10/13/28 (b) | 1,500,000 | 1,499,062 |
CP Atlas Buyer, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/23/27 (b) | 3,356,767 | 3,337,046 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Manufacturing (continued) |
FCG Acquisitions, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/31/28 (b) | $ 995,017 | $ 991,534 |
Filtration Group Corp. | |
2021 Incremental Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 10/21/28 (b) | 798,000 | 796,205 |
Idemia Group SAS | |
USD Facility Term Loan B3 | |
5.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 1/10/26 (b) | 1,073,052 | 1,071,040 |
II-VI, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
TBD, due 12/8/28 | 2,750,000 | 2,743,125 |
LTI Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Third Amendment Additional Term Loan | |
4.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 7/24/26 (b)(c) | 500,000 | 496,250 |
Madison IAQ LLC | |
Term Loan | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 6/21/28 (b) | 2,348,200 | 2,345,265 |
MKS Instruments, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
TBD, due 10/20/28 | 2,450,000 | 2,443,365 |
Pro Mach Group, Inc. | |
First Lien Closing Date Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 8/31/28 (b) | 2,498,254 | 2,504,500 |
Standard Industries, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 9/22/28 (b) | 1,070,132 | 1,069,983 |
Weber-Stephen Products LLC | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/30/27 (b) | 293,011 | 293,220 |
Zurn LLC | |
First Lien Term Loan B | |
2.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 10/4/28 (b) | 850,000 | 849,788 |
| | 20,440,383 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Media 1.7% |
Cogeco Communications Finance (USA) LP | |
Amendment No. 5 Incremental Term Loan B | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 9/1/28 (b) | $ 1,250,000 | $ 1,243,750 |
Directv Financing LLC | |
Closing Date Term Loan | |
5.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 8/2/27 (b) | 4,105,500 | 4,107,832 |
Gray Television, Inc. | |
Term Loan D | |
3.099% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 12/1/28 (b) | 1,600,000 | 1,591,000 |
KKR Apple Bidco LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 9/22/28 (b) | 2,370,000 | 2,359,795 |
Mission Broadcasting, Inc. | |
Term Loan B4 | |
2.599% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 6/2/28 (b) | 598,500 | 596,469 |
Radiate Holdco LLC | |
Amendment No. 6 Term Loan B | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 9/25/26 (b) | 4,095,109 | 4,078,613 |
| | 13,977,459 |
Mining, Steel, Iron & Non-Precious Metals 0.9% |
American Rock Salt Co. LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 6/9/28 (b) | 1,250,857 | 1,246,166 |
Gates Global LLC | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan B3 | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/31/27 (b) | 2,928,946 | 2,921,623 |
Graftech International Ltd. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 2/12/25 (b) | 758,550 | 757,981 |
MRC Global (U.S.), Inc. | |
2018 Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 9/20/24 (b) | 1,054,451 | 1,046,543 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Mining, Steel, Iron & Non-Precious Metals (continued) |
U.S. Silica Co. | |
Term Loan | |
5.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 5/1/25 (b) | $ 1,443,451 | $ 1,407,590 |
| | 7,379,903 |
Oil & Gas 1.7% |
Buckeye Partners LP | |
2021 Tranche Term Loan B1 | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 11/1/26 (b) | 1,351,041 | 1,345,636 |
ChampionX Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.625% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 5/9/25 (b)(c) | 202,410 | 200,639 |
DT Midstream, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 6/26/28 (b) | 796,000 | 796,995 |
Fleet Midco I Ltd. | |
Facility Term Loan B | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 10/7/26 (b) | 1,221,875 | 1,209,656 |
GIP III Stetson I LP | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 7/18/25 (b)(c) | 1,491,569 | 1,436,381 |
Keane Group Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 5/25/25 (b) | 965,000 | 955,350 |
Lucid Energy Group II Borrower LLC | |
2021 Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 11/24/28 (b) | 1,351,000 | 1,332,424 |
Medallion Midland Acquisition LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/18/28 (b) | 576,056 | 571,976 |
Murphy Oil USA, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B | |
2.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 1/31/28 (b) | 447,750 | 447,750 |
NorthRiver Midstream Finance LP | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
3.382% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/1/25 (b) | 1,161,000 | 1,158,420 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Oil & Gas (continued) |
Oryx Midstream Services Permian Basin LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/5/28 (b) | $ 1,000,000 | $ 992,500 |
PES Holdings LLC | |
Tranche Term Loan C | |
6.311% (3.00% PIK) (1 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 12/31/22 (b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g) | 1,133,978 | 45,359 |
Prairie ECI Acquiror LP | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 3/11/26 (b) | 1,185,525 | 1,145,883 |
Traverse Midstream Partners LLC | |
Advance Term Loan | |
5.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 9/27/24 (b) | 1,217,722 | 1,210,873 |
Veritas U.S., Inc. | |
Dollar 2021 Term Loan B | |
6.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 9/1/25 (b) | 1,193,970 | 1,192,105 |
| | 14,041,947 |
Packaging 0.3% |
LABL, Inc. | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
5.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 10/29/28 (b) | 1,500,000 | 1,496,562 |
Plastipakj Holdings, Inc. | |
2021 Tranche Term Loan B | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 12/1/28 (b) | 1,000,000 | 996,750 |
| | 2,493,312 |
Personal & Nondurable Consumer Products 1.0% |
ABG Intermediate Holdings 2 LLC, Term Loan B1 | |
TBD, due 12/21/28 (c)(d) | 284,179 | 282,758 |
Caesars Resort Collection LLC | |
Term Loan B1 | |
3.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 7/21/25 (b) | 1,036,875 | 1,036,227 |
Foundation Building Materials, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 1/31/28 (b) | 746,250 | 739,953 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Personal & Nondurable Consumer Products (continued) |
Leslie's Poolmart, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/9/28 (b) | $ 1,985,000 | $ 1,976,316 |
Michaels Cos., Inc. (The) | |
Term Loan B | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 4/15/28 (b) | 3,184,000 | 3,148,976 |
Prestige Brands, Inc. | |
Term Loan B5 | |
2.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 7/3/28 (b) | 825,000 | 824,656 |
Spectrum Brands, Inc. | |
2021 Term Loan | |
2.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 3/3/28 (b) | 99,250 | 98,754 |
| | 8,107,640 |
Personal & Nondurable Consumer Products (Manufacturing Only) 0.8% |
American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Inc. | |
Restatement Effective Date Term Loan | |
2.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 1/15/27 (b) | 1,700,751 | 1,688,300 |
Hercules Achievement, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 12/16/24 (b) | 1,920,069 | 1,880,707 |
SRAM LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%, 3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%, 6 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 5/18/28 (b) | 2,781,818 | 2,778,341 |
| | 6,347,348 |
Personal Transportation 0.5% |
First Student Bidco, Inc. (b) | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 7/21/28 | 788,824 | 783,674 |
Initial Term Loan C | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 7/21/28 | 291,176 | 289,276 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. (b) | |
2021 Incremental Term Loan | |
3.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 4/4/25 | 1,727,621 | 1,726,811 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Personal Transportation (continued) |
Uber Technologies, Inc. (b) (continued) | |
2021 Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 2/25/27 | $ 992,147 | $ 991,526 |
| | 3,791,287 |
Personal, Food & Miscellaneous Services 2.2% |
1011778 B.C. Unlimited Liability Co. | |
Term Loan B4 | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 11/19/26 (b) | 2,142,986 | 2,114,414 |
Aramark Intermediate HoldCo Corp. (b) | |
U.S. Term Loan B3 | |
1.851% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 3/11/25 | 2,182,663 | 2,152,651 |
U.S. Term Loan B5 | |
2.601% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 4/6/28 | 1,402,972 | 1,395,372 |
Hayward Industries, Inc. | |
First Lien Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 5/30/28 (b) | 2,786,000 | 2,771,571 |
Hillman Group, Inc. (The) (b) | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 7/14/28 | 538,874 | 536,854 |
Initial Delayed Draw Term Loan 2.75%-3.25% | |
(1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 7/14/28 (c) | 10,352 | 10,311 |
IRB Holding Corp. (b) | |
2020 Replacement Term Loan B | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 2/5/25 | 2,410,987 | 2,404,959 |
Fourth Amendment Incremental Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 12/15/27 | 2,147,481 | 2,145,244 |
KFC Holding Co. | |
2021 Term Loan B | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 3/15/28 (b) | 1,463,993 | 1,459,113 |
WW International, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 4/13/28 (b) | 3,402,000 | 3,364,942 |
| | 18,355,431 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Pharmaceuticals 0.1% |
Padagis LLC | |
Term Loan B | |
5.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 7/6/28 (b) | $ 1,129,412 | $ 1,122,353 |
Printing & Publishing 0.8% |
Getty Images, Inc. | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.625% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 2/19/26 (b) | 1,459,311 | 1,459,615 |
Severin Acquisition LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 8/1/25 (b) | 1,950,049 | 1,939,080 |
Springer Nature Deutschland GmbH | |
Initial Term Loan B18 | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 8/14/26 (b) | 3,062,584 | 3,061,818 |
| | 6,460,513 |
Radio and TV Broadcasting 0.1% |
Nielsen Finance LLC | |
Term Loan B4 | |
2.102% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 10/4/23 (b) | 722,413 | 721,611 |
Retail 0.4% |
Great Outdoors Group LLC | |
Term Loan B2 | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/6/28 (b) | 3,383,445 | 3,384,501 |
Retail Store 1.6% |
BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. | |
First Lien Tranche Term Loan B | |
2.105% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 2/3/24 (b) | 1,549,996 | 1,549,467 |
EG Group Ltd. (b) | |
USD Additional Facility Term Loan | |
4.132% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 2/7/25 | 1,447,526 | 1,440,289 |
USD Facility Term Loan B | |
4.224% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 2/7/25 | 665,178 | 661,852 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Retail Store (continued) |
Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc. | |
2021 Initial Term Loan | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 10/19/27 (b) | $ 3,843,444 | $ 3,832,032 |
PetSmart LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 2/11/28 (b) | 1,396,500 | 1,398,246 |
Rising Tide Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 6/1/28 (b) | 2,427,800 | 2,418,696 |
White Cap Buyer LLC | |
Initial Closing Date Term Loan | |
4.50%, due 10/19/27 | 1,982,487 | 1,983,314 |
| | 13,283,896 |
Services: Business 4.0% |
ConnectWise LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 9/29/28 (b) | 1,400,000 | 1,395,250 |
Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (The) | |
Initial Borrowing Term Loan | |
3.352% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 2/6/26 (b) | 2,922,981 | 2,909,828 |
Electron Bidco, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 11/1/28 (b) | 1,666,667 | 1,661,012 |
GIP II Blue Holding LP | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 9/29/28 (b) | 2,333,333 | 2,324,583 |
Hunter Holdco 3 Ltd. | |
First Lien Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.75% (6 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 8/19/28 (b) | 3,033,000 | 3,033,000 |
ICON plc | |
U.S. Term Loan | |
2.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 7/3/28 (b) | 452,186 | 451,997 |
Indy U.S. Bidco LLC | |
2021 Refinancing Dollar Term Loan | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/6/28 (b) | 1,488,769 | 1,488,148 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Services: Business (continued) |
Intrado Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
5.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 10/10/24 (b) | $ 1,517,145 | $ 1,436,682 |
Mercury Borrower, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 8/2/28 (b) | 4,800,000 | 4,778,002 |
Mitchell International, Inc. (b) | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/15/28 | 2,000,000 | 1,986,876 |
Second Lien Initial Term Loan | |
7.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 6.50%), due 10/15/29 | 1,200,000 | 1,206,500 |
MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 9/1/28 (b) | 2,493,750 | 2,432,965 |
Osmosis Buyer Ltd. | |
Initial Term Loan B | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 7/31/28 (b) | 2,186,667 | 2,187,213 |
PECF USS Intermediate Holding III Corp. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.75%, due 12/15/28 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,500 |
Phoenix Newco, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 11/15/28 (b) | 1,500,000 | 1,499,063 |
Polaris Newco LLC | |
First Lien Dollar Term Loan | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 6/2/28 (b) | 2,992,500 | 2,989,507 |
Project Boost Purchaser LLC | |
2021 Tranche Term Loan 2 | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 5/30/26 (b) | 746,250 | 746,250 |
| | 33,527,376 |
Software 1.7% |
AppLovin Corp. | |
Amendment No. 6 New Term Loan B | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 10/25/28 (b) | 1,197,000 | 1,195,504 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
30 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Software (continued) |
Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 10/16/28 (b) | $ 1,875,000 | $ 1,868,437 |
Informatica LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
2.875% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 10/27/28 (b) | 2,960,000 | 2,946,680 |
Magenta Buyer LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 7/27/28 (b) | 698,250 | 696,795 |
Ping Identity Corp. | |
Term Loan | |
4.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/23/28 (b) | 666,667 | 666,667 |
Sophia LP | |
First Lien Term Loan B | |
3.724% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 10/7/27 (b) | 679,958 | 679,473 |
Sovos Compliance LLC | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 8/11/28 (b) | 426,370 | 427,283 |
UKG, Inc. (b) | |
First Lien 2021-2 Incremental Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 5/4/26 | 3,901,563 | 3,877,179 |
Second Lien 2021 Incremental Term Loan | |
5.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.25%), due 5/3/27 | 200,000 | 200,438 |
Vision Solutions, Inc. | |
First Lien Third Incremental Term Loan | |
4.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 4/24/28 (b) | 1,662,500 | 1,658,344 |
| | 14,216,800 |
Telecommunications 4.1% |
Avaya, Inc. | |
Tranche Term Loan B2 | |
4.11% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 12/15/27 (b) | 1,168,269 | 1,166,627 |
Azalea TopCo, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
3.629% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 7/24/26 (b) | 2,443,750 | 2,430,309 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Telecommunications (continued) |
Cablevision Lightpath LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 11/30/27 (b) | $ 1,492,462 | $ 1,488,731 |
Connect Finco SARL | |
Amendement No.1 Refinancing Term Loan | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 12/11/26 (b) | 3,949,849 | 3,947,380 |
CSC Holdings LLC | |
September 2019 Initial Term Loan | |
2.61% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 4/15/27 (b) | 3,635,864 | 3,587,387 |
Cyxtera DC Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 5/1/24 (b)(c) | 955,000 | 943,360 |
Frontier Communications Holdings LLC | |
Term Loan B | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 5/1/28 (b) | 2,133,875 | 2,130,141 |
Gogo Intermediate Holdings LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 4/30/28 (b) | 2,987,494 | 2,980,025 |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA | |
Tranche Term Loan B3 | |
8.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 11/27/23 (b) | 1,639,180 | 1,635,082 |
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | |
Tranche 2027 Term Loan B | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 3/1/27 (b) | 1,500,000 | 1,478,625 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 3/15/27 (b) | 2,687,594 | 2,654,000 |
Redstone HoldCo 2 LP | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 4/27/28 (b) | 2,493,750 | 2,376,856 |
SBA Senior Finance II LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
1.86% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 4/11/25 (b) | 1,771,409 | 1,750,988 |
Telesat Canada | |
Term Loan B5 | |
2.90% (2 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 12/7/26 (b) | 1,220,447 | 1,100,690 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
31
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Telecommunications (continued) |
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 3/9/27 (b) | $ 4,348,136 | $ 4,283,818 |
| | 33,954,019 |
Utilities 2.8% |
Astoria Energy LLC | |
2020 Advance Term Loan B | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 12/10/27 (b) | 665,814 | 662,947 |
Brookfield WEC Holdings, Inc. | |
First Lien 2021 Initial Term Loan | |
3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 8/1/25 (b) | 2,913,038 | 2,891,796 |
Calpine Corp. | |
2019 Term Loan | |
2.11% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 4/5/26 (b) | 3,071,250 | 3,032,540 |
Compass Power Generation LLC | |
Tranche Term Loan B1 | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 12/20/24 (b) | 1,541,351 | 1,534,415 |
Edgewater Generation LLC | |
Term Loan | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 12/13/25 (b) | 3,213,662 | 3,031,891 |
ExGen Renewables IV LLC | |
Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 12/15/27 (b) | 1,475,042 | 1,473,198 |
Granite Generation LLC | |
Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/9/26 (b) | 3,179,249 | 3,125,103 |
Hamilton Projects Acquiror LLC | |
Term Loan | |
5.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 6/17/27 (b) | 2,462,500 | 2,458,395 |
PG&E Corp. | |
Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 6/23/25 (b) | 1,723,750 | 1,704,358 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Utilities (continued) |
Vistra Operations Co. LLC | |
2018 Incremental Term Loan 1.854%-1.859% | |
(1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 12/31/25 (b) | $ 3,117,054 | $ 3,090,892 |
| | 23,005,535 |
Total Loan Assignments (Cost $778,859,957) | | 771,308,539 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $807,570,183) | | 800,777,868 |
|
| Shares | |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.3% |
Fixed Income Fund 0.3% | | |
MainStay MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Fund Class I | 436,571 | 2,452,610 |
Total Affiliated Investment Company (Cost $2,453,413) | | 2,452,610 |
Common Stocks 0.0% ‡ |
Communications Equipment 0.0% ‡ |
Energy Future Holdings Corp. (c)(d)(h)(i) | 94,456 | — |
Millennium Corporate Trust (c)(d)(h)(i) | 1,243 | — |
Millennium Lender Trust (c)(d)(h)(i) | 1,324 | — |
| | — |
Metals & Mining 0.0% ‡ |
Ameriforge Group, Inc. (c)(d)(h)(i) | 45,694 | 78,594 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,573,379) | | 78,594 |
|
| Number of Rights | |
Rights 0.0% ‡ |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 0.0% ‡ |
Vistra Energy Corp. | | |
Expires 12/31/46 (c)(d)(h)(i) | 57,684 | 55,954 |
Total Rights (Cost $47,301) | | 55,954 |
|
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
32 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Number of Warrants | | Value |
Warrants 0.0% ‡ |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.0% ‡ |
Carestream Health, Inc. | | | |
Expires 8/5/23 (c)(d)(h)(i) | 29 | | $ — |
Health Care Providers & Services 0.0% ‡ |
THAIHOT Investment Co. Ltd. | | | |
Expires 10/13/27 (c)(d)(h)(i)(j) | 22 | | 0 |
Total Warrants (Cost $0) | | | 0 |
|
| Principal Amount | | |
Short-Term Investments 5.0% |
U.S. Treasury Debt 5.0% |
U.S. Treasury Bills (k) | | | |
0.01%, due 2/22/22 | $ 10,000,000 | | 9,999,757 |
0.015%, due 1/25/22 | 4,321,000 | | 4,320,950 |
0.022%, due 1/18/22 | 2,524,000 | | 2,523,984 |
0.026%, due 2/8/22 | 17,500,000 | | 17,499,497 |
0.027%, due 1/13/22 | 2,862,000 | | 2,861,988 |
0.03%, due 2/15/22 | 1,828,000 | | 1,827,940 |
0.038%, due 3/10/22 | 1,400,000 | | 1,399,891 |
0.051%, due 1/4/22 | 1,226,000 | | 1,226,001 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $41,660,114) | | | 41,660,008 |
Total Investments (Cost $853,304,390) | 101.4% | | 845,025,034 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (1.4) | | (11,335,552) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 833,689,482 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(b) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(c) | Illiquid security—As of December 31, 2021, the total market value deemed illiquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees was $15,532,435, which represented 1.9% of the Portfolio’s net assets. (Unaudited) |
(d) | Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value. |
(e) | PIK ("Payment-in-Kind")—issuer may pay interest or dividends with additional securities and/or in cash. |
(f) | Issue in default. |
(g) | Issue in non-accrual status. |
(h) | Fair valued security—Represents fair value as measured in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2021, the total market value was $134,548, which represented less than one-tenth of a percent of the Portfolio’s net assets. |
(i) | Non-income producing security. |
(j) | Less than $1. |
(k) | Interest rate shown represents yield to maturity. |
Abbreviation(s): |
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust |
TBD—To Be Determined |
USD—United States Dollar |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
33
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds | $ — | | $ 29,469,329 | | $ — | | $ 29,469,329 |
Loan Assignments | — | | 769,653,826 | | 1,654,713 | | 771,308,539 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 799,123,155 | | 1,654,713 | | 800,777,868 |
Affiliated Investment Company | | | | | | | |
Fixed Income Fund | 2,452,610 | | — | | — | | 2,452,610 |
Common Stocks | — | | — | | 78,594 | | 78,594 |
Rights | — | | — | | 55,954 | | 55,954 |
Warrants (b) | — | | — | | 0 | | 0 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Debt | — | | 41,660,008 | | — | | 41,660,008 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 2,452,610 | | $ 840,783,163 | | $ 1,789,261 | | $ 845,025,034 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | Less than $1. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
34 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $850,850,977) | $842,572,424 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $2,453,413) | 2,452,610 |
Cash | 6,117,133 |
Unrealized appreciation on unfunded commitments (See Note 5) | 4,136 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 5,508,230 |
Interest | 2,285,527 |
Portfolio shares sold | 583,625 |
Other assets | 3,072 |
Total assets | 859,526,757 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 25,050,831 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 418,898 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 154,709 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 111,258 |
Professional fees | 55,173 |
Shareholder communication | 35,147 |
Custodian | 6,545 |
Trustees | 74 |
Accrued expenses | 4,640 |
Total liabilities | 25,837,275 |
Net assets | $833,689,482 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 94,073 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 884,379,814 |
| 884,473,887 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | (50,784,405) |
Net assets | $833,689,482 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $299,907,185 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 33,863,512 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 8.86 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $533,782,297 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 60,209,756 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 8.87 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
35
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $28,888,682 |
Dividends-affiliated | 116,025 |
Dividends-unaffiliated | 51 |
Other | 7,304 |
Total income | 29,012,062 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 4,518,328 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 1,288,741 |
Professional fees | 129,790 |
Shareholder communication | 50,066 |
Custodian | 31,101 |
Trustees | 14,707 |
Miscellaneous | 52,086 |
Total expenses | 6,084,819 |
Net investment income (loss) | 22,927,243 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments | (990,900) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | 3,742,274 |
Affiliated investments | 11,934 |
Unfunded commitments | 4,136 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 3,758,344 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2,767,444 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $25,694,687 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
36 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 22,927,243 | $ 24,045,879 |
Net realized gain (loss) | (990,900) | (17,282,060) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 3,758,344 | (1,860,669) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 25,694,687 | 4,903,150 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (7,569,114) | (6,228,271) |
Service Class | (15,125,910) | (17,934,955) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (22,695,024) | (24,163,226) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 272,707,260 | 67,930,271 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 22,695,024 | 24,163,559 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (103,761,021) | (218,800,676) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 191,641,263 | (126,706,846) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 194,640,926 | (145,966,922) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 639,048,556 | 785,015,478 |
End of year | $ 833,689,482 | $ 639,048,556 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
37
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 8.81 | | $ 8.93 | | $ 8.66 | | $ 9.08 | | $ 9.11 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.28 | | 0.32 | | 0.44 | | 0.43 | | 0.39 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.05 | | (0.12) | | 0.27 | | (0.42) | | (0.03) |
Total from investment operations | 0.33 | | 0.20 | | 0.71 | | 0.01 | | 0.36 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.28) | | (0.32) | | (0.44) | | (0.43) | | (0.39) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 8.86 | | $ 8.81 | | $ 8.93 | | $ 8.66 | | $ 9.08 |
Total investment return (b) | 3.76% | | 2.45% | | 8.48% | | (0.00)%‡(c) | | 3.98% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 3.23% | | 3.81% | | 4.98% | | 4.75% | | 4.21% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.64% | | 0.65% | | 0.65% | | 0.65% | | 0.64% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 29% | | 19% | | 35% | | 29% | | 52% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 299,907 | | $ 142,403 | | $ 205,596 | | $ 187,285 | | $ 259,054 |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 8.82 | | $ 8.94 | | $ 8.67 | | $ 9.09 | | $ 9.12 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.26 | | 0.30 | | 0.42 | | 0.41 | | 0.36 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.05 | | (0.12) | | 0.27 | | (0.42) | | (0.03) |
Total from investment operations | 0.31 | | 0.18 | | 0.69 | | (0.01) | | 0.33 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.26) | | (0.30) | | (0.42) | | (0.41) | | (0.36) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 8.87 | | $ 8.82 | | $ 8.94 | | $ 8.67 | | $ 9.09 |
Total investment return (b) | 3.50% | | 2.20% | | 8.19% | | (0.25)%(c) | | 3.71% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.96% | | 3.50% | | 4.73% | | 4.52% | | 3.96% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.89% | | 0.90% | | 0.90% | | 0.90% | | 0.89% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 29% | | 19% | | 35% | | 29% | | 52% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 533,782 | | $ 496,645 | | $ 579,419 | | $ 611,492 | | $ 581,596 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
38 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "non-diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time. However, due to its principal investment strategies and investment processes, the Portfolio has historically operated as a "diversified" portfolio. Therefore, the Portfolio will not operate as "non-diversified" portfolio without first obtaining shareholder approval.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 2, 2005 |
Service Class | May 2, 2005 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek high current income.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The
Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Certain securities held by the Portfolio may principally trade in foreign markets. Events may occur between the time the foreign markets close and the time at which the Portfolio's NAVs are calculated. These events may include, but are not limited to, situations relating to a single issuer in a market sector, significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets, natural disasters, armed conflicts, governmental actions or other developments not tied directly to the securities markets. Should the Manager or the Subadvisor conclude that such events may have affected the accuracy of the last price of such securities reported on the local foreign market, the Subcommittee may, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, adjust the value of the local price to reflect the estimated impact on the price of such securities as a result of such events. In this instance, securities are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Additionally, certain foreign equity securities are also fair valued whenever the movement of a particular index exceeds certain thresholds. In such cases, the securities are fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No foreign equity
40 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021 were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities, rights and warrants are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Loan assignments, participations and commitments are valued at the average of bid quotations obtained from the engaged independent pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Certain loan assignments, participations and commitments may be valued by utilizing significant unobservable inputs obtained from the pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized
cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
A portfolio investment may be classified as an illiquid investment under the Portfolio's written liquidity risk management program and related procedures (“Liquidity Program”). Illiquidity of an investment might prevent the sale of such investment at a time when the Manager or the Subadvisor might wish to sell, and these investments could have the effect of decreasing the overall level of the Portfolio's liquidity. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid investments, requiring the Portfolio to rely on judgments that may be somewhat subjective in measuring value, which could vary materially from the amount that the Portfolio could realize upon disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to the Portfolio. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Manager or Subadvisor reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The liquidity classification of each investment will be made using information obtained after reasonable inquiry and taking into account, among other things, relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations in accordance with the Liquidity Program. Illiquid investments are often valued in accordance with methods deemed by the Board in good faith to be reasonable and appropriate to accurately reflect their fair value. The liquidity of the Portfolio's investments was determined as of December 31, 2021, and can change at any time. Illiquid investments as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
The Portfolio may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Portfolio's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare dividends from net investment income, if any, daily and intends to pay them at least monthly and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Loan Assignments, Participations and Commitments. The Portfolio may invest in loan assignments and participations ("loans"). Commitments are agreements to make money available to a borrower in a specified amount, at a specified rate and within a specified time. The Portfolio records an investment when the borrower withdraws money on a commitment or when a funded loan is purchased (trade date) and records interest as earned. These loans pay interest at rates that are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR").
The loans in which the Portfolio may invest are generally readily marketable, but may be subject to some restrictions on resale. For example, the Portfolio may be contractually obligated to receive approval from the agent bank and/or borrower prior to the sale of these investments. If the Portfolio purchases an assignment from a lender, the Portfolio will generally have direct contractual rights against the borrower in favor of the lender. If the Portfolio purchases a participation interest either from a lender or a participant, the Portfolio typically will have established a direct contractual relationship with the seller of the participation interest, but not with the borrower. Consequently, the Portfolio is subject to the credit risk of the lender or participant who sold the participation interest to the Portfolio, in addition to the usual credit risk of the borrower. In the event that the borrower, selling participant or
42 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
intermediate participants become insolvent or enter into bankruptcy, the Portfolio may incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment, or may suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.
Unfunded commitments represent the remaining obligation of the Portfolio to the borrower. At any point in time, up to the maturity date of the issue, the borrower may demand the unfunded portion. Unfunded amounts, if any, are marked to market and any unrealized gains or losses are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held unfunded commitments. (See Note 5).
(I) Rights and Warrants. Rights are certificates that permit the holder to purchase a certain number of shares, or a fractional share, of a new stock from the issuer at a specific price. Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time. These investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of these investments do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities.
There is risk involved in the purchase of rights and warrants in that these investments are speculative investments. The Portfolio could also lose the entire value of its investment in warrants if such warrants are not exercised by the date of its expiration. The Portfolio is exposed to risk until the sale or exercise of each right or warrant is completed. Rights and Warrants as of December 31, 2021 are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(J) Debt Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
The Portfolio’s principal investments include floating rate loans, which are usually rated below investment grade and are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher rated debt securities. These investments pay investors a higher interest rate than investment grade debt securities because of the increased risk of loss. Although certain floating rate loans are collateralized, there is no guarantee that the value of the collateral will be sufficient to repay the loan. In a recession or serious credit event, the value of these investments could decline significantly. As a result, the Portfolio’s NAVs could decrease and you could lose money.
In addition, floating rate loans generally are subject to extended settlement periods that may be longer than seven days. As a result, the Portfolio may be adversely affected by selling other investments at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions or engaging in borrowing transactions, such as borrowing against its credit facility, to raise cash to meet redemption obligations or pursue other investment opportunities.
In certain circumstances, floating rate loans may not be deemed to be securities. As a result, the Portfolio may not have the protection of the
anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. In such cases, the Portfolio generally must rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
The Portfolio may invest in foreign debt securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic debt securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets.
(K) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(L) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. NYL Investors LLC ("NYL Investors" or ''Subadvisor''), a registered investment adviser and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net
assets as follows: 0.60% up to $1 billion; 0.575% from $1 billion to $3 billion; and 0.565% in excess of $3 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.60%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $4,518,328 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $2,259,151.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan") provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street").
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Fund Class I | $ 2,454 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ (1) | $ 2,453 | $ 116 | $ — | 437 |
44 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $853,345,278 | $2,340,717 | $(10,660,961) | $(8,320,244) |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$1,465,104 | $(43,547,048) | $(386,353) | $(8,316,108) | $(50,784,405) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to interest accrual on defaulted securities.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $43,547,048, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $4,497 | $39,050 |
The Portfolio utilized $(1,050,646) of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $22,695,024 | $24,163,226 |
Note 5–Commitments and Contingencies
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio had unfunded commitments pursuant to the following loan agreements:
Borrower | Unfunded Commitments | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
ABG Intermediate Holdings 2 LLC | |
Term Loan B2 | |
TBD, due 12/21/28 | $1,802,584 | $ 4,529 |
Term Loan B3 | |
TBD, due 12/21/28 | 282,758 | 710 |
Hillman Group, Inc. (The), Initial Delayed Draw Term Loan 1.375%-3.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 7/14/28 | 118,573 | (446) |
LTI Holdings, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 2.375%, due 7/24/26 | 495,625 | (1,875) |
Medical Solutions Holdings, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, Delayed Draw Term Loan 1.75%, due 11/1/28 | 82,059 | 185 |
National Mentor Holdings, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan 3.75%, due 3/2/28 | 72,234 | (983) |
Osmosis Buyer Ltd., Term Loan B, Delayed Draw Term Loan B TBD, due 7/31/28 | 213,387 | 1,120 |
Pro Mach Group, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan 0.013%, due 8/31/28 | 315,031 | 786 |
Sovos Compliance LLC, 1st Lien Term Loan, First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan TBD, due 8/11/28 | 73,788 | 158 |
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc., Tranche Delayed Draw Term Loan B3 4.00%-4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 9/15/28 | 38,093 | (48) |
Total | $3,494,132 | $ 4,136 |
Commitments are available until maturity date.
Note 6–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
fees which totaled $6,644 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 7–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month LIBOR, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 8–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 9–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $414,916 and $215,422, respectively.
Note 10–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 19,774,894 | $ 175,476,548 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 853,852 | 7,569,114 |
Shares redeemed | (2,924,924) | (25,956,012) |
Net increase (decrease) | 17,703,822 | $ 157,089,650 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 902,443 | $ 7,694,804 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 735,186 | 6,228,563 |
Shares redeemed | (8,502,000) | (70,651,192) |
Net increase (decrease) | (6,864,371) | $ (56,727,825) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 10,956,996 | $ 97,230,712 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,704,919 | 15,125,910 |
Shares redeemed | (8,766,498) | (77,805,009) |
Net increase (decrease) | 3,895,417 | $ 34,551,613 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 7,072,308 | $ 60,235,467 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,112,090 | 17,934,996 |
Shares redeemed | (17,706,501) | (148,149,484) |
Net increase (decrease) | (8,522,103) | $ (69,979,021) |
Note 11–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 12–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodians, transfer agent, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and NYL Investors LLC (“NYL Investors”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or NYL Investors that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and NYL Investors. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
48 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
Investments and NYL Investors resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of NYL Investors, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of NYL Investors and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, NYL Investors with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as NYL Investors’ investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that NYL Investors provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated NYL Investors’ experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and NYL Investors’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at NYL Investors and New York Life Investments’ and NYL Investors’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed NYL Investors’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to NYL Investors as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or NYL Investors had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because NYL Investors is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and NYL Investors in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including NYL Investors, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and NYL Investors and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and NYL Investors must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and
NYL Investors to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New
50 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including NYL Investors, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to NYL Investors is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and NYL Investors on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund
business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
52 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
54 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
56 | MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI518
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 5/1/1995 | 5.51% | 5.80% | 6.44% | 0.59% |
Service Class Shares | 6/4/2003 | 5.25 | 5.54 | 6.18 | 0.84 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index1 | 5.35% | 6.08% | 6.71% |
Morningstar High Yield Bond Category Average2 | 4.73 | 4.99 | 5.56 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index is the Portfolio's primary broad-based securities market index for comparison purposes. The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index is a market value-weighted index of all domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds, including deferred interest bonds and payment-in-kind securities. Issuers included in the Index have maturities of one year or more and have a credit rating lower than BBB-/Baa3, but are not in default. No single issuer may constitute greater than 2% of the Index. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar High Yield Bond Category Average is representative of funds that concentrate on lower-quality bonds, which are riskier than those of higher-quality companies. These portfolios primarily invest in U.S. high-income debt securities where at least 65% or more of bond assets are not rated or are rated by a major agency such as Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s at the level of BB and below. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,013.30 | $2.94 | $1,022.28 | $2.96 | 0.58% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,012.10 | $4.21 | $1,021.02 | $4.23 | 0.83% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
‡ Less than one-tenth of percent.
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | CCO Holdings LLC, 4.25%-5.375%, due 5/1/27–1/15/34 |
2. | HCA, Inc., 3.50%-8.36%, due 5/1/23–11/6/33 |
3. | Carnival Corp., 4.00%-10.50%, due 2/1/26–5/1/29 |
4. | TransDigm, Inc., 2.354%-8.00%, due 12/9/25–5/1/29 |
5. | MSCI, Inc., 3.25%-4.00%, due 11/15/29–8/15/33 |
6. | MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP, 3.875%-5.75%, due 5/1/24–2/15/29 |
7. | Netflix, Inc., 4.875%-5.875%, due 2/15/22–6/15/30 |
8. | Sprint Capital Corp., 6.875%, due 11/15/28 |
9. | T-Mobile US, Inc., 2.625%-5.375%, due 4/15/27–4/15/31 |
10. | Yum! Brands, Inc., 3.625%-6.875%, due 1/15/30–11/15/37 |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio manager Andrew Susser of MacKay Shields LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio returned 5.51% for Initial Class shares and 5.25% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, Initial Class shares outperformed, and Service Class Shares underperformed, the 5.35% return of the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (“Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the 4.73% return of the Morningstar High Yield Bond Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index was mixed, with positive security selection largely offset by underweight exposure to credits rated CCC.2
What was the Portfolio’s duration3 strategy during the reporting period?
The Portfolio’s duration is the result of our bottom-up fundamental analysis and is residual of the investment process. However, the Portfolio had a lower duration relative to the Index throughout the reporting period.
What specific factors, risks or market forces prompted significant decisions for the Portfolio during the reporting period?
There were no material shifts to the Portfolio during the reporting period, but the sharp recovery in the “fallen angels” (credits downgraded from investment grade to high yield) component of the Portfolio gave us the opportunity to trim positions at premiums that had been purchased at steep discounts. Fallen angels made significant positive contributions to the Portfolio’s returns during the reporting period. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.)
During the reporting period, which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which market segments were particularly weak?
Overweight exposure and favorable security selection in the energy sector made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s absolute returns during the reporting period. Overweight exposure to oil & gas exploration and production companies benefitted from higher commodity prices. Overweight exposure and positive security selection in the basic industry sector also bolstered absolute performance, as did security selection in both media and financial services. Conversely, the Portfolio’s positioning in leisure, services and consumer goods detracted from performance. In leisure, the Portfolio did not own some of the distressed names that rallied from near bankruptcy lows, while the Portfolio’s positions in services underperformed.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, we selectively trimmed the Portfolio��s positions in fallen angels that were purchased at the height of the pandemic and then recovered nicely. Additionally, some of the Portfolio’s energy bonds were tendered by the issuing companies, slightly lowering the Portfolio’s exposure to that sector. The Portfolio purchased new issues in toy manufacturer Mattel and energy producer New Fortress Energy.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, there were no material changes to the sector weightings in the Portfolio. On the margin, we added to the Portfolio’s health care and services exposure while moderately trimming exposure to consumer goods and telecommunications.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held underweight positions relative to the Index in bonds rated CCC and held
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
2. | An obligation rated ‘CCC’ by Standard & Poor’s ("S&P") is deemed by S&P to be currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. It is the opinion of S&P that in the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. When applied to Portfolio holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Portfolio. |
3. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
8 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
overweight exposure to higher-quality issuers. Across industries, the Portfolio held overweight exposure to energy and basic industry, and underweight exposure to consumer goods and telecommunications.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio manager as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 91.6% |
Convertible Bonds 1.0% |
Investment Companies 0.2% |
ARES Capital Corp. | | |
4.625%, due 3/1/24 | $ 4,365,000 | $ 5,014,512 |
Media 0.4% |
DISH Network Corp. | | |
2.375%, due 3/15/24 | 7,695,000 | 7,396,819 |
3.375%, due 8/15/26 | 7,295,000 | 6,923,342 |
| | 14,320,161 |
Oil & Gas 0.2% |
Gulfport Energy Operating Corp. | | |
10.00% (10.00% Cash or 15.00% PIK), due 12/29/49 (a)(b) | 1,095,000 | 5,611,875 |
Oil & Gas Services 0.2% |
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. | | |
9.00% (6.25% Cash and 2.75% PIK), due 8/4/25 (b) | 9,247,866 | 8,381,015 |
Total Convertible Bonds (Cost $28,592,245) | | 33,327,563 |
Corporate Bonds 86.5% |
Advertising 1.1% |
Lamar Media Corp. | | |
3.625%, due 1/15/31 | 10,265,000 | 9,996,057 |
3.75%, due 2/15/28 | 6,320,000 | 6,335,800 |
4.00%, due 2/15/30 | 6,400,000 | 6,492,800 |
4.875%, due 1/15/29 | 2,195,000 | 2,291,031 |
Outfront Media Capital LLC (c) | | |
4.25%, due 1/15/29 | 2,400,000 | 2,404,368 |
5.00%, due 8/15/27 | 7,910,000 | 8,094,145 |
| | 35,614,201 |
Aerospace & Defense 1.8% |
F-Brasile SpA | | |
Series XR | | |
7.375%, due 8/15/26 (c) | 5,587,000 | 5,559,065 |
Rolls-Royce plc | | |
5.75%, due 10/15/27 (c) | 3,210,000 | 3,549,939 |
TransDigm UK Holdings plc | | |
6.875%, due 5/15/26 | 7,637,000 | 7,980,665 |
TransDigm, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 1/15/29 | 7,985,000 | 7,958,490 |
4.875%, due 5/1/29 | 5,630,000 | 5,654,209 |
6.25%, due 3/15/26 (c) | 22,850,000 | 23,749,719 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Aerospace & Defense (continued) |
TransDigm, Inc. (continued) | | |
7.50%, due 3/15/27 | $ 2,780,000 | $ 2,905,100 |
8.00%, due 12/15/25 (c) | 2,000,000 | 2,109,940 |
| | 59,467,127 |
Airlines 0.9% |
American Airlines, Inc. (c) | | |
5.50%, due 4/20/26 | 4,560,000 | 4,741,830 |
5.75%, due 4/20/29 | 3,750,000 | 4,007,700 |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 10/20/25 (c) | 4,095,000 | 4,303,892 |
4.75%, due 10/20/28 (c) | 5,450,000 | 5,951,298 |
7.00%, due 5/1/25 (c) | 713,000 | 815,251 |
7.375%, due 1/15/26 | 2,160,000 | 2,542,961 |
Mileage Plus Holdings LLC | | |
6.50%, due 6/20/27 (c) | 5,080,000 | 5,422,900 |
Spirit Loyalty Cayman Ltd. | | |
8.00%, due 9/20/25 (c) | 1,495,984 | 1,651,694 |
| | 29,437,526 |
Auto Manufacturers 1.6% |
Ford Holdings LLC | | |
9.30%, due 3/1/30 | 8,454,000 | 11,757,485 |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC | | |
2.90%, due 2/16/28 | 2,400,000 | 2,406,000 |
3.339%, due 3/28/22 | 2,561,000 | 2,565,482 |
3.375%, due 11/13/25 | 4,000,000 | 4,155,680 |
4.00%, due 11/13/30 | 5,000,000 | 5,379,000 |
4.125%, due 8/17/27 | 1,000,000 | 1,079,380 |
4.271%, due 1/9/27 | 1,647,000 | 1,770,525 |
4.389%, due 1/8/26 | 750,000 | 808,125 |
5.125%, due 6/16/25 | 3,500,000 | 3,806,250 |
General Motors Co. | | |
6.80%, due 10/1/27 | 3,000,000 | 3,682,290 |
JB Poindexter & Co., Inc. | | |
7.125%, due 4/15/26 (c) | 11,880,000 | 12,430,281 |
PM General Purchaser LLC | | |
9.50%, due 10/1/28 (c) | 3,775,000 | 3,824,698 |
| | 53,665,196 |
Auto Parts & Equipment 2.0% |
Adient Global Holdings Ltd. | | |
4.875%, due 8/15/26 (c) | 6,300,000 | 6,426,000 |
Adient U.S. LLC | | |
9.00%, due 4/15/25 (c) | 1,320,000 | 1,402,500 |
Dealer Tire LLC | | |
8.00%, due 2/1/28 (c) | 4,415,000 | 4,595,662 |
Exide Global Holding Netherlands CV | | |
10.75%, due 10/26/24 (a)(d)(e) | 3,380,000 | 3,376,620 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Auto Parts & Equipment (continued) |
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) (c) | | |
5.00%, due 7/15/29 | $ 4,070,000 | $ 4,371,994 |
5.25%, due 7/15/31 | 2,135,000 | 2,317,980 |
IHO Verwaltungs GmbH (b)(c) | | |
4.75% (4.75% Cash or 5.50% PIK), due 9/15/26 | 7,973,000 | 8,132,460 |
6.00% (6.00% Cash or 6.75% PIK), due 5/15/27 | 10,396,000 | 10,694,885 |
6.375% (6.375% Cash or 7.125% PIK), due 5/15/29 | 10,105,000 | 10,862,875 |
Meritor, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 6/1/25 (c) | 1,250,000 | 1,303,125 |
Real Hero Merger Sub 2, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 2/1/29 (c) | 10,705,000 | 10,688,300 |
Tenneco, Inc. | | |
7.875%, due 1/15/29 (c) | 2,770,000 | 2,991,600 |
| | 67,164,001 |
Beverages 0.1% |
Primo Water Holdings, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 4/30/29 (c) | 3,725,000 | 3,687,750 |
Biotechnology 0.2% |
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 8/15/28 (c) | 3,480,000 | 3,340,000 |
Grifols Escrow Issuer SA | | |
4.75%, due 10/15/28 (c) | 3,530,000 | 3,601,376 |
| | 6,941,376 |
Building Materials 1.2% |
James Hardie International Finance DAC | | |
5.00%, due 1/15/28 (c) | 8,011,000 | 8,331,440 |
Koppers, Inc. | | |
6.00%, due 2/15/25 (c) | 6,270,000 | 6,379,662 |
New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc. | | |
5.25%, due 7/15/28 (c) | 2,975,000 | 3,016,650 |
Patrick Industries, Inc. (c) | | |
4.75%, due 5/1/29 | 2,295,000 | 2,283,525 |
7.50%, due 10/15/27 | 5,615,000 | 5,979,975 |
PGT Innovations, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 10/1/29 (c) | 3,995,000 | 4,014,975 |
Summit Materials LLC (c) | | |
5.25%, due 1/15/29 | 3,930,000 | 4,116,282 |
6.50%, due 3/15/27 | 5,135,000 | 5,327,563 |
| | 39,450,072 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Chemicals 1.8% |
CVR Partners LP | | |
6.125%, due 6/15/28 (c) | $ 1,700,000 | $ 1,793,500 |
EverArc Escrow SARL | | |
5.00%, due 10/30/29 (c) | 6,805,000 | 6,810,036 |
GPD Cos., Inc. | | |
10.125%, due 4/1/26 (c) | 8,875,000 | 9,454,626 |
Innophos Holdings, Inc. | | |
9.375%, due 2/15/28 (c) | 6,175,000 | 6,699,875 |
Iris Holdings, Inc. | | |
8.75% (8.75% Cash or 9.50% PIK), due 2/15/26 (b)(c) | 5,015,000 | 5,046,344 |
NOVA Chemicals Corp. (c) | | |
4.875%, due 6/1/24 | 2,635,000 | 2,720,637 |
5.25%, due 6/1/27 | 2,325,000 | 2,476,125 |
SCIH Salt Holdings, Inc. (c) | | |
4.875%, due 5/1/28 | 6,000,000 | 5,760,000 |
6.625%, due 5/1/29 | 7,950,000 | 7,433,250 |
SCIL IV LLC | | |
5.375%, due 11/1/26 (c) | 2,300,000 | 2,360,375 |
SPCM SA (c) | | |
3.125%, due 3/15/27 | 2,000,000 | 1,976,360 |
3.375%, due 3/15/30 | 1,800,000 | 1,732,500 |
TPC Group, Inc. Escrow Claim Shares | | |
(zero coupon), due 12/31/49 (a)(d)(e)(f) | 53,500 | — |
Unifrax Escrow Issuer Corp. (c) | | |
5.25%, due 9/30/28 | 2,550,000 | 2,577,413 |
7.50%, due 9/30/29 | 2,185,000 | 2,206,850 |
WR Grace Holdings LLC | | |
5.625%, due 8/15/29 (c) | 3,200,000 | 3,276,000 |
| | 62,323,891 |
Coal 0.3% |
Coronado Finance Pty. Ltd. | | |
10.75%, due 5/15/26 (c) | 2,736,000 | 2,949,189 |
Natural Resource Partners LP | | |
9.125%, due 6/30/25 (c) | 4,045,000 | 4,105,675 |
Warrior Met Coal, Inc. | | |
7.875%, due 12/1/28 (c) | 2,650,000 | 2,716,250 |
| | 9,771,114 |
Commercial Services 3.4% |
AMN Healthcare, Inc. (c) | | |
4.00%, due 4/15/29 | 2,350,000 | 2,382,313 |
4.625%, due 10/1/27 | 2,430,000 | 2,518,694 |
Ashtead Capital, Inc. (c) | | |
4.00%, due 5/1/28 | 3,650,000 | 3,815,293 |
4.25%, due 11/1/29 | 3,545,000 | 3,781,776 |
4.375%, due 8/15/27 | 2,008,000 | 2,079,686 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Commercial Services (continued) |
Cimpress plc | | |
7.00%, due 6/15/26 (c) | $ 7,892,000 | $ 8,197,815 |
Gartner, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 10/1/30 (c) | 4,635,000 | 4,738,824 |
Graham Holdings Co. | | |
5.75%, due 6/1/26 (c) | 11,107,000 | 11,537,396 |
HealthEquity, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 10/1/29 (c) | 2,650,000 | 2,623,500 |
IHS Markit Ltd. (c) | | |
4.75%, due 2/15/25 | 3,950,000 | 4,300,563 |
5.00%, due 11/1/22 | 15,689,000 | 16,136,137 |
Korn Ferry | | |
4.625%, due 12/15/27 (c) | 4,000,000 | 4,120,000 |
MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC (c) | | |
5.50%, due 9/1/28 | 3,110,000 | 3,152,762 |
5.75%, due 11/1/28 | 5,500,000 | 5,230,500 |
NESCO Holdings II, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 4/15/29 (c) | 3,200,000 | 3,304,000 |
Nielsen Finance LLC | | |
4.75%, due 7/15/31 (c) | 1,000,000 | 987,500 |
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc. | | |
5.375%, due 1/15/25 (c) | 3,800,000 | 3,839,900 |
Service Corp. International | | |
3.375%, due 8/15/30 | 4,480,000 | 4,397,434 |
4.00%, due 5/15/31 | 7,000,000 | 7,087,500 |
United Rentals North America, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 1/15/32 | 2,900,000 | 2,920,307 |
3.875%, due 11/15/27 | 4,000,000 | 4,150,640 |
3.875%, due 2/15/31 | 3,500,000 | 3,552,500 |
4.875%, due 1/15/28 | 1,000,000 | 1,050,875 |
5.50%, due 5/15/27 | 1,000,000 | 1,040,000 |
WW International, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 4/15/29 (c) | 6,785,000 | 6,494,941 |
| | 113,440,856 |
Computers 0.2% |
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 7/1/29 (c) | 1,750,000 | 1,807,549 |
Unisys Corp. | | |
6.875%, due 11/1/27 (c) | 5,865,000 | 6,348,862 |
| | 8,156,411 |
Cosmetics & Personal Care 0.3% |
Edgewell Personal Care Co. (c) | | |
4.125%, due 4/1/29 | 6,780,000 | 6,830,850 |
5.50%, due 6/1/28 | 4,000,000 | 4,245,800 |
| | 11,076,650 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Distribution & Wholesale 0.6% |
Avient Corp. | | |
5.25%, due 3/15/23 | $ 8,636,000 | $ 9,046,210 |
5.75%, due 5/15/25 (c) | 2,000,000 | 2,085,000 |
G-III Apparel Group Ltd. | | |
7.875%, due 8/15/25 (c) | 5,000,000 | 5,319,975 |
H&E Equipment Services, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 12/15/28 (c) | 4,450,000 | 4,416,625 |
| | 20,867,810 |
Diversified Financial Services 1.8% |
Credit Acceptance Corp. | | |
5.125%, due 12/31/24 (c) | 3,055,000 | 3,131,375 |
6.625%, due 3/15/26 | 9,465,000 | 9,851,551 |
Enact Holdings, Inc. | | |
6.50%, due 8/15/25 (c) | 4,485,000 | 4,899,862 |
Jane Street Group | | |
4.50%, due 11/15/29 (c) | 2,425,000 | 2,449,250 |
Jefferies Finance LLC | | |
5.00%, due 8/15/28 (c) | 7,250,000 | 7,431,250 |
LPL Holdings, Inc. (c) | | |
4.00%, due 3/15/29 | 7,570,000 | 7,749,787 |
4.375%, due 5/15/31 | 3,630,000 | 3,713,073 |
4.625%, due 11/15/27 | 3,865,000 | 4,000,275 |
Oxford Finance LLC | | |
6.375%, due 12/15/22 (c) | 5,480,000 | 5,486,850 |
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (c) | | |
4.25%, due 2/15/29 | 3,650,000 | 3,509,110 |
5.75%, due 9/15/31 | 3,050,000 | 3,080,500 |
PRA Group, Inc. | | |
7.375%, due 9/1/25 (c) | 3,700,000 | 3,931,250 |
StoneX Group, Inc. | | |
8.625%, due 6/15/25 (c) | 1,298,000 | 1,375,880 |
| | 60,610,013 |
Electric 1.7% |
Clearway Energy Operating LLC | | |
4.75%, due 3/15/28 (c) | 4,050,000 | 4,257,563 |
DPL, Inc. | | |
4.125%, due 7/1/25 | 5,815,000 | 6,078,943 |
Keystone Power Pass-Through Holders LLC | | |
13.00% (13.00% PIK), due 6/1/24 (a)(b)(c) | 3,621,653 | 2,354,074 |
Leeward Renewable Energy Operations LLC | | |
4.25%, due 7/1/29 (c) | 4,650,000 | 4,696,500 |
NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP | | |
3.875%, due 10/15/26 (c) | 4,500,000 | 4,765,500 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Electric (continued) |
NRG Energy, Inc. | | |
6.625%, due 1/15/27 | $ 2,555,000 | $ 2,656,012 |
Pattern Energy Operations LP | | |
4.50%, due 8/15/28 (c) | 4,205,000 | 4,362,687 |
PG&E Corp. | | |
5.00%, due 7/1/28 | 6,260,000 | 6,584,393 |
5.25%, due 7/1/30 | 3,840,000 | 4,027,008 |
Vistra Corp. (c)(g)(h) | | |
7.00% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 5.74%), due 12/15/26 | 3,350,000 | 3,393,182 |
8.00% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 6.93%), due 10/15/26 | 7,800,000 | 8,248,500 |
Vistra Operations Co. LLC (c) | | |
4.375%, due 5/1/29 | 2,500,000 | 2,504,075 |
5.00%, due 7/31/27 | 3,300,000 | 3,424,806 |
| | 57,353,243 |
Electrical Components & Equipment 0.2% |
WESCO Distribution, Inc. (c) | | |
7.125%, due 6/15/25 | 4,535,000 | 4,807,100 |
7.25%, due 6/15/28 | 2,500,000 | 2,740,625 |
| | 7,547,725 |
Electronics 0.0% ‡ |
II-VI, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 12/15/29 (c) | 1,685,000 | 1,720,756 |
Energy-Alternate Sources 0.1% |
Renewable Energy Group, Inc. | | |
5.875%, due 6/1/28 (c) | 4,575,000 | 4,700,812 |
Engineering & Construction 0.7% |
Arcosa, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 4/15/29 (c) | 1,340,000 | 1,358,425 |
Artera Services LLC | | |
9.033%, due 12/4/25 (c) | 3,465,000 | 3,665,745 |
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. | | |
5.25%, due 6/1/29 (c) | 4,000,000 | 4,120,000 |
Railworks Holdings LP | | |
8.25%, due 11/15/28 (c) | 2,800,000 | 2,884,000 |
TopBuild Corp. | | |
4.125%, due 2/15/32 (c) | 4,480,000 | 4,597,600 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Engineering & Construction (continued) |
Weekley Homes LLC | | |
4.875%, due 9/15/28 (c) | $ 5,800,000 | $ 5,974,000 |
| | 22,599,770 |
Entertainment 2.4% |
Affinity Gaming | | |
6.875%, due 12/15/27 (c) | 3,640,000 | 3,785,600 |
Allen Media LLC | | |
10.50%, due 2/15/28 (c) | 4,040,000 | 4,214,952 |
Boyne USA, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 5/15/29 (c) | 2,900,000 | 2,987,000 |
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 10/15/29 (c) | 1,650,000 | 1,650,000 |
CCM Merger, Inc. | | |
6.375%, due 5/1/26 (c) | 2,170,000 | 2,259,513 |
Churchill Downs, Inc. (c) | | |
4.75%, due 1/15/28 | 12,702,000 | 13,146,570 |
5.50%, due 4/1/27 | 8,901,000 | 9,168,030 |
International Game Technology plc | | |
6.25%, due 1/15/27 (c) | 6,725,000 | 7,532,000 |
Jacobs Entertainment, Inc. | | |
7.875%, due 2/1/24 (c) | 2,193,000 | 2,236,860 |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (c) | | |
3.75%, due 1/15/28 | 1,860,000 | 1,846,050 |
6.50%, due 5/15/27 | 6,435,000 | 7,038,281 |
Merlin Entertainments Ltd. | | |
5.75%, due 6/15/26 (c) | 10,940,000 | 11,377,600 |
Midwest Gaming Borrower LLC | | |
4.875%, due 5/1/29 (c) | 1,650,000 | 1,658,250 |
Motion Bondco DAC | | |
6.625%, due 11/15/27 (c) | 4,500,000 | 4,545,000 |
Powdr Corp. | | |
6.00%, due 8/1/25 (c) | 3,001,000 | 3,121,040 |
Vail Resorts, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 5/15/25 (c) | 2,800,000 | 2,912,000 |
| | 79,478,746 |
Environmental Control 0.1% |
Madison IAQ LLC (c) | | |
4.125%, due 6/30/28 | 2,300,000 | 2,305,750 |
5.875%, due 6/30/29 | 1,100,000 | 1,100,000 |
| | 3,405,750 |
Food 1.9% |
B&G Foods, Inc. | | |
5.25%, due 4/1/25 | 4,142,000 | 4,230,556 |
Kraft Heinz Foods Co. | | |
3.875%, due 5/15/27 | 4,625,000 | 4,995,656 |
6.50%, due 2/9/40 | 7,715,000 | 10,972,632 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Food (continued) |
Kraft Heinz Foods Co. (continued) | | |
6.875%, due 1/26/39 | $ 7,588,000 | $ 11,152,323 |
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | | |
4.875%, due 5/15/28 (c) | 3,300,000 | 3,572,250 |
Land O' Lakes, Inc. | | |
6.00%, due 11/15/22 (c) | 7,880,000 | 8,120,821 |
Land O'Lakes Capital Trust I | | |
7.45%, due 3/15/28 (c) | 5,130,000 | 5,937,410 |
Post Holdings, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 4/15/30 (c) | 2,000,000 | 2,037,000 |
Simmons Foods, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 3/1/29 (c) | 5,500,000 | 5,417,500 |
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 9/1/28 | 3,000,000 | 2,880,000 |
United Natural Foods, Inc. | | |
6.75%, due 10/15/28 (c) | 5,000,000 | 5,354,000 |
| | 64,670,148 |
Food Service 0.2% |
Aramark Services, Inc. | | |
6.375%, due 5/1/25 (c) | 6,500,000 | 6,792,500 |
Forest Products & Paper 1.1% |
Glatfelter Corp. | | |
4.75%, due 11/15/29 (c) | 2,630,000 | 2,712,188 |
Mercer International, Inc. | | |
5.125%, due 2/1/29 | 9,880,000 | 10,091,135 |
5.50%, due 1/15/26 | 1,000,000 | 1,012,500 |
Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. | | |
6.875%, due 10/1/26 (c) | 3,000,000 | 3,138,750 |
Smurfit Kappa Treasury Funding DAC | | |
7.50%, due 11/20/25 | 15,843,000 | 19,447,282 |
| | 36,401,855 |
Gas 0.6% |
AmeriGas Partners LP | | |
5.625%, due 5/20/24 | 4,425,000 | 4,784,177 |
5.75%, due 5/20/27 | 2,485,000 | 2,749,031 |
5.875%, due 8/20/26 | 6,885,000 | 7,700,942 |
Rockpoint Gas Storage Canada Ltd. | | |
7.00%, due 3/31/23 (c) | 5,100,000 | 5,087,250 |
| | 20,321,400 |
Hand & Machine Tools 0.1% |
Werner FinCo. LP | | |
8.75%, due 7/15/25 (c) | 4,250,000 | 4,430,625 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Healthcare-Products 1.1% |
Hologic, Inc. (c) | | |
3.25%, due 2/15/29 | $ 7,325,000 | $ 7,325,000 |
4.625%, due 2/1/28 | 3,350,000 | 3,517,500 |
Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc. (c) | | |
3.875%, due 4/1/29 | 4,440,000 | 4,424,327 |
5.25%, due 10/1/29 | 2,500,000 | 2,534,100 |
Teleflex, Inc. | | |
4.25%, due 6/1/28 (c) | 9,615,000 | 9,905,277 |
4.625%, due 11/15/27 | 3,500,000 | 3,640,000 |
Varex Imaging Corp. | | |
7.875%, due 10/15/27 (c) | 4,546,000 | 5,051,060 |
| | 36,397,264 |
Healthcare-Services 4.9% |
Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc. (c) | | |
5.00%, due 4/15/29 | 1,750,000 | 1,798,125 |
5.50%, due 7/1/28 | 1,500,000 | 1,576,605 |
Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. (c) | | |
3.125%, due 2/15/29 | 6,995,000 | 6,899,868 |
3.50%, due 4/1/30 | 3,065,000 | 3,056,311 |
5.00%, due 7/15/27 | 5,180,000 | 5,382,020 |
Centene Corp. | | |
3.00%, due 10/15/30 | 4,000,000 | 4,066,040 |
4.625%, due 12/15/29 | 4,870,000 | 5,252,100 |
DaVita, Inc. (c) | | |
3.75%, due 2/15/31 | 2,900,000 | 2,825,557 |
4.625%, due 6/1/30 | 2,700,000 | 2,764,125 |
Encompass Health Corp. | | |
4.50%, due 2/1/28 | 5,500,000 | 5,658,125 |
4.625%, due 4/1/31 | 1,875,000 | 1,907,813 |
4.75%, due 2/1/30 | 7,650,000 | 7,879,500 |
HCA, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 9/1/30 | 7,300,000 | 7,715,188 |
5.375%, due 2/1/25 | 7,255,000 | 7,973,245 |
5.625%, due 9/1/28 | 2,090,000 | 2,442,144 |
5.875%, due 5/1/23 | 4,800,000 | 5,082,000 |
5.875%, due 2/15/26 | 9,015,000 | 10,167,838 |
7.50%, due 11/6/33 | 12,100,000 | 17,363,500 |
7.58%, due 9/15/25 | 3,507,000 | 4,120,725 |
7.69%, due 6/15/25 | 9,195,000 | 10,864,697 |
8.36%, due 4/15/24 | 4,450,000 | 5,073,000 |
IQVIA, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 10/15/26 (c) | 9,792,000 | 10,049,040 |
LifePoint Health, Inc. | | |
5.375%, due 1/15/29 (c) | 4,720,000 | 4,696,400 |
ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 10/1/29 (c) | 3,730,000 | 3,809,300 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Healthcare-Services (continued) |
ModivCare, Inc. | | |
5.875%, due 11/15/25 (c) | $ 3,500,000 | $ 3,675,000 |
Molina Healthcare, Inc. (c) | | |
3.875%, due 11/15/30 | 4,480,000 | 4,648,000 |
3.875%, due 5/15/32 | 3,200,000 | 3,220,000 |
4.375%, due 6/15/28 | 1,000,000 | 1,030,000 |
RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc. | | |
9.75%, due 12/1/26 (c) | 10,055,000 | 10,625,118 |
Select Medical Corp. | | |
6.25%, due 8/15/26 (c) | 2,000,000 | 2,118,490 |
| | 163,739,874 |
Holding Companies-Diversified 0.3% |
Stena International SA | | |
6.125%, due 2/1/25 (c) | 9,525,000 | 9,763,125 |
Home Builders 2.2% |
Adams Homes, Inc. | | |
7.50%, due 2/15/25 (c) | 5,900,000 | 6,136,000 |
Ashton Woods USA LLC | | |
6.625%, due 1/15/28 (c) | 2,000,000 | 2,110,000 |
Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 9/15/27 (c) | 4,855,000 | 5,067,649 |
Century Communities, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 8/15/29 (c) | 4,385,000 | 4,417,888 |
6.75%, due 6/1/27 | 6,775,000 | 7,147,625 |
Installed Building Products, Inc. | | |
5.75%, due 2/1/28 (c) | 4,655,000 | 4,841,200 |
M/I Homes, Inc. | | |
3.95%, due 2/15/30 | 2,100,000 | 2,068,500 |
4.95%, due 2/1/28 | 3,000,000 | 3,120,000 |
Meritage Homes Corp. | | |
3.875%, due 4/15/29 (c) | 6,372,000 | 6,690,600 |
Picasso Finance Sub, Inc. | | |
6.125%, due 6/15/25 (c) | 4,705,000 | 4,916,725 |
PulteGroup, Inc. | | |
7.875%, due 6/15/32 | 3,595,000 | 5,108,365 |
Shea Homes LP (c) | | |
4.75%, due 2/15/28 | 7,300,000 | 7,464,250 |
4.75%, due 4/1/29 | 2,748,000 | 2,800,212 |
STL Holding Co. LLC | | |
7.50%, due 2/15/26 (c) | 2,700,000 | 2,848,500 |
Thor Industries, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 10/15/29 (c) | 1,665,000 | 1,648,350 |
Williams Scotsman International, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 8/15/28 (c) | 4,270,000 | 4,408,775 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Home Builders (continued) |
Winnebago Industries, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 7/15/28 (c) | $ 3,800,000 | $ 4,068,812 |
| | 74,863,451 |
Home Furnishings 0.0% ‡ |
Tempur Sealy International, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 10/15/31 (c) | 1,600,000 | 1,603,024 |
Household Products & Wares 0.2% |
Central Garden & Pet Co. | | |
4.125%, due 10/15/30 | 2,020,000 | 2,037,675 |
4.125%, due 4/30/31 (c) | 2,300,000 | 2,311,500 |
Spectrum Brands, Inc. | | |
5.75%, due 7/15/25 | 3,840,000 | 3,921,600 |
| | 8,270,775 |
Housewares 0.2% |
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The) (c) | | |
4.00%, due 4/1/31 | 4,860,000 | 4,799,250 |
4.375%, due 2/1/32 | 2,805,000 | 2,797,987 |
| | 7,597,237 |
Insurance 0.9% |
BroadStreet Partners, Inc. | | |
5.875%, due 4/15/29 (c) | 6,500,000 | 6,386,250 |
Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. | | |
8.30%, due 4/15/26 | 4,273,000 | 5,189,488 |
Fidelity & Guaranty Life Holdings, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 5/1/25 (c) | 2,500,000 | 2,791,431 |
MGIC Investment Corp. | | |
5.25%, due 8/15/28 | 6,708,000 | 7,043,400 |
NMI Holdings, Inc. | | |
7.375%, due 6/1/25 (c) | 3,245,000 | 3,684,698 |
USI, Inc. | | |
6.875%, due 5/1/25 (c) | 5,890,000 | 5,934,175 |
| | 31,029,442 |
Internet 2.3% |
Cars.com, Inc. | | |
6.375%, due 11/1/28 (c) | 4,150,000 | 4,419,750 |
Match Group Holdings II LLC | | |
3.625%, due 10/1/31 (c) | 3,945,000 | 3,831,581 |
Netflix, Inc. | | |
4.875%, due 4/15/28 | 1,692,000 | 1,928,880 |
4.875%, due 6/15/30 (c) | 3,000,000 | 3,498,750 |
5.375%, due 11/15/29 (c) | 2,500,000 | 2,968,750 |
5.50%, due 2/15/22 | 7,455,000 | 7,496,003 |
5.75%, due 3/1/24 | 10,899,000 | 11,852,662 |
5.875%, due 2/15/25 | 3,320,000 | 3,731,016 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Internet (continued) |
Netflix, Inc. (continued) | | |
5.875%, due 11/15/28 | $ 8,800,000 | $ 10,582,000 |
Northwest Fiber LLC | | |
4.75%, due 4/30/27 (c) | 2,250,000 | 2,227,500 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. (c) | | |
7.50%, due 5/15/25 | 2,400,000 | 2,522,112 |
7.50%, due 9/15/27 | 6,065,000 | 6,600,509 |
VeriSign, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 7/15/27 | 6,000,000 | 6,232,500 |
5.25%, due 4/1/25 | 9,025,000 | 9,950,063 |
| | 77,842,076 |
Investment Companies 1.4% |
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC (c) | | |
5.00%, due 1/15/32 | 3,250,000 | 3,331,250 |
5.25%, due 4/15/29 | 9,375,000 | 9,820,312 |
FS Energy and Power Fund | | |
7.50%, due 8/15/23 (c) | 23,640,000 | 24,651,556 |
Icahn Enterprises LP | | |
5.25%, due 5/15/27 | 4,425,000 | 4,550,803 |
6.25%, due 5/15/26 | 4,000,000 | 4,165,000 |
| | 46,518,921 |
Iron & Steel 0.9% |
Allegheny Ludlum LLC | | |
6.95%, due 12/15/25 | 7,400,000 | 8,084,500 |
Big River Steel LLC | | |
6.625%, due 1/31/29 (c) | 6,800,000 | 7,352,500 |
Mineral Resources Ltd. | | |
8.125%, due 5/1/27 (c) | 12,545,000 | 13,525,768 |
| | 28,962,768 |
Leisure Time 1.9% |
Carnival Corp. (c) | | |
4.00%, due 8/1/28 | 10,600,000 | 10,520,500 |
5.75%, due 3/1/27 | 16,540,000 | 16,540,000 |
6.00%, due 5/1/29 | 8,600,000 | 8,557,000 |
7.625%, due 3/1/26 | 3,985,000 | 4,177,276 |
9.875%, due 8/1/27 | 7,000,000 | 7,999,005 |
10.50%, due 2/1/26 | 7,040,000 | 8,036,125 |
CWT Travel Group, Inc. | | |
8.50%, due 11/19/26 (c) | 2,297,916 | 2,340,152 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | | |
5.50%, due 4/1/28 (c) | 6,550,000 | 6,625,718 |
| | 64,795,776 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Lodging 1.8% |
Boyd Gaming Corp. | | |
4.75%, due 12/1/27 | $ 9,980,000 | $ 10,179,600 |
4.75%, due 6/15/31 (c) | 12,315,000 | 12,561,300 |
8.625%, due 6/1/25 (c) | 500,000 | 535,760 |
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc. | | |
3.625%, due 2/15/32 (c) | 1,070,000 | 1,064,372 |
4.00%, due 5/1/31 (c) | 9,300,000 | 9,509,622 |
4.875%, due 1/15/30 | 7,500,000 | 8,015,625 |
5.75%, due 5/1/28 (c) | 1,725,000 | 1,843,025 |
Hyatt Hotels Corp. | | |
5.75%, due 4/23/30 (i) | 1,915,000 | 2,284,319 |
Marriott International, Inc. | | |
Series GG | | |
3.50%, due 10/15/32 | 4,000,000 | 4,189,017 |
Series FF | | |
4.625%, due 6/15/30 | 2,000,000 | 2,249,891 |
Series EE | | |
5.75%, due 5/1/25 | 743,000 | 836,352 |
Station Casinos LLC (c) | | |
4.50%, due 2/15/28 | 3,500,000 | 3,519,950 |
4.625%, due 12/1/31 | 5,250,000 | 5,293,050 |
| | 62,081,883 |
Machinery—Construction & Mining 0.3% |
Terex Corp. | | |
5.00%, due 5/15/29 (c) | 2,150,000 | 2,209,125 |
Vertiv Group Corp. | | |
4.125%, due 11/15/28 (c) | 6,915,000 | 6,984,150 |
| | 9,193,275 |
Machinery-Diversified 0.5% |
Briggs & Stratton Corp. Escrow Claim Shares | | |
6.875%, due 12/15/20 (f)(j)(k) | 5,030,000 | 50,300 |
Colfax Corp. | | |
6.375%, due 2/15/26 (c) | 3,053,000 | 3,156,039 |
Stevens Holding Co., Inc. | | |
6.125%, due 10/1/26 (c) | 5,394,000 | 5,751,352 |
TK Elevator Holdco GmbH | | |
7.625%, due 7/15/28 (c) | 1,373,000 | 1,470,826 |
TK Elevator U.S. Newco, Inc. | | |
5.25%, due 7/15/27 (c) | 6,715,000 | 7,059,144 |
| | 17,487,661 |
Media 6.5% |
Block Communications, Inc. | | |
4.875%, due 3/1/28 (c) | 4,175,000 | 4,175,000 |
Cable One, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 11/15/30 (c) | 10,325,000 | 10,118,500 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Media (continued) |
CCO Holdings LLC | | |
4.25%, due 2/1/31 (c) | $ 9,255,000 | $ 9,336,259 |
4.25%, due 1/15/34 (c) | 7,265,000 | 7,147,507 |
4.50%, due 8/15/30 (c) | 13,555,000 | 13,869,340 |
4.50%, due 5/1/32 | 11,250,000 | 11,573,438 |
4.50%, due 6/1/33 (c) | 4,300,000 | 4,386,989 |
4.75%, due 3/1/30 (c) | 7,715,000 | 8,023,600 |
5.00%, due 2/1/28 (c) | 8,550,000 | 8,892,000 |
5.125%, due 5/1/27 (c) | 12,000,000 | 12,360,000 |
5.375%, due 6/1/29 (c) | 4,780,000 | 5,158,265 |
CSC Holdings LLC (c) | | |
5.75%, due 1/15/30 | 6,705,000 | 6,679,856 |
6.50%, due 2/1/29 | 2,660,000 | 2,846,200 |
Diamond Sports Group LLC | | |
6.625%, due 8/15/27 (c) | 2,305,000 | 645,400 |
Directv Financing LLC | | |
5.875%, due 8/15/27 (c) | 8,400,000 | 8,599,164 |
DISH DBS Corp. | | |
5.125%, due 6/1/29 | 3,000,000 | 2,730,000 |
5.875%, due 7/15/22 | 6,655,000 | 6,763,144 |
7.75%, due 7/1/26 | 8,000,000 | 8,440,000 |
LCPR Senior Secured Financing DAC (c) | | |
5.125%, due 7/15/29 | 3,310,000 | 3,326,550 |
6.75%, due 10/15/27 | 13,596,000 | 14,275,800 |
News Corp. | | |
3.875%, due 5/15/29 (c) | 10,470,000 | 10,574,700 |
Quebecor Media, Inc. | | |
5.75%, due 1/15/23 | 12,147,000 | 12,632,880 |
Scripps Escrow II, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 1/15/29 (c) | 4,805,000 | 4,798,994 |
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. (c) | | |
3.125%, due 9/1/26 | 3,315,000 | 3,315,961 |
3.875%, due 9/1/31 | 5,480,000 | 5,372,866 |
4.00%, due 7/15/28 | 2,750,000 | 2,765,373 |
Sterling Entertainment Enterprises LLC | | |
10.25%, due 1/15/25 (a)(d)(e)(k) | 7,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
Videotron Ltd. (c) | | |
5.125%, due 4/15/27 | 5,890,000 | 6,066,700 |
5.375%, due 6/15/24 | 11,450,000 | 12,251,500 |
Virgin Media Finance plc | | |
5.00%, due 7/15/30 (c) | 3,490,000 | 3,472,550 |
| | 217,598,536 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Metal Fabricate & Hardware 0.3% |
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 9/30/27 (c) | $ 3,895,000 | $ 4,026,456 |
Park-Ohio Industries, Inc. | | |
6.625%, due 4/15/27 | 3,475,000 | 3,372,488 |
Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 10/15/29 (c) | 3,195,000 | 3,258,900 |
| | 10,657,844 |
Mining 1.9% |
Arconic Corp. | | |
6.00%, due 5/15/25 (c) | 2,200,000 | 2,299,000 |
Century Aluminum Co. | | |
7.50%, due 4/1/28 (c) | 6,230,000 | 6,572,651 |
Compass Minerals International, Inc. (c) | | |
4.875%, due 7/15/24 | 2,250,000 | 2,300,625 |
6.75%, due 12/1/27 | 7,990,000 | 8,460,052 |
Constellium SE | | |
3.75%, due 4/15/29 (c) | 3,000,000 | 2,951,685 |
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (c) | | |
6.875%, due 10/15/27 | 1,800,000 | 1,937,250 |
7.25%, due 4/1/23 | 4,675,000 | 4,728,763 |
IAMGOLD Corp. | | |
5.75%, due 10/15/28 (c) | 7,000,000 | 6,877,500 |
Joseph T Ryerson & Son, Inc. | | |
8.50%, due 8/1/28 (c) | 1,920,000 | 2,088,000 |
Novelis Corp. (c) | | |
3.25%, due 11/15/26 | 6,550,000 | 6,607,312 |
3.875%, due 8/15/31 | 8,890,000 | 8,834,437 |
4.75%, due 1/30/30 | 8,935,000 | 9,392,919 |
| | 63,050,194 |
Miscellaneous—Manufacturing 0.9% |
Amsted Industries, Inc. (c) | | |
4.625%, due 5/15/30 | 2,615,000 | 2,680,375 |
5.625%, due 7/1/27 | 7,240,000 | 7,529,600 |
EnPro Industries, Inc. | | |
5.75%, due 10/15/26 | 4,240,000 | 4,430,800 |
FXI Holdings, Inc. (c) | | |
7.875%, due 11/1/24 | 1,720,000 | 1,752,508 |
12.25%, due 11/15/26 | 4,206,000 | 4,726,703 |
Hillenbrand, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 3/1/31 | 2,240,000 | 2,245,600 |
5.75%, due 6/15/25 | 2,000,000 | 2,090,000 |
LSB Industries, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 10/15/28 (c) | 5,170,000 | 5,376,800 |
| | 30,832,386 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Office Furnishings 0.1% |
Interface, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 12/1/28 (c) | $ 4,445,000 | $ 4,656,138 |
Oil & Gas 6.6% |
Apache Corp. | | |
4.625%, due 11/15/25 | 1,170,000 | 1,256,288 |
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC (c) | | |
7.00%, due 11/1/26 | 3,400,000 | 3,446,750 |
9.00%, due 11/1/27 | 2,684,000 | 3,583,140 |
California Resources Corp. | | |
7.125%, due 2/1/26 (c) | 3,500,000 | 3,636,080 |
Callon Petroleum Co. | | |
6.125%, due 10/1/24 | 4,560,000 | 4,491,600 |
9.00%, due 4/1/25 (c) | 7,580,000 | 8,186,400 |
Centennial Resource Production LLC (c) | | |
5.375%, due 1/15/26 | 5,200,000 | 5,096,000 |
6.875%, due 4/1/27 | 5,958,000 | 6,077,160 |
Civitas Resources, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 10/15/26 (c) | 2,250,000 | 2,272,050 |
Colgate Energy Partners III LLC | | |
7.75%, due 2/15/26 (c) | 5,040,000 | 5,443,200 |
Comstock Resources, Inc. | | |
6.75%, due 3/1/29 (c) | 3,700,000 | 4,013,020 |
Continental Resources, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 4/15/23 | 651,000 | 670,836 |
Encino Acquisition Partners Holdings LLC | | |
8.50%, due 5/1/28 (c) | 10,805,000 | 11,223,694 |
Endeavor Energy Resources LP | | |
6.625%, due 7/15/25 (c) | 1,805,000 | 1,909,744 |
EQT Corp. | | |
3.125%, due 5/15/26 (c) | 4,000,000 | 4,106,120 |
6.625%, due 2/1/25 (i) | 4,850,000 | 5,468,399 |
Gulfport Energy Operating Corp. | | |
8.00%, due 5/17/26 (c) | 8,284,024 | 9,039,941 |
Gulfport Energy Operating Corp. Escrow Claim Shares (f) | | |
6.00%, due 10/15/24 | 15,745,000 | 629,800 |
6.375%, due 5/15/25 | 8,000,000 | 320,000 |
6.375%, due 1/15/26 | 4,441,000 | 177,640 |
Hilcorp Energy I LP (c) | | |
5.75%, due 2/1/29 | 1,610,000 | 1,659,459 |
6.00%, due 2/1/31 | 1,075,000 | 1,109,938 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Oil & Gas (continued) |
Laredo Petroleum, Inc. | | |
7.75%, due 7/31/29 (c) | $ 3,930,000 | $ 3,831,750 |
Marathon Oil Corp. | | |
4.40%, due 7/15/27 | 3,000,000 | 3,286,138 |
6.80%, due 3/15/32 | 2,665,000 | 3,432,687 |
Matador Resources Co. | | |
5.875%, due 9/15/26 | 7,250,000 | 7,467,500 |
Moss Creek Resources Holdings, Inc. | | |
7.50%, due 1/15/26 (c) | 4,065,000 | 3,800,775 |
Murphy Oil Corp. | | |
6.875%, due 8/15/24 | 1,478,000 | 1,508,447 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | |
5.55%, due 3/15/26 | 10,200,000 | 11,355,660 |
5.875%, due 9/1/25 | 1,500,000 | 1,653,750 |
6.125%, due 1/1/31 | 2,500,000 | 3,037,500 |
6.375%, due 9/1/28 | 1,500,000 | 1,781,010 |
6.45%, due 9/15/36 | 3,100,000 | 3,952,515 |
6.625%, due 9/1/30 | 3,345,000 | 4,139,437 |
7.50%, due 5/1/31 | 1,200,000 | 1,578,750 |
8.00%, due 7/15/25 | 1,750,000 | 2,043,125 |
Parkland Corp. (c) | | |
4.50%, due 10/1/29 | 3,470,000 | 3,472,741 |
4.625%, due 5/1/30 | 3,880,000 | 3,855,750 |
5.875%, due 7/15/27 | 3,130,000 | 3,302,150 |
PBF Holding Co. LLC | | |
6.00%, due 2/15/28 | 1,565,000 | 1,005,513 |
7.25%, due 6/15/25 | 2,180,000 | 1,553,250 |
9.25%, due 5/15/25 (c) | 6,300,000 | 5,992,875 |
PDC Energy, Inc. | | |
6.125%, due 9/15/24 | 2,891,000 | 2,927,137 |
Range Resources Corp. | | |
8.25%, due 1/15/29 | 1,615,000 | 1,800,725 |
9.25%, due 2/1/26 | 9,038,000 | 9,741,089 |
Rockcliff Energy II LLC | | |
5.50%, due 10/15/29 (c) | 5,940,000 | 6,118,200 |
Southwestern Energy Co. | | |
4.75%, due 2/1/32 | 1,775,000 | 1,869,261 |
5.375%, due 3/15/30 | 4,250,000 | 4,553,790 |
6.45%, due 1/23/25 (i) | 1,008,000 | 1,107,792 |
8.375%, due 9/15/28 | 1,600,000 | 1,786,000 |
Sunoco LP | | |
4.50%, due 5/15/29 | 1,690,000 | 1,716,237 |
6.00%, due 4/15/27 | 2,000,000 | 2,085,800 |
Talos Production, Inc. | | |
12.00%, due 1/15/26 | 19,985,000 | 20,934,287 |
Transocean Pontus Ltd. | | |
6.125%, due 8/1/25 (c) | 1,778,850 | 1,738,826 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Oil & Gas (continued) |
Transocean Poseidon Ltd. | | |
6.875%, due 2/1/27 (c) | $ 2,550,000 | $ 2,463,938 |
Transocean Sentry Ltd. | | |
5.375%, due 5/15/23 (c) | 2,999,372 | 2,879,172 |
Viper Energy Partners LP | | |
5.375%, due 11/1/27 (c) | 3,470,000 | 3,582,775 |
| | 221,173,611 |
Oil & Gas Services 0.7% |
Bristow Group, Inc. | | |
6.875%, due 3/1/28 (c) | 6,100,000 | 6,345,342 |
Nine Energy Service, Inc. | | |
8.75%, due 11/1/23 (c) | 7,172,000 | 3,334,980 |
TechnipFMC plc | | |
6.50%, due 2/1/26 (c) | 5,273,000 | 5,645,281 |
Weatherford International Ltd. (c) | | |
6.50%, due 9/15/28 | 3,870,000 | 4,094,828 |
8.625%, due 4/30/30 | 3,375,000 | 3,503,756 |
| | 22,924,187 |
Packaging & Containers 0.5% |
ARD Finance SA | | |
6.50% (6.50% Cash or 7.25% PIK), due 6/30/27 (b)(c) | 3,000,000 | 3,090,000 |
Ball Corp. | | |
3.125%, due 9/15/31 | 5,000,000 | 4,937,500 |
Cascades, Inc. (c) | | |
5.125%, due 1/15/26 | 2,810,000 | 2,922,400 |
5.375%, due 1/15/28 | 5,200,000 | 5,335,824 |
Graphic Packaging International LLC | | |
3.50%, due 3/1/29 (c) | 1,000,000 | 992,500 |
| | 17,278,224 |
Pharmaceuticals 2.2% |
180 Medical, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 10/15/29 (c) | 2,820,000 | 2,855,250 |
Bausch Health Americas, Inc. (c) | | |
8.50%, due 1/31/27 | 1,600,000 | 1,680,000 |
9.25%, due 4/1/26 | 1,435,000 | 1,515,719 |
Bausch Health Cos., Inc. (c) | | |
5.00%, due 1/30/28 | 3,430,000 | 3,155,600 |
5.25%, due 2/15/31 | 2,500,000 | 2,196,875 |
6.125%, due 4/15/25 | 2,854,000 | 2,906,970 |
6.25%, due 2/15/29 | 5,900,000 | 5,606,416 |
7.00%, due 1/15/28 | 1,750,000 | 1,741,250 |
Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH | | |
5.50%, due 1/15/28 (c) | 2,550,000 | 2,581,875 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Pharmaceuticals (continued) |
Endo DAC | | |
9.50%, due 7/31/27 (c) | $ 2,000,000 | $ 2,035,840 |
Jazz Securities DAC | | |
4.375%, due 1/15/29 (c) | 6,190,000 | 6,409,374 |
Organon & Co. (c) | | |
4.125%, due 4/30/28 | 8,200,000 | 8,333,250 |
5.125%, due 4/30/31 | 6,500,000 | 6,790,420 |
Owens & Minor, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 3/31/29 (c) | 3,725,000 | 3,818,125 |
Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. | | |
7.50%, due 4/1/27 (c) | 6,411,000 | 6,551,593 |
Prestige Brands, Inc. (c) | | |
3.75%, due 4/1/31 | 6,935,000 | 6,726,950 |
5.125%, due 1/15/28 | 4,245,000 | 4,420,106 |
Vizient, Inc. | | |
6.25%, due 5/15/27 (c) | 3,615,000 | 3,773,156 |
| | 73,098,769 |
Pipelines 4.8% |
ANR Pipeline Co. | | |
7.375%, due 2/15/24 | 395,000 | 442,353 |
Antero Midstream Partners LP (c) | | |
5.375%, due 6/15/29 | 2,000,000 | 2,110,030 |
5.75%, due 1/15/28 | 1,565,000 | 1,641,106 |
Cheniere Energy Partners LP | | |
3.25%, due 1/31/32 (c) | 2,210,000 | 2,232,100 |
4.00%, due 3/1/31 | 6,400,000 | 6,713,280 |
CNX Midstream Partners LP | | |
4.75%, due 4/15/30 (c) | 1,460,000 | 1,454,525 |
DT Midstream, Inc. (c) | | |
4.125%, due 6/15/29 | 1,355,000 | 1,387,181 |
4.375%, due 6/15/31 | 2,975,000 | 3,094,000 |
Energy Transfer LP | | |
4.40%, due 3/15/27 | 5,702,000 | 6,152,712 |
4.95%, due 5/15/28 | 2,925,000 | 3,244,132 |
EQM Midstream Partners LP | | |
4.50%, due 1/15/29 (c) | 1,880,000 | 1,955,200 |
4.75%, due 1/15/31 (c) | 2,700,000 | 2,855,250 |
5.50%, due 7/15/28 | 720,000 | 786,604 |
6.00%, due 7/1/25 (c) | 2,975,000 | 3,235,312 |
6.50%, due 7/1/27 (c) | 1,405,000 | 1,573,600 |
Genesis Energy LP | | |
5.625%, due 6/15/24 | 1,000,000 | 990,000 |
6.25%, due 5/15/26 | 2,716,000 | 2,648,100 |
6.50%, due 10/1/25 | 1,600,000 | 1,580,000 |
7.75%, due 2/1/28 | 470,000 | 473,525 |
8.00%, due 1/15/27 | 6,075,000 | 6,260,652 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Pipelines (continued) |
Harvest Midstream I LP | | |
7.50%, due 9/1/28 (c) | $ 5,775,000 | $ 6,179,250 |
Hess Midstream Operations LP (c) | | |
4.25%, due 2/15/30 | 2,000,000 | 1,985,000 |
5.625%, due 2/15/26 | 3,300,000 | 3,399,000 |
Holly Energy Partners LP | | |
5.00%, due 2/1/28 (c) | 2,845,000 | 2,834,331 |
ITT Holdings LLC | | |
6.50%, due 8/1/29 (c) | 2,250,000 | 2,227,500 |
MPLX LP | | |
4.875%, due 12/1/24 | 3,240,000 | 3,516,682 |
4.875%, due 6/1/25 | 6,708,000 | 7,340,294 |
New Fortress Energy, Inc. | | |
6.50%, due 9/30/26 (c) | 5,060,000 | 5,022,050 |
NGL Energy Operating LLC | | |
7.50%, due 2/1/26 (c) | 3,015,000 | 3,109,370 |
NGPL PipeCo LLC | | |
4.875%, due 8/15/27 (c) | 5,280,000 | 5,874,824 |
Northwest Pipeline LLC | | |
7.125%, due 12/1/25 | 2,195,000 | 2,587,801 |
Oasis Midstream Partners LP | | |
8.00%, due 4/1/29 (c) | 2,150,000 | 2,343,500 |
PBF Logistics LP | | |
6.875%, due 5/15/23 | 1,200,000 | 1,167,000 |
Plains All American Pipeline LP | | |
Series B | | |
6.125%, due 11/15/22 (h)(l) | 14,265,000 | 12,107,419 |
Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (c) | | |
3.60%, due 5/15/25 | 2,000,000 | 2,057,900 |
4.80%, due 5/15/30 | 5,000,000 | 5,212,500 |
Ruby Pipeline LLC | | |
8.00%, due 4/1/22 (c)(i) | 14,494,697 | 13,544,623 |
Summit Midstream Holdings LLC | | |
8.50%, due 10/15/26 (c) | 7,290,000 | 7,595,670 |
Tallgrass Energy Partners LP | | |
6.00%, due 3/1/27 (c) | 1,500,000 | 1,560,000 |
Targa Resources Partners LP | | |
5.875%, due 4/15/26 | 4,915,000 | 5,128,630 |
TransMontaigne Partners LP | | |
6.125%, due 2/15/26 | 8,055,000 | 7,964,381 |
Western Midstream Operating LP | | |
4.65%, due 7/1/26 | 2,000,000 | 2,176,790 |
5.50%, due 8/15/48 | 6,360,000 | 7,597,147 |
| | 163,361,324 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Real Estate 0.7% |
Howard Hughes Corp. (The) (c) | | |
4.125%, due 2/1/29 | $ 3,300,000 | $ 3,344,055 |
4.375%, due 2/1/31 | 2,500,000 | 2,525,000 |
Newmark Group, Inc. | | |
6.125%, due 11/15/23 | 9,839,000 | 10,527,730 |
Realogy Group LLC (c) | | |
5.75%, due 1/15/29 | 5,750,000 | 5,893,750 |
7.625%, due 6/15/25 | 1,000,000 | 1,060,000 |
9.375%, due 4/1/27 | 1,500,000 | 1,620,000 |
| | 24,970,535 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 2.7% |
CTR Partnership LP | | |
3.875%, due 6/30/28 (c) | 3,345,000 | 3,411,900 |
GLP Capital LP | | |
5.30%, due 1/15/29 | 5,700,000 | 6,470,640 |
5.375%, due 11/1/23 | 1,500,000 | 1,591,800 |
5.375%, due 4/15/26 | 1,506,000 | 1,677,036 |
Host Hotels & Resorts LP | | |
Series I | | |
3.50%, due 9/15/30 | 2,100,000 | 2,155,733 |
MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP | | |
3.875%, due 2/15/29 (c) | 10,360,000 | 10,878,000 |
4.625%, due 6/15/25 (c) | 3,100,000 | 3,304,879 |
5.625%, due 5/1/24 | 19,120,000 | 20,433,926 |
5.75%, due 2/1/27 | 7,095,000 | 8,017,350 |
MPT Operating Partnership LP | | |
4.625%, due 8/1/29 | 2,000,000 | 2,110,000 |
5.00%, due 10/15/27 | 6,726,000 | 7,037,078 |
Park Intermediate Holdings LLC | | |
4.875%, due 5/15/29 (c) | 4,550,000 | 4,652,375 |
RHP Hotel Properties LP | | |
4.50%, due 2/15/29 (c) | 4,225,000 | 4,225,000 |
4.75%, due 10/15/27 | 6,175,000 | 6,298,500 |
SBA Communications Corp. | | |
3.125%, due 2/1/29 (c) | 5,000,000 | 4,800,000 |
3.875%, due 2/15/27 | 3,000,000 | 3,090,000 |
VICI Properties LP | | |
4.125%, due 8/15/30 (c) | 1,000,000 | 1,057,500 |
| | 91,211,717 |
Retail 4.7% |
1011778 BC ULC (c) | | |
3.50%, due 2/15/29 | 4,355,000 | 4,310,144 |
3.875%, due 1/15/28 | 6,165,000 | 6,243,665 |
4.00%, due 10/15/30 | 13,005,000 | 12,777,413 |
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 3/1/28 | 4,631,000 | 4,723,620 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Retail (continued) |
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (continued) | | |
4.625%, due 11/15/29 (c) | $ 3,320,000 | $ 3,382,250 |
4.75%, due 3/1/30 | 5,212,000 | 5,296,695 |
5.00%, due 2/15/32 (c) | 2,800,000 | 2,905,560 |
CEC Entertainment LLC | | |
6.75%, due 5/1/26 (c) | 3,435,000 | 3,366,300 |
Dave & Buster's, Inc. | | |
7.625%, due 11/1/25 (c) | 3,005,000 | 3,204,081 |
Group 1 Automotive, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 8/15/28 (c) | 4,165,000 | 4,149,381 |
Ken Garff Automotive LLC | | |
4.875%, due 9/15/28 (c) | 6,385,000 | 6,392,981 |
KFC Holding Co. | | |
4.75%, due 6/1/27 (c) | 5,775,000 | 5,969,906 |
LCM Investments Holdings II LLC | | |
4.875%, due 5/1/29 (c) | 10,565,000 | 10,857,439 |
Lithia Motors, Inc. (c) | | |
3.875%, due 6/1/29 | 2,000,000 | 2,041,800 |
4.375%, due 1/15/31 | 2,000,000 | 2,135,000 |
4.625%, due 12/15/27 | 700,000 | 736,260 |
Murphy Oil USA, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 9/15/29 | 3,000,000 | 3,157,500 |
5.625%, due 5/1/27 | 2,994,000 | 3,113,760 |
NMG Holding Co., Inc. | | |
7.125%, due 4/1/26 (c) | 18,355,000 | 19,481,446 |
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 9/1/25 | 3,945,000 | 4,033,763 |
PetSmart, Inc. | | |
7.75%, due 2/15/29 (c) | 4,005,000 | 4,350,431 |
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (c) | | |
4.625%, due 11/15/29 | 3,980,000 | 4,017,810 |
4.875%, due 11/15/31 | 3,410,000 | 3,443,077 |
TPro Acquisition Corp. | | |
11.00%, due 10/15/24 (c) | 1,500,000 | 1,629,375 |
Ultra Resources, Inc. Escrow Claim Shares | | |
6.875%, due 4/15/22 (d)(e)(f) | 9,675,000 | — |
Yum! Brands, Inc. | | |
3.625%, due 3/15/31 | 11,170,000 | 11,128,113 |
4.625%, due 1/31/32 | 9,750,000 | 10,360,545 |
4.75%, due 1/15/30 (c) | 10,432,000 | 11,292,640 |
6.875%, due 11/15/37 | 2,000,000 | 2,534,600 |
| | 157,035,555 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Software 3.6% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc. | | |
5.75%, due 8/15/26 (c) | $ 4,405,000 | $ 4,592,212 |
Camelot Finance SA | | |
4.50%, due 11/1/26 (c) | 4,480,000 | 4,636,800 |
CDK Global, Inc. | | |
5.25%, due 5/15/29 (c) | 2,000,000 | 2,120,000 |
Change Healthcare Holdings LLC | | |
5.75%, due 3/1/25 (c) | 2,300,000 | 2,319,734 |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp. (c) | | |
3.875%, due 7/1/28 | 6,385,000 | 6,416,925 |
4.875%, due 7/1/29 | 8,505,000 | 8,625,091 |
Fair Isaac Corp. | | |
5.25%, due 5/15/26 (c) | 3,590,000 | 3,945,895 |
MSCI, Inc. (c) | | |
3.25%, due 8/15/33 | 6,350,000 | 6,421,438 |
3.625%, due 9/1/30 | 7,315,000 | 7,479,587 |
3.625%, due 11/1/31 | 8,300,000 | 8,611,250 |
3.875%, due 2/15/31 | 10,620,000 | 11,058,075 |
4.00%, due 11/15/29 | 9,500,000 | 9,927,500 |
Open Text Corp. (c) | | |
3.875%, due 2/15/28 | 4,560,000 | 4,647,780 |
3.875%, due 12/1/29 | 4,430,000 | 4,485,375 |
Open Text Holdings, Inc. (c) | | |
4.125%, due 2/15/30 | 8,499,000 | 8,753,970 |
4.125%, due 12/1/31 | 4,425,000 | 4,469,250 |
PTC, Inc. (c) | | |
3.625%, due 2/15/25 | 3,400,000 | 3,446,750 |
4.00%, due 2/15/28 | 9,236,000 | 9,397,630 |
SS&C Technologies, Inc. | | |
5.50%, due 9/30/27 (c) | 5,885,000 | 6,149,825 |
Veritas US, Inc. | | |
7.50%, due 9/1/25 (c) | 2,600,000 | 2,691,000 |
| | 120,196,087 |
Telecommunications 4.3% |
CommScope, Inc. | | |
8.25%, due 3/1/27 (c) | 3,274,000 | 3,364,657 |
Connect Finco SARL | | |
6.75%, due 10/1/26 (c) | 12,790,000 | 13,445,488 |
Hughes Satellite Systems Corp. | | |
5.25%, due 8/1/26 | 6,735,000 | 7,366,406 |
6.625%, due 8/1/26 | 6,460,000 | 7,230,355 |
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 7/15/29 (c) | 1,500,000 | 1,425,000 |
5.375%, due 5/1/25 | 6,300,000 | 6,437,120 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | | |
Series T | | |
5.80%, due 3/15/22 | 9,390,000 | 9,460,425 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Telecommunications (continued) |
Sprint Capital Corp. | | |
6.875%, due 11/15/28 | $ 31,815,000 | $ 40,245,975 |
Sprint Corp. | | |
7.875%, due 9/15/23 | 14,030,000 | 15,450,537 |
T-Mobile US, Inc. | | |
2.625%, due 2/15/29 | 4,000,000 | 3,940,000 |
2.875%, due 2/15/31 | 8,160,000 | 8,058,816 |
3.375%, due 4/15/29 (c) | 3,630,000 | 3,698,752 |
3.50%, due 4/15/31 (c) | 2,500,000 | 2,600,950 |
4.75%, due 2/1/28 | 11,450,000 | 12,051,125 |
5.375%, due 4/15/27 | 8,875,000 | 9,235,769 |
Vmed O2 UK Financing I plc | | |
4.75%, due 7/15/31 (c) | 2,200,000 | 2,227,500 |
| | 146,238,875 |
Toys, Games & Hobbies 0.2% |
Mattel, Inc. (c) | | |
3.375%, due 4/1/26 | 3,200,000 | 3,281,664 |
3.75%, due 4/1/29 | 3,000,000 | 3,108,750 |
| | 6,390,414 |
Transportation 0.5% |
Seaspan Corp. | | |
5.50%, due 8/1/29 (c) | 2,750,000 | 2,777,500 |
Teekay Corp. | | |
9.25%, due 11/15/22 (c) | 1,500,000 | 1,537,500 |
Watco Cos. LLC | | |
6.50%, due 6/15/27 (c) | 11,540,000 | 12,001,600 |
| | 16,316,600 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $2,807,618,071) | | 2,918,234,872 |
Loan Assignments 4.1% |
Aerospace & Defense 0.1% |
TransDigm, Inc. | |
Tranche Refinancing Term Loan F | |
2.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 12/9/25 (g) | 1,615,515 | 1,592,017 |
Automobile 0.4% |
Dealer Tire LLC | |
Term Loan B1 | |
4.354 (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 1/1/38 (g) | 5,880,000 | 5,874,120 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Automobile (continued) |
Neenah Foundry Co. | |
Term Loan | |
TBD, due 10/1/26 (a)(d)(e) | $ 5,420,000 | $ 5,365,800 |
Wheel Pros, Inc. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
5.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 5/11/28 (g) | 1,995,000 | 1,988,766 |
| | 13,228,686 |
Beverage, Food & Tobacco 0.1% |
United Natural Foods, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/22/25 (g) | 4,493,763 | 4,482,529 |
Chemicals, Plastics & Rubber 0.2% |
Innophos Holdings, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 2/5/27 (g) | 1,866,750 | 1,859,750 |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 5/5/28 (g) | 6,268,500 | 6,291,449 |
| | 8,151,199 |
Diversified/Conglomerate Service 0.1% |
Change Healthcare Holdings, Inc. | |
Closing Date Term Loan | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/1/24 (g) | 3,826,752 | 3,822,447 |
Finance 0.5% |
AAdvantage Loyality IP Ltd. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.75%), due 4/20/28 (g) | 2,000,000 | 2,070,500 |
American Trailer World Corp. | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/3/28 (g) | 3,582,000 | 3,562,972 |
Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. | |
Term Loan B | |
4.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 4/20/28 (g) | 5,223,750 | 5,191,102 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Finance (continued) |
Superannuation and Investments Finco Pty. Ltd. | |
Initial U.S. Term Loan | |
4.25% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 12/1/28 (g) | $ 2,700,000 | $ 2,694,938 |
Truck Hero, Inc. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 1/31/28 (g) | 3,382,958 | 3,368,157 |
| | 16,887,669 |
Healthcare 0.1% |
Medline Borrower LP | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan | |
3.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/23/28 (g) | 3,300,000 | 3,296,561 |
Healthcare, Education & Childcare 0.3% |
LifePoint Health, Inc. | |
First Lien Term Loan B | |
3.852% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 11/16/25 (g) | 8,540,607 | 8,525,661 |
Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures & Entertainment 0.1% |
Carnival Corp. | |
2021 Incremental Term Advance B | |
4.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 10/18/28 (g) | 3,400,000 | 3,357,500 |
Manufacturing 0.1% |
Adient U.S. LLC | |
Term Loan B1 | |
3.604% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 4/10/28 (g) | 3,781,000 | 3,776,950 |
Media 0.2% |
Directv Financing LLC | |
Closing Date Term Loan | |
5.75% (3 Month LIBOR + 5.00%), due 8/2/27 (g) | 6,353,750 | 6,357,359 |
Mining, Steel, Iron & Non-Precious Metals 0.0% ‡ |
Keystone Power Pass-Through Holders LLC | |
Term Loan | |
18.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 18.00%), due 4/30/22 (a)(d)(g) | 1,425,000 | 1,425,000 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Oil & Gas 0.4% |
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC | |
Second Lien Term Loan | |
10.00% (3 Month LIBOR + 9.00%), due 11/1/25 (g) | $ 2,842,000 | $ 3,065,807 |
PetroQuest Energy LLC (a)(b)(d) | |
Term Loan | |
8.50% (8.50% PIK) (1 Month LIBOR + 7.50%), due 11/8/23 (e)(g) | 5,705,870 | 4,564,696 |
2020 Term Loan | |
8.50% (8.50% PIK), due 9/19/26 | 556,624 | 556,624 |
TransMontaigne Operating Co. LP | |
Tranche Term Loan B | |
4.00% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.50%), due 11/17/28 (g) | 3,400,000 | 3,397,450 |
| | 11,584,577 |
Pharmaceuticals 0.1% |
Bausch Health Cos., Inc. | |
First Incremental Term Loan | |
2.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.75%), due 11/27/25 (g) | 3,361,667 | 3,338,031 |
Retail 0.6% |
Great Outdoors Group LLC | |
Term Loan B2 | |
4.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 3/6/28 (g) | 21,092,374 | 21,098,955 |
Services Business 0.1% |
GIP II Blue Holding LP | |
Initial Term Loan | |
5.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 4.50%), due 9/29/28 (g) | 3,550,000 | 3,536,687 |
Utilities 0.7% |
GenOn Energy, Inc. | |
Term Loan | |
TBD, due 4/2/22 (a)(d) | 9,165,596 | 9,165,596 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Utilities (continued) |
PG&E Corp. | |
Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 6/23/25 (g) | $ 13,297,500 | $ 13,147,903 |
| | 22,313,499 |
Total Loan Assignments (Cost $136,921,656) | | 136,775,327 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $2,973,131,972) | | 3,088,337,762 |
|
| Shares | |
Common Stocks 2.3% |
Distributors 0.1% |
ATD New Holdings, Inc. (m) | 44,740 | 3,579,200 |
Electric Utilities 0.0% ‡ |
Keycon Power Holdings LLC (a)(d)(e)(m) | 11,280 | 113 |
Electrical Equipment 0.2% |
Energy Technologies, Inc. (a)(d)(e)(m) | 4,822 | 8,076,850 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.5% |
Carlson Travel, Inc. (a)(k)(m) | 529,813 | 17,483,829 |
Carlson Travel, Inc. (d)(e)(k)(m) | 6,281 | — |
| | 17,483,829 |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 0.4% |
GenOn Energy, Inc. (d)(e)(k) | 115,826 | 12,740,860 |
Metals & Mining 0.1% |
Neenah Enterprises, Inc. (a)(d)(e)(k)(m) | 230,859 | 4,125,450 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.0% |
California Resources Corp. | 18,307 | 781,892 |
Gulfport Energy Operating Corp. (m) | 311,067 | 22,406,156 |
PetroQuest Energy, Inc. (a)(d)(e)(m) | 8,224,665 | — |
Talos Energy, Inc. (m) | 637,880 | 6,251,224 |
Whiting Petroleum Corp. (m) | 61,409 | 3,971,934 |
| | 33,411,206 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Software 0.0% ‡ |
ASG warrant corp. (a)(d)(e)(m) | 3,368 | | $ — |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $95,996,329) | | | 79,417,508 |
Preferred Stocks 0.3% |
Electrical Equipment 0.3% |
Energy Technologies Ltd. (a)(d)(e)(m) | 10,741 | | 9,076,145 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.0% ‡ |
Gulfport Energy Operating Corp., 10.00%(10.00% Cash or 15.00% PIK) (a)(b)(d)(e)(k) | 39 | | 179,888 |
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $10,336,701) | | | 9,256,033 |
|
| Number of Warrants | | |
Warrants 0.0% ‡ |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.0% ‡ |
CWT Travel Holdings, Inc. (a)(d)(e) | | | |
Expires 11/19/26 | 44,246 | | 261,051 |
Expires 11/19/28 | 46,575 | | 320,901 |
| | | 581,952 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.0% ‡ |
California Resources Corp. | | | |
Expires 10/27/24 (m) | 9,742 | | 120,801 |
Total Warrants (Cost $8,174,310) | | | 702,753 |
Total Investments (Cost $3,087,639,312) | 94.2% | | 3,177,714,056 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 5.8 | | 193,958,516 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 3,371,672,572 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Illiquid security—As of December 31, 2021, the total market value deemed illiquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees was $78,944,512, which represented 2.3% of the Portfolio’s net assets. (Unaudited) |
(b) | PIK ("Payment-in-Kind")—issuer may pay interest or dividends with additional securities and/or in cash. |
(c) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
(d) | Fair valued security—Represents fair value as measured in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2021, the total market value was $66,235,594, which represented 2.0% of the Portfolio’s net assets. |
(e) | Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value. |
(f) | Issue in non-accrual status. |
(g) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(h) | Security is perpetual and, thus, does not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date. |
(i) | Step coupon—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(j) | Issue in default. |
(k) | Restricted security. (See Note 6) |
(l) | Fixed to floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(m) | Non-income producing security. |
Abbreviation(s): |
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
TBD—To Be Determined |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Convertible Bonds | $ — | | $ 33,327,563 | | $ — | | $ 33,327,563 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 2,907,858,252 | | 10,376,620 | | 2,918,234,872 |
Loan Assignments | — | | 126,844,831 | | 9,930,496 | | 136,775,327 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 3,068,030,646 | | 20,307,116 | | 3,088,337,762 |
Common Stocks | 33,411,206 | | 21,063,029 | | 24,943,273 | | 79,417,508 |
Preferred Stocks | — | | — | | 9,256,033 | | 9,256,033 |
Warrants | 120,801 | | — | | 581,952 | | 702,753 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 33,532,007 | | $ 3,089,093,675 | | $ 55,088,374 | | $ 3,177,714,056 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value:
Investments in Securities | Balance as of December 31, 2020 | | Accrued Discounts (Premiums) | | Realized Gain (Loss) | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | | Purchases | | Sales | | Transfers in to Level 3 | | Transfers out of Level 3 | | Balance as of December 31, 2021 | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) from Investments Still Held as of December 31, 2021 |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds | $10,874,686 | | $3,121,688 | | $ — | | $ 9,941,908 | | $ — | | $(13,561,662) | | $ — | | $— | | $10,376,620 | | $ (645,068) |
Loan Assignments | 4,290,785 | | 2,652 | | — | | (201,946) | | 5,839,005 | | — | | — | | — | | 9,930,496 | | (201,946) |
Common Stocks | 10,866,455 | | — | | 667,348 | | (15,153,854) | | 13,594,162 | | (667,348) | | 15,636,510 | | — | | 24,943,273 | | (14,579,654) |
Preferred Stocks | 8,109,455 | | — | | — | | 1,107,578 | | 39,000 | | — | | — | | — | | 9,256,033 | | 1,107,578 |
Warrants | — | | — | | — | | (7,588,461) | | 8,170,413 | | — | | — | | — | | 581,952 | | (7,588,461) |
Total | $34,141,381 | | $3,124,340 | | $667,348 | | $(11,894,775) | | $27,642,580 | | $(14,229,010) | | $15,636,510 | | $— | | $55,088,374 | | $(21,907,551) |
As of December 31, 2021, a Common Stock with a market value of $15,636,510 transferred from Level 1 to Level 3 as the the fair value for this Common Stock utilized significant unobservable inputs. As of December 31, 2020, the fair value obtained for these Common Stocks utilized significant other observable inputs.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in securities, at value (identified cost $3,087,639,312) | $3,177,714,056 |
Cash | 159,838,776 |
Receivables: | |
Interest | 43,365,961 |
Portfolio shares sold | 1,544,523 |
Other assets | 28,058 |
Total assets | 3,382,491,374 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 7,521,977 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 1,580,259 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 811,051 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 585,493 |
Shareholder communication | 158,156 |
Professional fees | 104,805 |
Custodian | 16,970 |
Trustees | 3,413 |
Accrued expenses | 36,678 |
Total liabilities | 10,818,802 |
Net assets | $3,371,672,572 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 343,957 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 3,251,043,992 |
| 3,251,387,949 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 120,284,623 |
Net assets | $3,371,672,572 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 592,889,936 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 59,631,418 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 9.94 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $2,778,782,636 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 284,325,269 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 9.77 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $168,491,896 |
Dividends | 1,359,261 |
Securities lending | 353 |
Other | 312,594 |
Total income | 170,164,104 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 17,993,052 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 6,788,771 |
Professional fees | 272,356 |
Shareholder communication | 200,228 |
Trustees | 67,841 |
Custodian | 62,094 |
Miscellaneous | 151,449 |
Total expenses | 25,535,791 |
Net investment income (loss) | 144,628,313 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 47,667,595 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | (27,683,811) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 19,983,784 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $164,612,097 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 144,628,313 | $ 155,731,043 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 47,667,595 | (85,686,820) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (27,683,811) | 71,065,568 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 164,612,097 | 141,109,791 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (28,606,278) | (25,417,401) |
Service Class | (127,887,903) | (140,197,619) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (156,494,181) | (165,615,020) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 458,787,335 | 362,905,712 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 156,494,181 | 165,615,020 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (327,535,675) | (457,051,427) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 287,745,841 | 71,469,305 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 295,863,757 | 46,964,076 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 3,075,808,815 | 3,028,844,739 |
End of year | $3,371,672,572 | $3,075,808,815 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 9.89 | | $ 9.96 | | $ 9.32 | | $ 10.05 | | $ 9.99 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.47 | | 0.54 | | 0.58 | | 0.55 | | 0.58 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.08 | | (0.04) | | 0.64 | | (0.68) | | 0.10 |
Total from investment operations | 0.55 | | 0.50 | | 1.22 | | (0.13) | | 0.68 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.50) | | (0.57) | | (0.58) | | (0.60) | | (0.62) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 9.94 | | $ 9.89 | | $ 9.96 | | $ 9.32 | | $ 10.05 |
Total investment return (b) | 5.51% | | 5.40% | | 13.22% | | (1.46)% | | 6.86% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 4.66% | | 5.56% | | 5.84% | | 5.58% | | 5.69% |
Net expenses | 0.58% | | 0.59%(c) | | 0.59%(c) | | 0.58%(c) | | 0.58%(c) |
Portfolio turnover rate | 35% | | 39% | | 28% | | 28% | | 40% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 592,890 | | $ 461,075 | | $ 471,775 | | $ 458,129 | | $ 574,162 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 9.74 | | $ 9.81 | | $ 9.19 | | $ 9.91 | | $ 9.86 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.44 | | 0.50 | | 0.55 | | 0.52 | | 0.55 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.06 | | (0.02) | | 0.62 | | (0.66) | | 0.10 |
Total from investment operations | 0.50 | | 0.48 | | 1.17 | | (0.14) | | 0.65 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.47) | | (0.55) | | (0.55) | | (0.58) | | (0.60) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 9.77 | | $ 9.74 | | $ 9.81 | | $ 9.19 | | $ 9.91 |
Total investment return (b) | 5.25% | | 5.14% | | 12.94% | | (1.71)% | | 6.59% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 4.43% | | 5.31% | | 5.60% | | 5.33% | | 5.43% |
Net expenses | 0.83% | | 0.84%(c) | | 0.84%(c) | | 0.83%(c) | | 0.83%(c) |
Portfolio turnover rate | 35% | | 39% | | 28% | | 28% | | 40% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 2,778,783 | | $ 2,614,734 | | $ 2,557,069 | | $ 2,298,144 | | $ 2,528,783 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | May 1, 1995 |
Service Class | June 4, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek maximum current income through investment in a diversified portfolio of high-yield debt securities. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability
30 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Loan assignments, participations and commitments are valued at the average of bid quotations obtained from the engaged independent pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Certain loan assignments, participations and commitments may be valued by utilizing significant unobservable inputs obtained from the pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021 were fair valued utilizing significant unobservable inputs obtained from the pricing service.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The valuation techniques and significant amounts of unobservable inputs used in the fair valuation of each Portfolio's Level 3 securities are outlined in the table below. A significant increase or decrease in any of those
inputs in isolation would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement.
Asset Class | Fair Value at 12/31/21* | Valuation Technique | Unobservable Inputs | Inputs/Range |
Corporate Bonds | $ 3,376,620 | Income Approach | Spread Adjustment | 0.72% |
Loan Assignments | 4,564,696 | Market Approach | Implied natural gas price | $2.70 |
| | | Discount Rate | 10.00% |
| 5,365,800 | Market Approach | Lender Fee | 1.00% |
Common Stocks | 113 | Market Approach | Ownership % of equity interest | 16.56%-39.70% |
| 8,076,850 | Market Approach | EBITDA Multiple | 6.00x-8.00x |
| 4,125,450 | Market Approach | EBITDA Multiple | 6.00x |
| 0 | Market Approach | Implied natural gas price | $2.70 |
| | | Discount Rate | 10.00% |
Preferred Stock | 9,076,145 | Income Approach | Spread Adjustment | 4.21% |
| 179,888 | Market Approach | Liquidity discount | 10.00% |
Warrants | 581,952 | Market Approach | Implied Volatility | 40.00% |
| $ 35,347,514 | | | |
* The table above does not include a level 3 investment that was valued by a broker. As of December 31, 2021, the value of this investment was $19,740,860. The inputs for this investment were not readily available or cannot be reasonably estimated. |
A portfolio investment may be classified as an illiquid investment under the Portfolio's written liquidity risk management program and related procedures (“Liquidity Program”). Illiquidity of an investment might prevent the sale of such investment at a time when the Manager or the Subadvisor might wish to sell, and these investments could have the effect of decreasing the overall level of the Portfolio's liquidity. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid investments, requiring the Portfolio to rely on judgments that may be somewhat subjective in measuring value, which could vary materially from the amount that the Portfolio could realize upon disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to the Portfolio. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Manager or Subadvisor reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The liquidity classification of each investment will be made using information obtained after reasonable inquiry and taking into account, among other things, relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations in accordance with the Liquidity Program. Illiquid investments are often valued in accordance with methods deemed by the Board in good faith to be reasonable and appropriate to accurately reflect their fair value. The liquidity of the Portfolio's investments was determined as of December 31, 2021, and can change at any time. Illiquid investments as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and
distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date; and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method. Income from payment-in-kind securities is accreted daily based on the effective interest method. Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes
32 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Loan Assignments, Participations and Commitments. The Portfolio may invest in loan assignments and participations ("loans"). Commitments are agreements to make money available to a borrower in a specified amount, at a specified rate and within a specified time. The Portfolio records an investment when the borrower withdraws money on a commitment or when a funded loan is purchased (trade date) and records interest as earned. These loans pay interest at rates that are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR").
The loans in which the Portfolio may invest are generally readily marketable, but may be subject to some restrictions on resale. For example, the Portfolio may be contractually obligated to receive approval from the agent bank and/or borrower prior to the sale of these investments. If the Portfolio purchases an assignment from a lender, the Portfolio will generally have direct contractual rights against the borrower in favor of the lender. If the Portfolio purchases a participation interest either from a lender or a participant, the Portfolio typically will have established a direct contractual relationship with the seller of the participation interest, but not with the borrower. Consequently, the Portfolio is subject to the credit risk of the lender or participant who sold the participation interest to the Portfolio, in addition to the usual credit risk of the borrower. In the event that the borrower, selling participant or intermediate participants become insolvent or enter into bankruptcy, the Portfolio may incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment, or may suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.
Unfunded commitments represent the remaining obligation of the Portfolio to the borrower. At any point in time, up to the maturity date of the issue, the borrower may demand the unfunded portion. Unfunded amounts, if any, are marked to market and any unrealized gains or losses
are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held unfunded commitments. (See Note 5).
(H) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any portfolio securities on loan.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(I) Rights and Warrants. Rights are certificates that permit the holder to purchase a certain number of shares, or a fractional share, of a new stock from the issuer at a specific price. Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time. These investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of these investments do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities.
There is risk involved in the purchase of rights and warrants in that these investments are speculative investments. The Portfolio could also lose the entire value of its investment in warrants if such warrants are not exercised by the date of its expiration. The Portfolio is exposed to risk until the sale or exercise of each right or warrant is completed. Warrants as of December 31, 2021 are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(J) Debt Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates. The Portfolio primarily invests in high-yield debt securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”), which are considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher rated debt securities. These securities pay investors a premium—a higher interest rate or yield than investment grade debt securities—because of the increased risk of loss. These securities can also be subject to greater price volatility. In times of unusual or adverse market, economic or political conditions, these securities may experience higher than normal default rates.
The loans in which the Portfolio invests are usually rated below investment grade, or if unrated, determined by the Subadvisor to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) and are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher quality debt securities. Moreover, such securities may, under certain circumstances, be particularly susceptible to liquidity and valuation risks.
Although certain loans are collateralized, there is no guarantee that the value of the collateral will be sufficient to repay the loan. In a recession or serious credit event, the value of these investments could decline significantly. As a result, the Portfolio’s NAVs could go down and you could lose money.
In addition, loans generally are subject to extended settlement periods that may be longer than seven days. As a result, the Portfolio may be adversely affected by selling other investments at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions or engaging in borrowing transactions, such as borrowing against its credit facility, to raise cash to meet redemption obligations or pursue other investment opportunities.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities. As a result, the Portfolio may not have the protection of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. In such cases, the Portfolio generally must rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
(K) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(L) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory
34 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
Agreement") between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.57% up to $1 billion; 0.55% from $1 billion to $5 billion; and 0.525% in excess of $5 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.56%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $17,993,052 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $8,996,515.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $3,087,247,225 | $161,777,739 | $(71,310,908) | $90,466,831 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$146,647,447 | $(113,123,503) | $(3,706,152) | $90,466,831 | $120,284,623 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to cumulative bond amortization and wash sale adjustments. The other temporary differences are primarily due to interest accrual on defaulted securities.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $113,123,503, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $86 | $113,038 |
The Portfolio utilized $46,660,181 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $156,494,181 | $165,615,020 |
Note 5–Commitments and Contingencies
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio had unfunded commitments pursuant to the following loan agreements:
Borrower | Unfunded Commitments | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Neenah Foundry, 2020 PIK Loan TBD, due 4/1/23 | $320,000 | $0 |
Commitments are available until maturity date.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 6–Restricted Securities
Restricted securities are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Private placement securities are generally considered to be restricted except for those securities traded between qualified institutional investors under the provisions of Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Disposal of restricted securities may involve time consuming negotiations and expenses, and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult to achieve.
As of December 31, 2021, restricted securities held by the Portfolio were as follows:
Security | Date(s) of Acquisition | Principal Amount/ Shares | Cost | 12/31/21 Value | Percent of Net Assets |
Briggs & Stratton Corp. Escrow Claim Shares |
Corporate Bond 6.875%, due 12/15/20 | 2/26/21 | $ 5,030,000 | $ 5,170,425 | $ 50,300 | 0.0% |
Carlson Travel, Inc. |
Common Stock | 12/8/21 | 6,281 | — | — | 0.0‡ |
Carlson Travel, Inc. |
Common Stock
| 9/4/20-12/8/21 | 529,813 | 13,040,538 | 17,483,829 | 0.5% |
GenOn Energy, Inc. |
Common Stock | 12/14/18 | 115,826 | 12,970,154 | 12,740,860 | 0.4 |
Gulfport Energy Operating Corp. |
Preferred Stock | 8/4/21-12/16/21 | 39 | 39,000 | 179,888 | 0.0 |
Neenah Enterprises, Inc. |
Common Stock | 4/12/20 | 230,859 | 1,955,376 | 4,125,450 | 0.1 |
Sterling Entertainment Enterprises LLC |
Corporate Bond 10.25%, due 1/15/25 | 12/28/17 | $ 7,000,000 | 6,945,355 | 7,000,000 | 0.2 |
Total | | | $ 40,120,848 | $ 41,580,327 | 1.2% |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
Note 7–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $6,242 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 8–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount
payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 9–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio
36 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 10–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $1,281,197 and $1,087,899, respectively.
The Portfolio may purchase securities from or sell securities to other portfolios managed by the Subadvisor. These interportfolio transactions are primarily used for cash management purposes and are made pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. During the year ended December 31, 2021, such purchases were $1,085,821.
Note 11–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 17,398,461 | $ 178,553,730 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,894,786 | 28,606,278 |
Shares redeemed | (7,260,874) | (73,109,585) |
Net increase (decrease) | 13,032,373 | $ 134,050,423 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 4,741,138 | $ 45,519,125 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,675,798 | 25,417,401 |
Shares redeemed | (8,207,626) | (78,748,285) |
Net increase (decrease) | (790,690) | $ (7,811,759) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 28,237,647 | $ 280,233,605 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 13,158,275 | 127,887,903 |
Shares redeemed | (25,632,161) | (254,426,090) |
Net increase (decrease) | 15,763,761 | $ 153,695,418 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 33,371,463 | $ 317,386,587 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 14,990,710 | 140,197,619 |
Shares redeemed | (40,584,222) | (378,303,142) |
Net increase (decrease) | 7,777,951 | $ 79,281,064 |
Note 12–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 13–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodians, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
38 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or MacKay that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and MacKay personnel. In
addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and MacKay; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio manager of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and MacKay; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and MacKay. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Investments and MacKay resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of MacKay, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of MacKay and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated MacKay’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay and New York Life Investments’ and MacKay’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed MacKay’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio manager, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the method for compensating the portfolio manager.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s
40 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to MacKay as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or MacKay had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates , including MacKay, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and MacKay must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and MacKay to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board
recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to MacKay is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that
addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
42 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
44 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
46 | MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI520
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 1/29/1993 | 10.52% | 8.49% | 8.84% | 0.63% |
Service Class Shares | 6/4/2003 | 10.24 | 8.22 | 8.57 | 0.88 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
MSCI World Index (Net)1 | 21.82% | 15.03% | 12.70% |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index2 | -1.54 | 3.57 | 2.90 |
Blended Benchmark Index3 | 12.04 | 10.62 | 8.92 |
Morningstar World Allocation Category Average4 | 11.24 | 7.35 | 5.77 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The MSCI World Index (Net) is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The MSCI World Index (Net) is a broad-based benchmark that is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Portfolio has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as a secondary benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures performance of the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasurys, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Portfolio has selected the Blended Benchmark Index as an additional benchmark. The Blended Benchmark Index consists of the MSCI World Index (Net) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, weighted 60% and 40%, respectively. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
4. | The Morningstar World Allocation Category Average is representative of portfolios that seek to provide both capital appreciation and income by investing in three major areas: stocks, bonds, and cash. While these portfolios do explore the whole world, most of them focus on the U.S., Canada, Japan, and the larger markets in Europe. It is rare for such portfolios to invest more than 10% of their assets in emerging markets. These portfolios typically have at least 10% of assets in bonds, less than 70% of assets in stocks, and at least 40% of assets in non-U.S. stocks or bonds. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,031.00 | $3.07 | $1,022.18 | $3.06 | 0.60% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,029.70 | $4.35 | $1,020.92 | $4.33 | 0.85% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
6 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 12 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.375%-1.375%, due 10/31/23–11/15/31 |
2. | Bank of America Corp. |
3. | Apple, Inc. |
4. | Broadcom, Inc. |
5. | UMBS, 30 Year, 2.00%-4.00%, due 8/1/48–11/1/51 |
6. | Microsoft Corp. |
7. | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
8. | Cisco Systems, Inc. |
9. | Analog Devices, Inc. |
10. | U.S. Treasury Bonds, 1.875%-4.375%, due 11/15/39–11/15/51 |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of Jae S. Yoon, CFA, and Jonathan Swaney of New York Life Investment Management LLC, the Portfolio’s Manager; Stephen R. Cianci, CFA, and Neil Moriarty III, of MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields”), the Subadvisor for the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio; and William W. Priest, CFA, Michael A. Welhoelter, CFA, John Tobin, PhD, CFA, and Kera Van Valen, CFA, of Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (“Epoch”), the Subadvisor for the equity portion of the Portfolio.
How did MainStay VP Income Builder portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio returned 10.52% for Initial Class shares and 10.24% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 21.82% return of the MSCI World Index (Net), which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark; outperformed the −1.54% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which is the Portfolio’s secondary benchmark; and underperformed the 12.04% return of the Blended Benchmark Index, which is an additional benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes underperformed the 11.24% return of the Morningstar World Allocation Category Average.1
During the reporting period, were there any market events that materially impacted the equity portion of the Portfolio’s performance or liquidity?
The pace of global economic growth, interest rates, inflation and COVID-19 variants remained intertwined and dominated headlines throughout 2021. Inflation proved to be more enduring than originally thought. Higher prices threatened to pressure profit margins, nudge bond yields upward and force central banks to be less accommodative sooner than expected. The year proved to be dynamic and challenging, but the market participation was broader than in 2020, and many businesses across sectors and geographies proved to be resilient. The continued resumption of dividend growth and share repurchases (which we had anticipated) was a positive development for the equity portion of the Portfolio, as businesses experienced strong demand and robust earnings throughout 2021.
What factors affected the relative performance of the equity portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
The equity portion of the Portfolio delivered upside participation amid a very strong market rally, but finished the reporting period modestly lagging the MSCI World Index (Net). The change in investor sentiment that began in the autumn of 2020 continued into 2021 as the vaccine rollout took hold and drove increased optimism about economies reopening. Bond yields moved higher and the wide divergence between high-dividend and momentum/growth abated. For the first half of the reporting period, the equity portion of the Portfolio benefitted from the breadth of the market, provided strong absolute returns and slightly outperformed the Index. In the third quarter of 2021, economic growth, while remaining above trend, began to slow and
bond yields drifted lower. Supply-chain issues started to look less like a short-term phenomenon and the Delta variant began to creep into headlines in July. Market sentiment abruptly shifted in September, when a flurry of central bank announcements signaling sooner-than-expected monetary tightening made headlines and caused stocks to decline steeply for the month. The equity portion of the Portfolio was not immune to the downward pressure in the overall market, finishing the quarter with negative returns and lagging the Index. The fourth quarter began with markets charging upward in October as investors focused on the strength of earnings and temporarily put aside inflation concerns. The markets, and the equity portion of the Portfolio, rose again in early November until there was renewed volatility based on increasingly hawkish signaling from the U.S. Federal Reserve, and the emergence of the Omicron variant. Volatility persisted into early December, but the markets shook off concerns as equities rallied into year end, touching new highs.
Which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to relative performance in the equity portion of the Portfolio, and which market segments detracted the most?
During the reporting period, the strongest positive contributions to the performance of the equity portion of the Portfolio relative to the MSCI World Index (Net) came from favorable stock selection in the real estate sector. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Materials and industrials provided positive contributions to relative performance as well, driven by stock selection. The weakest contributing sector was health care due to stock selection. The next-weakest sectors in terms of relative returns were financials and communication services, also due to stock selection.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to absolute performance in the equity portion of the Portfolio and which stocks detracted the most?
The strongest positive contributors to the absolute performance of the equity portion of the Portfolio included positions in software and cloud services provider Microsoft, semiconductor manufacturer Broadcom, and data and records management company Iron Mountain. Microsoft stock outperformed as a result of strong demand across the company’s product portfolio. This included growth in Azure, Microsoft’s cloud service offering, as well as growth in recurring subscription services and productivity solutions. Shares in Broadcom outperformed with the return to spending on networks, as enterprises began a campus refresh likely to benefit the company during 2022, and perhaps beyond.
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
8 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
The medium-term outlook showed continual improvement in Broadcom’s software portfolio and replenishment demand driving its semiconductor portfolio. Iron Mountain shares trended higher reflecting positive underlying business development. Earnings reports were well-received, with management twice raising guidance for full-year 2021 results. The company benefitted from economic re-opening with more businesses returning to on-site working, the continued development of the data center segment, which saw increased leasing activity, in addition to good expense performance due to Project Summit.
The weakest contributors to the absolute performance of the equity portion of the Portfolio included positions in gaming company Las Vegas Sands, medical device maker Medtronic and global pharmaceutical company Takeda Pharmaceutical. Shares in Las Vegas Sands—the world's largest casino developer, owner and operator—underperformed as visitation trends stalled in the second quarter of 2021 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions in Macao and Singapore. Shares were further impacted by subsequent comments from a local government official that Macao planned to increase direct supervision of gambling companies. Medtronic faced headwinds during the year stemming from a slowdown in the recovery of elective medical procedure volumes due to COVID-19 resurgences and nursing shortages, as well as pipeline setbacks seen as likely to push out an acceleration in the company's organic growth rate. Takeda shares underperformed after the company announced plans in April to significantly increase near-term research and development investment to support its promising pipeline. Shares were further pressured in October when the company revealed that phase 2 trials of its TAK-944 clinical program for the treatment of sleep disorders had experienced a material setback that could put the entire program at risk.
Did the equity portion of the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The equity portion of the Portfolio initiated multiple positions during the reporting period, including industrial gas company Linde and financial services provider Ally Financial. Linde generates strong cash flow by distributing its products through various profitable methods, such as on-site, merchant and packaged gases. The company rewards its shareholders with an attractive and growing dividend and regular share buybacks. We believe Ally Financial is well positioned to continue to grow its loan portfolio and expand its product offering in an environment of rapidly evolving consumer banking trends in the United States. Ally pays an attractive and growing dividend, and conducts ongoing share repurchases that have historically exceeded the dividend.
Notable sales during the reporting period included the equity portion of the Portfolio’s entire position in telecommunications company AT&T, and air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment distributor Watsco. AT&T is going through a restructuring which will see its WarnerMedia segment split off and combine operations with Discovery. The current dividend will continue to be paid until the deal closes in the middle of 2022, after which AT&T will resize its dividend to reflect the remaining operations. We sold the position to fund higher total shareholder yield opportunities. Watsco experienced growth throughout the reporting period due to a strong HVAC market as well as market share capture. We chose to sell the position to fund higher-yielding opportunities.
How did sector weightings in the equity portion of the Portfolio change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the most significant sector allocation changes in the equity portion of the Portfolio were reductions in communication services and consumer staples and increases in industrials and financials. From a country allocation perspective, the most significant changes included increases in exposure to the United States and Canada, and reductions in exposure to Korea and Italy. The equity portion of the Portfolio’s sector and country allocations are a result of our bottom-up fundamental investment process and reflect the companies and securities that we confidently believe can collect and distribute sustainable, growing, shareholder yield.
How was the equity portion of the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
Relative to the MSCI World Index (Net), as of December 31, 2021, the most substantially overweight sector positions in the equity portion of the Portfolio were in utilities and consumer staples. As of the same date, the most substantially underweight sector positions relative to the benchmark were in consumer discretionary and information technology. These relative weightings were the result of individual stock selections rather than a top-down macroeconomic view.
What factors affected the relative performance of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
Overall, risk continued to rally throughout the reporting period. This trend was accentuated by the approval of multiple coronavirus vaccines in the fourth quarter of 2020, along with the global acceleration of vaccination rates in the first quarter of 2021. Additionally, the fiscal packages that were passed by the U.S. Congress helped to propel risk assets. Lastly, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s monetary policy remained accommodative. These
factors were catalysts that led risk assets to outperform, especially in the first quarter of 2021 when credit spreads2 narrowed as risk assets rallied, despite a volatile environment that saw long-term Treasury rates rise faster than short-term rates.
The fixed-income portion of the Portfolio outperformed its primary benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index during the reporting period, partly driven by underweight allocation to U.S. Treasury bonds. At the same time, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio held overweight exposure to spread product that generated positive excess returns. Specifically, overweight allocation and security selection to corporate bonds, both investment grade and high yield, aided performance. Underweight exposure to AAA-rated3 credits further boosted these results. Conversely, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio’s exposure to securitized debt detracted from relative performance.
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
During the reporting period, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio used Treasury futures to hedge its duration.4 This position had a positive impact on returns during the reporting period.
What was the duration strategy of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
At the beginning of the reporting period, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio was modestly long duration versus the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Toward the middle of the reporting period, we extended the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio’s duration profile but then began reducing it and maintained a modest long position to offset the spread risk relative to the benchmark. At the end of the reporting period, the effective duration of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio was 6.4 years, matching the duration of the Index.
During the reporting period, which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the absolute performance of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio and which market segments were particularly weak?
During the reporting period, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio’s exposure to high yield corporate bonds bolstered absolute performance. Holdings of equity-linked products also
made positive contributions to total return. During the same period, emerging-market credits detracted from absolute returns.
Did the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
A robust primary calendar for corporate credit offered several opportunities to introduce new names into the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio in the midstream, financials and consumer non-cyclical industries. Meanwhile, as spreads narrowed, we trimmed exposure to higher-quality credits with limited total return potential.
In emerging markets, we reduced the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio’s exposure to Chinese technology companies, as well as to an oil major rumored to be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges. Through the primary market, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio added a new issue from a Mexican petrochemical company at favorable terms, as well as a new Brazilian credit in the consumer non-cyclical sector from a company with a strong global presence and solid fundamentals.
Among commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio took advantage of rich valuations by selling AAA-rated conduit bonds at levels tighter than pre-pandemic. The fixed-income portion of the Portfolio also continued to add more opportunistic single-asset deals, such as securitizations5 backed by tony Las Vegas properties. Other purchases in the CMBS primary market included securitizations backed by multifamily housing, an office building in Seattle and industrial properties spread throughout the country. In the secondary market, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio purchased seasoned subordinate bonds at attractive yields with, in our judgement, sufficient credit enhancement to withstand stresses in the market.
Among non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities, given strong underlying housing fundamentals, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio participated in a credit-risk transfer deal brought by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (known as Freddie Mac); the deal had underlying collateral characteristics that we consider the strongest ever for the program, given the high FICO credit-risk scores of the borrowers.
2. | The terms “spread” and “yield spread” may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
3. | An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), and in the opinion of S&P, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. When applied to Portfolio holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Portfolio. |
4. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
5. | A securitization is a financial instrument created by an issuer by combining a pool of financial assets (such as mortgages). The financial instrument is then marketed to investors, sometimes in tiers. |
10 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
How did sector weightings change in the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio maintained its risk-positive positioning, keeping broader exposures fairly consistent. Changes included modest additions to CMBS exposure and agency commercial mortgage obligations. At the same time, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio trimmed a small amount of its investment-grade credit and bank loans allocations. The most significant activity during the reporting period occurred in sectors where the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio took advantage of opportunities in the new-issue markets, rotating out of rich secondary positions in favor of cheaper new issues.
How was the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, relative to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio held overweight exposure to high-yield corporate bonds, along with securitized assets. As of the same date, the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio held underweight exposure to U.S. Treasury securities and agency mortgages.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 48.6% |
Asset-Backed Securities 4.8% |
Automobile Asset-Backed Securities 1.4% |
American Credit Acceptance Receivables Trust | | |
Series 2021-3, Class D | | |
1.34%, due 11/15/27 (a) | $ 745,000 | $ 734,644 |
Avis Budget Rental Car Funding AESOP LLC (a) | | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A | | |
1.38%, due 8/20/27 | 1,000,000 | 981,977 |
Series 2020-2A, Class A | | |
2.02%, due 2/20/27 | 360,000 | 363,826 |
Series 2020-1A, Class A | | |
2.33%, due 8/20/26 | 415,000 | 424,904 |
Drive Auto Receivables Trust | | |
Series 2021-2, Class D | | |
1.39%, due 3/15/29 | 800,000 | 784,315 |
Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust (a) | | |
Series 2020-2, Class A | | |
1.06%, due 4/15/33 | 645,000 | 632,052 |
Series 2020-1, Class A | | |
2.04%, due 8/15/31 | 580,000 | 590,447 |
Ford Credit Floorplan Master Owner Trust | | |
Series 2019-4, Class A | | |
2.44%, due 9/15/26 | 850,000 | 877,139 |
Series 2017-3, Class A | | |
2.48%, due 9/15/24 | 895,000 | 907,355 |
Series 2018-4, Class A | | |
4.06%, due 11/15/30 | 530,000 | 593,505 |
GM Financial Revolving Receivables Trust | | |
Series 2021-1, Class A | | |
1.17%, due 6/12/34 (a) | 975,000 | 958,378 |
Hertz Vehicle Financing III LP | | |
Series 2021-2A, Class D | | |
4.34%, due 12/27/27 (a) | 1,135,000 | 1,132,091 |
Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC | | |
Series 2021-1A, Class B | | |
1.56%, due 12/26/25 (a) | 520,000 | 514,787 |
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA | | |
Series 2020-1, Class B | | |
0.991%, due 1/25/28 (a) | 346,463 | 346,526 |
| | 9,841,946 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Credit Card Asset-Backed Security 0.1% |
Capital One Multi-Asset Execution Trust | | |
Series 2019-A3, Class A3 | | |
2.06%, due 8/15/28 | $ 700,000 | $ 719,662 |
Home Equity Asset-Backed Securities 0.2% |
Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust | | |
Series 2007-HE1, Class A3 | | |
0.292% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.19%), due 6/25/37 (b) | 1,006,237 | 996,351 |
J.P. Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust | | |
Series 2007-HE1, Class AF1 | | |
0.202% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.10%), due 3/25/47 (b) | 134,399 | 91,733 |
Mastr Asset-Backed Securities Trust | | |
Series 2006-HE4, Class A1 | | |
0.202% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.10%), due 11/25/36 (b) | 198,711 | 83,451 |
| | 1,171,535 |
Other Asset-Backed Securities 3.1% |
American Airlines Pass-Through Trust | | |
Series 2016-2, Class A | | |
3.65%, due 6/15/28 | 577,197 | 557,562 |
Series 2019-1, Class B | | |
3.85%, due 2/15/28 | 479,864 | 458,351 |
Series 2013-2, Class A | | |
4.95%, due 1/15/23 | 760,003 | 776,638 |
American Tower Trust #1 | | |
3.07%, due 3/15/23 (a) | 175,000 | 175,143 |
AMSR Trust | | |
Series 2020-SFR4, Class A | | |
1.355%, due 11/17/37 (a) | 965,000 | 940,714 |
British Airways Pass-Through Trust | | |
Series 2021-1, Class A | | |
2.90%, due 3/15/35 (United Kingdom) (a) | 840,000 | 836,673 |
CF Hippolyta LLC (a) | | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A1 | | |
1.53%, due 3/15/61 | 1,012,731 | 993,732 |
Series 2020-1, Class A1 | | |
1.69%, due 7/15/60 | 451,047 | 447,420 |
Series 2020-1, Class A2 | | |
1.99%, due 7/15/60 | 499,118 | 490,206 |
Crown Castle Towers LLC | | |
4.241%, due 7/15/28 (a) | 990,000 | 1,079,960 |
CVS Pass-Through Trust | | |
5.789%, due 1/10/26 (a) | 20,618 | 22,220 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
DB Master Finance LLC | | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A23 | | |
2.791%, due 11/20/51 (a) | $ 955,000 | $ 952,586 |
FirstKey Homes Trust (a) | | |
Series 2020-SFR1, Class A | | |
1.339%, due 8/17/37 | 1,048,248 | 1,028,212 |
Series 2021-SFR1, Class A | | |
1.538%, due 8/17/38 | 1,163,960 | 1,135,468 |
Home Partners of America Trust (a) | | |
Series 2021-2, Class A | | |
1.901%, due 12/17/26 | 302,750 | 299,629 |
Series 2021-2, Class B | | |
2.302%, due 12/17/26 | 569,665 | 562,682 |
MMAF Equipment Finance LLC | | |
Series 2020-BA, Class A4 | | |
0.66%, due 11/15/27 (a) | 1,500,000 | 1,466,133 |
Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust (a) | | |
Series 2020-DA, Class A | | |
1.69%, due 5/15/69 | 221,400 | 221,544 |
Series 2020-EA, Class A | | |
1.69%, due 5/15/69 | 389,725 | 389,573 |
Series 2021-EA, Class B | | |
2.03%, due 12/16/69 | 1,380,000 | 1,342,727 |
New Economy Assets Phase 1 Sponsor LLC (a) | | |
Series 2021-1, Class A1 | | |
1.91%, due 10/20/61 | 665,000 | 652,040 |
Series 2021-1, Class B1 | | |
2.41%, due 10/20/61 | 645,000 | 646,486 |
Progress Residential (a) | | |
Series 2021-SFR1, Class A | | |
1.052%, due 4/17/38 | 765,000 | 735,523 |
Series 2021-SFR3, Class A | | |
1.637%, due 5/17/26 | 389,085 | 384,037 |
Series 2021-SFR4, Class B | | |
1.808%, due 5/17/38 | 670,000 | 656,678 |
Progress Residential Trust (a) | | |
Series 2021-SFR2, Class A | | |
1.546%, due 4/19/38 | 350,000 | 343,342 |
Series 2021-SFR2, Class B | | |
1.796%, due 4/19/38 | 1,050,000 | 1,026,310 |
Sierra Timeshare Receivables Funding LLC | | |
Series 2020-2A, Class A | | |
1.33%, due 7/20/37 (a) | 302,979 | 302,018 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Taco Bell Funding LLC | | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A23 | | ��� |
2.542%, due 8/25/51 (a) | $ 980,000 | $ 957,599 |
U.S. Airways Pass-Through Trust | | |
Series 2012-1, Class A | | |
5.90%, due 10/1/24 | 491,909 | 515,490 |
Series 2010-1, Class A | | |
6.25%, due 4/22/23 | 241,596 | 247,438 |
United Airlines Pass-Through Trust | | |
Series 2014-2, Class B | | |
4.625%, due 9/3/22 | 222,339 | 226,243 |
Series 2020-1, Class A | | |
5.875%, due 10/15/27 | 767,805 | 841,033 |
Series 2007-1 | | |
6.636%, due 7/2/22 | 278,274 | 283,840 |
| | 21,995,250 |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $33,632,292) | | 33,728,393 |
Corporate Bonds 28.4% |
Aerospace & Defense 0.4% |
BAE Systems plc | | |
3.00%, due 9/15/50 (United Kingdom) (a) | 550,000 | 535,337 |
Boeing Co. (The) | | |
3.75%, due 2/1/50 (c) | 370,000 | 384,555 |
Howmet Aerospace, Inc. | | |
3.00%, due 1/15/29 | 830,000 | 831,116 |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | | |
4.40%, due 6/15/28 | 810,000 | 909,156 |
| | 2,660,164 |
Agriculture 0.1% |
BAT Capital Corp. | | |
3.734%, due 9/25/40 (United Kingdom) | 905,000 | 869,287 |
Airlines 0.5% |
American Airlines, Inc. (a) | | |
5.50%, due 4/20/26 | 600,000 | 623,925 |
5.75%, due 4/20/29 | 360,000 | 384,739 |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (a) | | |
4.50%, due 10/20/25 | 465,000 | 488,720 |
4.75%, due 10/20/28 | 900,000 | 982,783 |
Mileage Plus Holdings LLC | | |
6.50%, due 6/20/27 (a) | 795,000 | 848,663 |
| | 3,328,830 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Auto Manufacturers 1.0% |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC | | |
2.70%, due 8/10/26 | $ 595,000 | $ 600,206 |
4.063%, due 11/1/24 | 780,000 | 820,693 |
4.25%, due 9/20/22 | 305,000 | 310,490 |
General Motors Co. | | |
6.125%, due 10/1/25 | 285,000 | 327,388 |
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. | | |
2.35%, due 1/8/31 | 344,000 | 334,854 |
2.70%, due 6/10/31 | 850,000 | 846,969 |
3.15%, due 6/30/22 | 320,000 | 323,601 |
3.45%, due 4/10/22 | 1,500,000 | 1,504,588 |
Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC (a) | | |
1.125%, due 9/16/24 | 810,000 | 795,864 |
1.85%, due 9/16/26 | 1,350,000 | 1,317,152 |
| | 7,181,805 |
Banks 7.3% |
Bank of America Corp. | | |
2.087%, due 6/14/29 (d) | 715,000 | 709,974 |
2.496%, due 2/13/31 (d) | 650,000 | 651,657 |
2.572%, due 10/20/32 (d) | 510,000 | 512,450 |
3.004%, due 12/20/23 (d) | 734,000 | 749,171 |
3.458%, due 3/15/25 (d) | 1,425,000 | 1,490,281 |
3.705%, due 4/24/28 (d) | 555,000 | 602,304 |
4.078%, due 4/23/40 (d) | 785,000 | 901,839 |
4.20%, due 8/26/24 | 325,000 | 348,354 |
Series MM | | |
4.30%, due 1/28/25 (d)(e) | 1,136,000 | 1,148,780 |
Series DD | | |
6.30%, due 3/10/26 (d)(e) | 735,000 | 826,875 |
BNP Paribas SA (France) (a) | | |
3.052%, due 1/13/31 (d) | 1,415,000 | 1,455,599 |
4.625% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.34%), due 2/25/31 (b)(e) | 885,000 | 887,655 |
BPCE SA | | |
2.045%, due 10/19/27 (France) (a)(d) | 530,000 | 525,446 |
Citigroup, Inc. | | |
2.976%, due 11/5/30 (d) | 845,000 | 877,495 |
3.352%, due 4/24/25 (d) | 780,000 | 814,436 |
3.668%, due 7/24/28 (d) | 430,000 | 463,773 |
3.70%, due 1/12/26 | 545,000 | 589,295 |
3.98%, due 3/20/30 (d) | 565,000 | 623,698 |
4.05%, due 7/30/22 | 105,000 | 107,140 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Banks (continued) |
Citigroup, Inc. (continued) | | |
Series Y | | |
4.15% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.00%), due 11/15/26 (b)(e) | $ 840,000 | $ 853,650 |
5.30%, due 5/6/44 | 436,000 | 568,907 |
6.625%, due 6/15/32 | 190,000 | 252,053 |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | | |
2.638%, due 9/30/32 | 1,190,000 | 1,175,474 |
Credit Suisse Group AG (Switzerland) (a)(d) | | |
2.593%, due 9/11/25 | 1,265,000 | 1,291,759 |
3.091%, due 5/14/32 | 785,000 | 798,778 |
Deutsche Bank AG (Germany) | | |
Series E | | |
0.962%, due 11/8/23 | 1,225,000 | 1,222,819 |
1.269% (SOFR + 1.219%), due 11/16/27 (b) | 820,000 | 818,542 |
3.035%, due 5/28/32 (d) | 255,000 | 256,948 |
First Horizon Bank | | |
5.75%, due 5/1/30 | 815,000 | 974,817 |
First Horizon Corp. | | |
4.00%, due 5/26/25 | 775,000 | 828,530 |
Freedom Mortgage Corp. | | |
7.625%, due 5/1/26 (a) | 685,000 | 699,563 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | |
1.326% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.17%), due 5/15/26 (b) | 815,000 | 831,210 |
1.431%, due 3/9/27 (d) | 535,000 | 524,099 |
1.948%, due 10/21/27 (d) | 610,000 | 607,316 |
1.992%, due 1/27/32 (d) | 590,000 | 565,678 |
2.615%, due 4/22/32 (d) | 425,000 | 428,052 |
2.905%, due 7/24/23 (d) | 310,000 | 313,489 |
2.908%, due 6/5/23 (d) | 285,000 | 287,373 |
3.625%, due 1/22/23 | 1,330,000 | 1,369,700 |
6.75%, due 10/1/37 | 159,000 | 225,446 |
HSBC Holdings plc | | |
3.973%, due 5/22/30 (United Kingdom) (d) | 970,000 | 1,052,205 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (d) | | |
2.182%, due 6/1/28 | 835,000 | 841,810 |
2.956%, due 5/13/31 | 475,000 | 491,803 |
3.54%, due 5/1/28 | 850,000 | 923,129 |
Series HH | | |
4.60%, due 2/1/25 (e) | 1,124,000 | 1,153,505 |
Lloyds Banking Group plc (United Kingdom) | | |
4.582%, due 12/10/25 | 508,000 | 554,144 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Banks (continued) |
Lloyds Banking Group plc (United Kingdom) (continued) | | |
4.65%, due 3/24/26 | $ 1,075,000 | $ 1,183,424 |
Macquarie Group Ltd. | | |
2.871%, due 1/14/33 (Australia) (a)(d) | 820,000 | 817,519 |
Morgan Stanley | | |
2.484%, due 9/16/36 (d) | 715,000 | 688,509 |
2.511%, due 10/20/32 (d) | 360,000 | 359,617 |
3.125%, due 1/23/23 | 1,560,000 | 1,599,503 |
5.00%, due 11/24/25 | 1,150,000 | 1,287,353 |
6.25%, due 8/9/26 | 881,000 | 1,050,876 |
7.25%, due 4/1/32 | 100,000 | 142,493 |
NatWest Group plc | | |
3.073% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.55%), due 5/22/28 (United Kingdom) (b) | 1,580,000 | 1,643,341 |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | | |
2.55%, due 1/22/30 | 405,000 | 416,354 |
Societe Generale SA (France) (a)(b)(e) | | |
4.75% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.931%), due 5/26/26 | 395,000 | 401,087 |
5.375% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 4.514%), due 11/18/30 | 1,195,000 | 1,255,228 |
Standard Chartered plc (United Kingdom) (a)(b) | | |
1.822% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 0.95%), due 11/23/25 | 1,060,000 | 1,058,695 |
2.678% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.20%), due 6/29/32 | 310,000 | 304,213 |
4.75% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.805%), due 1/14/31 (c)(e) | 525,000 | 521,063 |
SVB Financial Group | | |
Series C | | |
4.00% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.202%), due 5/15/26 (b)(e) | 770,000 | 773,850 |
Truist Bank | | |
2.636% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.15%), due 9/17/29 (b) | 760,000 | 781,441 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Banks (continued) |
UBS Group AG | | |
4.375% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.313%), due 2/10/31 (Switzerland) (a)(b)(e) | $ 1,005,000 | $ 992,739 |
Wachovia Corp. | | |
5.50%, due 8/1/35 | 700,000 | 887,545 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | |
2.406%, due 10/30/25 (d) | 525,000 | 538,109 |
Westpac Banking Corp. | | |
3.02% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.53%), due 11/18/36 (Australia) (b) | 433,000 | 427,849 |
| | 51,327,829 |
Beverages 0.3% |
Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC | | |
4.70%, due 2/1/36 (Belgium) | 475,000 | 573,235 |
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 1/23/29 (Belgium) | 1,270,000 | 1,478,198 |
| | 2,051,433 |
Biotechnology 0.2% |
Biogen, Inc. | | |
3.625%, due 9/15/22 | 1,240,000 | 1,266,550 |
Building Materials 0.4% |
Carrier Global Corp. | | |
2.722%, due 2/15/30 | 940,000 | 959,966 |
Cemex SAB de CV | | |
3.125%, due 3/19/26 (Mexico) (a) | EUR 1,515,000 | 1,752,449 |
| | 2,712,415 |
Chemicals 0.5% |
Braskem Netherlands Finance BV | | |
4.50%, due 1/10/28 (Brazil) (a) | $ 745,000 | 789,700 |
Huntsman International LLC | | |
4.50%, due 5/1/29 | 731,000 | 808,036 |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | | |
1.832%, due 10/15/27 (a) | 990,000 | 971,930 |
Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV | | |
4.00%, due 10/4/27 (Mexico) (a) | 625,000 | 668,131 |
| | 3,237,797 |
Commercial Services 0.6% |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC | | |
6.625%, due 7/15/26 (a) | 650,000 | 681,980 |
Ashtead Capital, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 5/1/28 (United Kingdom) (a) | 380,000 | 397,209 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Commercial Services (continued) |
California Institute of Technology | | |
3.65%, due 9/1/19 | $ 605,000 | $ 703,889 |
Cintas Corp. No. 2 | | |
3.70%, due 4/1/27 | 1,065,000 | 1,165,104 |
Sodexo, Inc. | | |
2.718%, due 4/16/31 (France) (a) | 1,010,000 | 1,030,779 |
| | 3,978,961 |
Computers 0.7% |
Apple, Inc. | | |
2.75%, due 1/13/25 | 715,000 | 746,962 |
Dell International LLC | | |
3.375%, due 12/15/41 (a) | 885,000 | 874,947 |
4.90%, due 10/1/26 | 680,000 | 765,900 |
5.30%, due 10/1/29 | 318,000 | 372,758 |
8.10%, due 7/15/36 | 527,000 | 801,883 |
NCR Corp. | | |
5.00%, due 10/1/28 (a) | 991,000 | 1,020,730 |
| | 4,583,180 |
Diversified Financial Services 1.8% |
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC (Ireland) | | |
2.45%, due 10/29/26 | 665,000 | 670,453 |
3.30%, due 1/23/23 | 730,000 | 745,356 |
4.625%, due 7/1/22 | 415,000 | 423,093 |
Air Lease Corp. | | |
2.30%, due 2/1/25 | 1,215,000 | 1,231,693 |
2.75%, due 1/15/23 | 500,000 | 507,620 |
3.50%, due 1/15/22 | 340,000 | 340,299 |
4.25%, due 9/15/24 | 420,000 | 446,675 |
Aircastle Ltd. | | |
5.25% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 4.41%), due 6/15/26 (a)(b)(e) | 745,000 | 759,900 |
Ally Financial, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 5/21/24 | 310,000 | 326,688 |
8.00%, due 11/1/31 | 1,560,000 | 2,208,288 |
Aviation Capital Group LLC | | |
1.95%, due 1/30/26 (a) | 520,000 | 507,196 |
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd. (Ireland) (a) | | |
2.125%, due 2/21/26 | 645,000 | 633,053 |
2.875%, due 2/15/25 | 1,040,000 | 1,062,370 |
Banco BTG Pactual SA (Brazil) (a) | | |
2.75%, due 1/11/26 | 1,130,000 | 1,072,099 |
4.50%, due 1/10/25 | 350,000 | 353,062 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Diversified Financial Services (continued) |
Capital One Financial Corp. | | |
4.20%, due 10/29/25 | $ 165,000 | $ 179,728 |
OneMain Finance Corp. | | |
3.50%, due 1/15/27 | 375,000 | 370,781 |
3.875%, due 9/15/28 | 455,000 | 445,900 |
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. | | |
4.25%, due 2/15/29 (a) | 545,000 | 523,963 |
| | 12,808,217 |
Electric 1.7% |
Alabama Power Co. | | |
3.00%, due 3/15/52 | 865,000 | 862,807 |
Arizona Public Service Co. | | |
2.20%, due 12/15/31 | 750,000 | 727,834 |
Connecticut Light and Power Co. (The) | | |
4.00%, due 4/1/48 | 450,000 | 538,308 |
Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. | | |
4.30%, due 2/1/49 | 565,000 | 677,974 |
Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc. | | |
3.616%, due 8/1/27 (a) | 865,000 | 914,267 |
Edison International | | |
Series B | | |
5.00% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.901%), due 12/15/26 (b)(e) | 905,000 | 924,729 |
Entergy Louisiana LLC | | |
4.00%, due 3/15/33 | 790,000 | 897,651 |
Evergy, Inc. | | |
5.292%, due 6/15/22 (f) | 500,000 | 504,482 |
Jersey Central Power & Light Co. | | |
2.75%, due 3/1/32 (a) | 700,000 | 709,381 |
Ohio Power Co. | | |
Series R | | |
2.90%, due 10/1/51 | 420,000 | 405,014 |
Public Service Electric and Gas Co. | | |
3.00%, due 5/15/27 | 800,000 | 845,997 |
Puget Energy, Inc. | | |
5.625%, due 7/15/22 | 350,000 | 354,764 |
Southern California Edison Co. | | |
Series E | | |
3.70%, due 8/1/25 | 330,000 | 352,343 |
4.00%, due 4/1/47 | 520,000 | 573,359 |
Southwestern Electric Power Co. | | |
3.25%, due 11/1/51 | 1,475,000 | 1,462,704 |
Virginia Electric and Power Co. | | |
2.95%, due 11/15/51 | 920,000 | 923,344 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Electric (continued) |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. | | |
2.269% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.113%), due 5/15/67 (b) | $ 480,000 | $ 445,800 |
| | 12,120,758 |
Environmental Control 0.2% |
Republic Services, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 5/15/23 | 316,000 | 329,406 |
Stericycle, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 1/15/29 (a) | 120,000 | 118,200 |
Waste Connections, Inc. | | |
2.20%, due 1/15/32 | 460,000 | 450,502 |
Waste Management, Inc. | | |
2.40%, due 5/15/23 | 810,000 | 825,147 |
| | 1,723,255 |
Food 0.9% |
Kraft Heinz Foods Co. | | |
5.00%, due 7/15/35 | 361,000 | 441,626 |
Nestle Holdings, Inc. | | |
1.00%, due 9/15/27 (a) | 1,750,000 | 1,679,150 |
Performance Food Group, Inc. (a) | | |
4.25%, due 8/1/29 | 350,000 | 347,221 |
5.50%, due 10/15/27 | 1,113,000 | 1,161,694 |
Smithfield Foods, Inc. | | |
4.25%, due 2/1/27 (a) | 500,000 | 537,004 |
Sysco Corp. | | |
3.30%, due 2/15/50 | 465,000 | 470,875 |
5.95%, due 4/1/30 | 352,000 | 439,366 |
Tyson Foods, Inc. | | |
3.95%, due 8/15/24 | 965,000 | 1,025,805 |
| | 6,102,741 |
Gas 0.2% |
National Fuel Gas Co. | | |
2.95%, due 3/1/31 | 450,000 | 452,212 |
Southern California Gas Co. | | |
Series VV | | |
4.30%, due 1/15/49 | 325,000 | 403,204 |
Southern Co. Gas Capital Corp. | | |
Series 21A | | |
3.15%, due 9/30/51 | 830,000 | 819,537 |
| | 1,674,953 |
Healthcare-Products 0.1% |
Abbott Laboratories | | |
3.40%, due 11/30/23 | 535,000 | 559,893 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Healthcare-Services 0.1% |
NYU Langone Hospitals | | |
Series 2020 | | |
3.38%, due 7/1/55 | $ 605,000 | $ 620,798 |
Home Builders 0.0% ‡ |
Thor Industries, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 10/15/29 (a) | 385,000 | 381,150 |
Insurance 1.2% |
Athene Global Funding | | |
2.50%, due 3/24/28 (a) | 1,030,000 | 1,035,826 |
Equitable Holdings, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 4/20/48 | 830,000 | 1,036,642 |
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. | | |
4.25%, due 6/15/23 (a) | 295,000 | 308,119 |
MassMutual Global Funding II (a) | | |
2.50%, due 10/17/22 | 1,270,000 | 1,288,691 |
2.95%, due 1/11/25 | 365,000 | 382,390 |
Peachtree Corners Funding Trust | | |
3.976%, due 2/15/25 (a) | 425,000 | 452,668 |
Protective Life Corp. | | |
8.45%, due 10/15/39 | 725,000 | 1,154,206 |
Reliance Standard Life Global Funding II | | |
2.50%, due 10/30/24 (a) | 950,000 | 977,017 |
Voya Financial, Inc. | | |
3.65%, due 6/15/26 | 310,000 | 333,699 |
Willis North America, Inc. | | |
2.95%, due 9/15/29 | 1,395,000 | 1,428,052 |
3.875%, due 9/15/49 | 185,000 | 200,743 |
| | 8,598,053 |
Internet 0.4% |
Cablevision Lightpath LLC | | |
3.875%, due 9/15/27 (a) | 875,000 | 848,750 |
Expedia Group, Inc. | | |
3.25%, due 2/15/30 | 1,305,000 | 1,331,753 |
3.60%, due 12/15/23 | 480,000 | 498,709 |
3.80%, due 2/15/28 | 157,000 | 167,857 |
5.00%, due 2/15/26 | 22,000 | 24,468 |
6.25%, due 5/1/25 (a) | 88,000 | 99,278 |
| | 2,970,815 |
Iron & Steel 0.2% |
Vale Overseas Ltd. (Brazil) | | |
6.25%, due 8/10/26 | 1,070,000 | 1,238,535 |
6.875%, due 11/21/36 | 305,000 | 405,272 |
| | 1,643,807 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Lodging 0.7% |
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc. | | |
4.875%, due 1/15/30 | $ 695,000 | $ 742,781 |
5.75%, due 5/1/28 (a) | 315,000 | 336,552 |
Las Vegas Sands Corp. | | |
3.20%, due 8/8/24 | 555,000 | 565,041 |
Marriott International, Inc. | | |
2.30%, due 1/15/22 | 890,000 | 890,495 |
3.60%, due 4/15/24 | 920,000 | 962,048 |
Series X | | |
4.00%, due 4/15/28 | 685,000 | 739,190 |
Sands China Ltd. | | |
5.125%, due 8/8/25 (Macao) | 460,000 | 482,568 |
| | 4,718,675 |
Machinery-Diversified 0.1% |
CNH Industrial Capital LLC | | |
4.20%, due 1/15/24 | 545,000 | 575,223 |
Media 0.6% |
Comcast Corp. | | |
2.937%, due 11/1/56 (a) | 753,000 | 717,258 |
3.25%, due 11/1/39 | 675,000 | 712,153 |
DISH DBS Corp. | | |
5.75%, due 12/1/28 (a) | 700,000 | 707,000 |
Grupo Televisa SAB | | |
5.25%, due 5/24/49 (Mexico) | 480,000 | 601,617 |
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. | | |
4.125%, due 7/1/30 (a) | 955,000 | 955,000 |
Sky Ltd. | | |
3.75%, due 9/16/24 (United Kingdom) (a) | 340,000 | 362,032 |
Time Warner Entertainment Co. LP | | |
8.375%, due 3/15/23 | 355,000 | 384,942 |
| | 4,440,002 |
Metal Fabricate & Hardware 0.2% |
Precision Castparts Corp. | | |
3.25%, due 6/15/25 | 1,455,000 | 1,542,462 |
Mining 0.2% |
Glencore Funding LLC | | |
1.625%, due 9/1/25 (Australia) (a) | 1,205,000 | 1,192,619 |
Miscellaneous—Manufacturing 0.3% |
Siemens Financieringsmaatschappij NV | | |
2.70%, due 3/16/22 (Germany) (a) | 760,000 | 763,661 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Miscellaneous—Manufacturing (continued) |
Textron Financial Corp. | | |
1.891% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.735%), due 2/15/42 (a)(b) | $ 1,295,000 | $ 1,110,463 |
| | 1,874,124 |
Oil & Gas 0.8% |
Gazprom PJSC Via Gaz Capital SA | | |
7.288%, due 8/16/37 (Russia) (a) | 640,000 | 849,606 |
Marathon Petroleum Corp. | | |
4.70%, due 5/1/25 | 675,000 | 736,372 |
5.125%, due 12/15/26 | 450,000 | 512,124 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | |
3.50%, due 8/15/29 | 935,000 | 960,526 |
4.30%, due 8/15/39 | 230,000 | 229,372 |
Petrobras Global Finance BV | | |
5.50%, due 6/10/51 (Brazil) | 555,000 | 514,763 |
Southwestern Energy Co. | | |
4.75%, due 2/1/32 | 590,000 | 621,332 |
Valero Energy Corp. | | |
3.65%, due 12/1/51 | 690,000 | 685,573 |
6.625%, due 6/15/37 (c) | 415,000 | 559,072 |
| | 5,668,740 |
Packaging & Containers 0.2% |
Berry Global, Inc. | | |
4.875%, due 7/15/26 (a) | 84,000 | 86,891 |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. | | |
6.625%, due 5/13/27 (a) | 1,135,000 | 1,197,425 |
| | 1,284,316 |
Pharmaceuticals 0.9% |
AbbVie, Inc. | | |
3.45%, due 3/15/22 | 1,005,000 | 1,005,919 |
4.05%, due 11/21/39 | 1,125,000 | 1,290,746 |
Becton Dickinson and Co. | | |
4.669%, due 6/6/47 | 635,000 | 800,628 |
CVS Health Corp. | | |
2.70%, due 8/21/40 | 1,255,000 | 1,208,768 |
4.78%, due 3/25/38 | 400,000 | 486,900 |
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV (Israel) | | |
3.15%, due 10/1/26 | 1,285,000 | 1,207,900 |
4.75%, due 5/9/27 | 545,000 | 540,024 |
| | 6,540,885 |
Pipelines 1.0% |
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC | | |
2.742%, due 12/31/39 (a) | 655,000 | 639,015 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Pipelines (continued) |
Energy Transfer LP | | |
4.95%, due 6/15/28 | $ 415,000 | $ 466,833 |
5.35%, due 5/15/45 | 415,000 | 476,602 |
Enterprise Products Operating LLC | | |
3.125%, due 7/31/29 | 630,000 | 668,998 |
3.95%, due 1/31/60 | 595,000 | 642,363 |
4.20%, due 1/31/50 | 160,000 | 179,359 |
Flex Intermediate Holdco LLC | | |
3.363%, due 6/30/31 (a) | 865,000 | 868,285 |
Hess Midstream Operations LP | | |
4.25%, due 2/15/30 (a) | 135,000 | 133,988 |
MPLX LP | | |
2.65%, due 8/15/30 | 730,000 | 726,665 |
Spectra Energy Partners LP | | |
4.75%, due 3/15/24 | 795,000 | 846,899 |
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC | | |
4.60%, due 3/15/48 | 840,000 | 1,015,324 |
Western Midstream Operating LP | | |
6.50%, due 2/1/50 (f) | 350,000 | 413,877 |
| | 7,078,208 |
Real Estate 0.1% |
Realogy Group LLC | | |
5.75%, due 1/15/29 (a) | 560,000 | 574,000 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.3% |
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | | |
3.375%, due 8/15/31 | 825,000 | 888,147 |
American Tower Corp. | | |
3.375%, due 10/15/26 | 705,000 | 749,078 |
3.60%, due 1/15/28 | 375,000 | 403,986 |
Digital Realty Trust LP | | |
3.70%, due 8/15/27 | 1,295,000 | 1,403,347 |
Equinix, Inc. | | |
1.25%, due 7/15/25 | 710,000 | 697,317 |
2.625%, due 11/18/24 | 740,000 | 762,473 |
GLP Capital LP | | |
3.35%, due 9/1/24 | 505,000 | 522,913 |
Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP | | |
2.00%, due 8/15/31 | 680,000 | 640,352 |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | | |
5.25%, due 7/15/30 (a) | 720,000 | 758,752 |
Kilroy Realty LP | | |
3.45%, due 12/15/24 | 720,000 | 753,978 |
Office Properties Income Trust | | |
2.40%, due 2/1/27 | 565,000 | 546,913 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts (continued) |
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 12/31/24 (a) | $ 710,000 | $ 717,640 |
| | 8,844,896 |
Retail 1.1% |
AutoNation, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 6/1/30 | 1,040,000 | 1,187,984 |
Macy's Retail Holdings LLC | | |
5.875%, due 4/1/29 (a)(c) | 645,000 | 687,731 |
McDonald's Corp. | | |
3.35%, due 4/1/23 | 1,085,000 | 1,116,931 |
Nordstrom, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 3/15/27 | 640,000 | 643,200 |
4.25%, due 8/1/31 (c) | 530,000 | 520,728 |
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. | | |
3.55%, due 3/15/26 | 1,000,000 | 1,072,483 |
QVC, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 9/1/28 | 1,120,000 | 1,111,600 |
Starbucks Corp. | | |
4.45%, due 8/15/49 | 475,000 | 584,669 |
Victoria's Secret & Co. | | |
4.625%, due 7/15/29 (a) | 775,000 | 792,437 |
| | 7,717,763 |
Semiconductors 0.1% |
Broadcom, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 2/15/41 (a) | 325,000 | 333,456 |
NXP BV | | |
3.40%, due 5/1/30 (China) (a) | 555,000 | 591,469 |
| | 924,925 |
Software 0.4% |
Fiserv, Inc. | | |
3.20%, due 7/1/26 | 205,000 | 216,751 |
MSCI, Inc. | | |
3.25%, due 8/15/33 (a) | 790,000 | 798,887 |
Oracle Corp. | | |
3.65%, due 3/25/41 | 245,000 | 247,728 |
salesforce.com, Inc. | | |
3.25%, due 4/11/23 | 510,000 | 526,048 |
3.70%, due 4/11/28 | 690,000 | 765,646 |
| | 2,555,060 |
Telecommunications 1.6% |
Altice France SA | | |
5.125%, due 7/15/29 (France) (a) | 865,000 | 843,764 |
AT&T, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 9/15/53 | 795,000 | 802,072 |
4.35%, due 3/1/29 | 320,000 | 359,448 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Telecommunications (continued) |
CommScope, Inc. | | |
7.125%, due 7/1/28 (a) | $ 745,000 | $ 731,962 |
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | | |
3.40%, due 3/1/27 (a) | 1,050,000 | 1,084,073 |
Sprint Spectrum Co. LLC | | |
4.738%, due 3/20/25 (a) | 1,255,312 | 1,313,308 |
T-Mobile US, Inc. | | |
2.625%, due 2/15/29 | 990,000 | 975,150 |
3.50%, due 4/15/31 (a) | 490,000 | 509,786 |
VEON Holdings BV | | |
4.95%, due 6/16/24 (Netherlands) (a) | 1,045,000 | 1,095,129 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | |
1.256% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.10%), due 5/15/25 (b) | 985,000 | 1,003,935 |
3.40%, due 3/22/41 | 330,000 | 345,491 |
4.016%, due 12/3/29 | 830,000 | 930,514 |
Vodafone Group plc | | |
4.25%, due 9/17/50 (United Kingdom) | 800,000 | 923,331 |
| | 10,917,963 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $192,436,476) | | 198,852,552 |
Foreign Government Bonds 1.4% |
Brazil 0.4% |
Brazil Government Bond | | |
3.75%, due 9/12/31 (c) | 965,000 | 907,100 |
4.625%, due 1/13/28 | 1,526,000 | 1,592,778 |
| | 2,499,878 |
Chile 0.4% |
Chile Government Bond | | |
2.55%, due 7/27/33 | 1,080,000 | 1,050,300 |
Corp. Nacional del Cobre de Chile | | |
3.00%, due 9/30/29 (a) | 1,170,000 | 1,182,839 |
Empresa Nacional del Petroleo | | |
3.45%, due 9/16/31 (a) | 980,000 | 933,460 |
| | 3,166,599 |
Colombia 0.1% |
Colombia Government Bond | | |
3.25%, due 4/22/32 | 725,000 | 651,594 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Mexico 0.5% |
Comision Federal de Electricidad | | |
3.875%, due 7/26/33 (a) | $ 1,170,000 | $ 1,147,197 |
Mexico Government Bond | | |
2.659%, due 5/24/31 | 1,612,000 | 1,571,716 |
3.75%, due 4/19/71 | 800,000 | 719,200 |
| | 3,438,113 |
Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $10,127,013) | | 9,756,184 |
Loan Assignments 0.6% |
Containers, Packaging & Glass 0.2% |
Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co. | | |
Initial Term Loan | | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/3/24 (b) | 1,250,537 | 1,232,449 |
Diversified/Conglomerate Service 0.1% |
TruGreen LP (b) | | |
First Lien Second Refinancing Term Loan | | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 11/2/27 | 574,200 | 574,379 |
Second Lien Initial Term Loan | | |
9.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 8.50%), due 11/2/28 | 250,000 | 251,250 |
| | 825,629 |
Finance 0.2% |
Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC | | |
2018 Initial Term Loan | | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 5/9/25 (b) | 1,245,950 | 1,232,711 |
Telecommunications 0.1% |
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | | |
Tranche 2027 Term Loan B | | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 3/1/27 (b) | 718,508 | 708,270 |
Total Loan Assignments (Cost $4,008,517) | | 3,999,059 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities 7.9% |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 2.3% |
FHLMC | | |
REMIC, Series 5073, Class DG | | |
1.50%, due 8/25/38 | $ 859,507 | $ 864,023 |
REMIC, Series 4993, Class D | | |
2.00%, due 9/25/47 | 925,000 | 931,480 |
REMIC, Series 5049, Class UI | | |
3.00%, due 12/25/50 (g) | 2,181,685 | 351,679 |
REMIC, Series 4888, Class BA | | |
3.50%, due 9/15/48 | 198,151 | 202,598 |
REMIC, Series 4877, Class AT | | |
3.50%, due 11/15/48 | 333,163 | 348,597 |
REMIC, Series 4877, Class BE | | |
3.50%, due 11/15/48 | 463,560 | 480,281 |
FHLMC, STRIPS | | |
REMIC, Series 358, Class PO | | |
(zero coupon), due 10/15/47 | 1,812,796 | 1,705,268 |
FNMA | | |
REMIC, Series 2021-33, Class AI | | |
2.50%, due 5/25/47 (g) | 2,687,091 | 321,411 |
REMIC, Series 2021-34, Class MI | | |
2.50%, due 3/25/51 (g) | 1,764,365 | 239,656 |
REMIC, Series 2013-77, Class CY | | |
3.00%, due 7/25/43 | 648,656 | 670,895 |
REMIC, Series 2021-53, Class GI | | |
3.00%, due 7/25/48 (g) | 2,365,606 | 366,637 |
REMIC, Series 2019-13, Class PE | | |
3.00%, due 3/25/49 | 412,799 | 430,742 |
REMIC, Series 2019-13, Class CA | | |
3.50%, due 4/25/49 | 739,510 | 791,659 |
REMIC, Series 2021-12, Class GC | | |
3.50%, due 7/25/50 | 869,940 | 923,082 |
REMIC, Series 2020-10, Class DA | | |
3.50%, due 3/25/60 | 843,400 | 899,799 |
FREMF Mortgage Trust | | |
REMIC, Series 2017-K63, Class C | | |
3.873%, due 2/25/50 (a)(h) | 842,000 | 885,687 |
GNMA | | |
REMIC, Series 2021-78, Class LA | | |
1.00%, due 5/20/51 | — | — |
REMIC, Series 2021-105, Class DB | | |
1.00%, due 6/20/51 | $ 903,974 | 859,311 |
REMIC, Series 2021-15, Class AI | | |
2.00%, due 1/20/51 (g) | 2,126,128 | 186,923 |
REMIC, Series 2020-188, Class DI | | |
2.50%, due 12/20/50 (g) | 2,903,024 | 384,392 |
REMIC, Series 2021-25, Class LI | | |
2.50%, due 2/20/51 (g) | 2,648,190 | 303,117 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
GNMA (continued) | | |
REMIC, Series 2021-30, Class WI | | |
2.50%, due 2/20/51 (g) | $ 3,093,834 | $ 419,330 |
REMIC, Series 2021-44, Class IQ | | |
3.00%, due 3/20/51 (g) | 2,693,745 | 347,758 |
REMIC, Series 2021-74, Class HI | | |
3.00%, due 4/20/51 (g) | 2,763,707 | 368,775 |
REMIC, Series 2021-98, Class KI | | |
3.00%, due 6/20/51 (g) | 1,882,760 | 293,044 |
REMIC, Series 2021-136, Class TI | | |
3.00%, due 8/20/51 (g) | 2,517,289 | 288,570 |
REMIC, Series 2021-139, Class IA | | |
3.00%, due 8/20/51 (g) | 2,374,790 | 317,639 |
REMIC, Series 2021-158, Class NI | | |
3.00%, due 9/20/51 (g) | 2,890,234 | 392,357 |
REMIC, Series 2013-149, Class BA | | |
3.25%, due 8/16/41 | 1,565,391 | 1,625,589 |
| | 16,200,299 |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 3.1% |
Arbor Multifamily Mortgage Securities Trust (a) | | |
Series 2021-MF2, Class AS | | |
2.70%, due 6/15/54 (i) | 750,000 | 765,212 |
Series 2021-MF3, Class AS | | |
2.748%, due 10/15/54 | 930,000 | 950,904 |
Bayview Commercial Asset Trust | | |
Series 2006-4A, Class A1 | | |
0.447% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.345%), due 12/25/36 (a)(b) | 30,835 | 29,921 |
Benchmark Mortgage Trust | | |
Series 2020-B19, Class A2 | | |
1.691%, due 9/15/53 | 935,000 | 931,842 |
BX Commercial Mortgage Trust (a) | | |
Series 2021-VOLT, Class C | | |
1.21% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.10%), due 9/15/36 (b) | 970,000 | 963,985 |
Series 2021-ACNT, Class D | | |
1.96% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.85%), due 11/15/26 (b) | 1,075,000 | 1,068,985 |
Series 2021-VOLT, Class E | | |
2.11% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 9/15/36 (b) | 770,000 | 763,201 |
Series 2020-VIV2, Class C | | |
3.542%, due 3/9/44 (h) | 1,065,000 | 1,078,881 |
Series 2020-VIV3, Class B | | |
3.544%, due 3/9/44 (h) | 675,059 | 698,478 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
BX Trust (a) | | |
Series 2021-LBA, Class AV | | |
0.91% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.80%), due 2/15/36 (b) | $ 820,000 | $ 816,865 |
Series 2021-ARIA, Class E | | |
2.355% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.245%), due 10/15/36 (b) | 1,400,000 | 1,392,138 |
Series 2019-OC11, Class A | | |
3.202%, due 12/9/41 | 580,000 | 610,487 |
Series 2019-OC11, Class C | | |
3.856%, due 12/9/41 | 205,000 | 210,729 |
BXHPP Trust (a)(b) | | |
Series 2021-FILM, Class A | | |
0.76% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.65%), due 8/15/36 | 255,000 | 253,660 |
Series 2021-FILM, Class B | | |
1.01% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 8/15/36 | 535,000 | 528,986 |
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust | | |
Series 2015-P1, Class A5 | | |
3.717%, due 9/15/48 | 808,000 | 862,257 |
CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust | | |
Series 2015-C3, Class A4 | | |
3.718%, due 8/15/48 | 845,000 | 898,359 |
Extended Stay America Trust | | |
Series 2021-ESH, Class C | | |
1.81% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.70%), due 7/15/38 (a)(b) | 969,954 | 969,953 |
FREMF Mortgage Trust (a)(h) | | |
REMIC, Series 2019-K98, Class C | | |
3.737%, due 10/25/52 | 335,000 | 351,886 |
REMIC, Series 2018-K86, Class C | | |
4.294%, due 11/25/51 | 315,000 | 342,566 |
Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust | | |
Series 2019-30HY, Class A | | |
3.228%, due 7/10/39 (a) | 665,000 | 708,752 |
Manhattan West Mortgage Trust | | |
Series 2020-1MW, Class A | | |
2.13%, due 9/10/39 (a) | 1,120,000 | 1,116,147 |
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust | | |
Series 2015-C23, Class A3 | | |
3.451%, due 7/15/50 | 471,777 | 490,450 |
Series 2016-C28, Class A4 | | |
3.544%, due 1/15/49 | 200,000 | 212,461 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust | | |
Series 2015-UBS8, Class A4 | | |
3.809%, due 12/15/48 | $ 780,000 | $ 834,817 |
One Bryant Park Trust | | |
Series 2019-OBP, Class A | | |
2.516%, due 9/15/54 (a) | 1,655,000 | 1,674,819 |
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust (a)(h) | | |
Series 2018-1745, Class A | | |
3.749%, due 6/15/36 | 940,000 | 1,018,522 |
Series 2018-AUS, Class A | | |
4.058%, due 8/17/36 | 1,200,000 | 1,313,666 |
| | 21,858,929 |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 2.5% |
FHLMC STACR REMIC Trust (a)(b) | | |
Series 2020-DNA6, Class M2 | | |
2.05% (SOFR 30A + 2.00%), due 12/25/50 | 1,310,000 | 1,316,967 |
Series 2021-DNA5, Class B1 | | |
3.10% (SOFR 30A + 3.05%), due 1/25/34 | 1,505,000 | 1,511,633 |
FHLMC STACR Trust (a)(b) | | |
Series 2018-DNA2, Class M2 | | |
2.253% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.15%), due 12/25/30 | 1,535,000 | 1,553,660 |
Series 2018-DNA2, Class B1 | | |
3.803% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.70%), due 12/25/30 | 725,000 | 750,403 |
Series 2019-DNA2, Class B1 | | |
4.453% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.35%), due 3/25/49 | 700,000 | 721,035 |
FHLMC Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes (b) | | |
Series 2015-DNA3, Class M3 | | |
4.803% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.70%), due 4/25/28 | 799,016 | 823,558 |
Series 2016-DNA1, Class M3 | | |
5.653% (1 Month LIBOR + 5.55%), due 7/25/28 | 440,268 | 458,471 |
FNMA | | |
Series 2017-C01, Class 1M2 | | |
3.653% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.55%), due 7/25/29 (b) | 1,243,139 | 1,272,969 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Corp. Trust (a)(i) | | |
Series 2021-PJ5, Class A8 | | |
2.50%, due 10/25/51 | $ 513,781 | $ 519,088 |
Series 2021-PJ7, Class A2 | | |
2.50%, due 1/25/52 | 1,827,396 | 1,826,137 |
J.P. Morgan Mortgage Trust (a)(i) | | |
Series 2021-7, Class A3 | | |
2.50%, due 11/25/51 | 343,168 | 341,978 |
Series 2021-7, Class A4 | | |
2.50%, due 11/25/51 | 654,898 | 661,269 |
Series 2021-LTV2, Class A1 | | |
2.519%, due 5/25/52 | 900,000 | 900,526 |
Mello Mortgage Capital Acceptance | | |
Series 2021-MTG2, Class A1 | | |
2.50%, due 6/25/51 (a)(i) | 922,383 | 920,617 |
Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust | | |
Series 2021-2, Class A | | |
0.852% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.75%), due 4/25/55 (a)(b) | 525,000 | 523,235 |
New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust (a) | | |
Series 2019-5A, Class B7 | | |
4.434%, due 8/25/59 (h) | 1,288,039 | 964,003 |
Series 2019-2A, Class B6 | | |
4.942%, due 12/25/57 (i) | 460,657 | 367,822 |
NewRez Warehouse Securitization Trust | | |
Series 2021-1, Class A | | |
0.852% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.75%), due 5/25/55 (a)(b) | 635,000 | 633,523 |
Seasoned Loans Structured Transaction | | |
Series 2019-1, Class A1 | | |
3.50%, due 5/25/29 | 424,954 | 441,731 |
STACR Trust | | |
Series 2018-HRP2, Class B1 | | |
4.303% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.20%), due 2/25/47 (a)(b) | 800,000 | 848,296 |
| | 17,356,921 |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $55,681,102) | | 55,416,149 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Municipal Bond 0.2% |
California 0.2% |
Regents of the University of California Medical Center, Pooled, Revenue Bonds | | |
Series N | | |
3.006%, due 5/15/50 | $ 1,115,000 | $ 1,149,390 |
Total Municipal Bond (Cost $1,115,000) | | 1,149,390 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies 5.3% |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 0.4% |
FHLMC Gold Pools, 30 Year | | |
3.50%, due 1/1/48 | 691,565 | 737,969 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.00%, due 8/1/50 | 773,146 | 771,451 |
2.00%, due 11/1/50 | 231,783 | 231,274 |
2.50%, due 10/1/51 | 249,330 | 254,857 |
3.50%, due 7/1/50 | 509,561 | 537,432 |
| | 2,532,983 |
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 1.1% |
FNMA, Other | | |
3.50%, due 2/1/42 | 878,138 | 942,639 |
6.00%, due 4/1/37 | 6,430 | 7,104 |
UMBS, 20 Year | | |
2.50%, due 5/1/41 | 469,615 | 484,858 |
UMBS, 30 Year | | |
2.00%, due 10/1/50 | 159,121 | 159,468 |
2.00%, due 12/1/50 | 249,505 | 248,958 |
2.00%, due 11/1/51 | 1,147,888 | 1,146,590 |
2.50%, due 8/1/50 | 74,653 | 76,468 |
2.50%, due 10/1/50 | 498,714 | 509,332 |
2.50%, due 11/1/50 | 472,740 | 488,408 |
2.50%, due 1/1/51 | 449,541 | 460,308 |
2.50%, due 8/1/51 | 727,593 | 744,924 |
3.00%, due 6/1/51 | 396,240 | 412,807 |
3.00%, due 11/1/51 | 797,802 | 831,955 |
4.00%, due 8/1/48 | 931,258 | 992,376 |
4.00%, due 2/1/49 | 157,531 | 168,948 |
| | 7,675,143 |
United States Treasury Bonds 0.9% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | |
1.875%, due 11/15/51 | 70,000 | 69,442 |
2.00%, due 11/15/41 | 785,000 | 793,954 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (continued) |
United States Treasury Bonds (continued) |
U.S. Treasury Bonds (continued) | | |
4.375%, due 11/15/39 | $ 2,382,000 | $ 3,319,820 |
4.375%, due 5/15/40 | 1,605,000 | 2,246,561 |
| | 6,429,777 |
United States Treasury Inflation - Indexed Notes 0.7% |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Notes (j) | | |
0.125%, due 1/15/30 | 1,639,436 | 1,819,494 |
0.125%, due 7/15/30 | 1,014,053 | 1,134,467 |
0.875%, due 1/15/29 | 1,571,885 | 1,817,604 |
| | 4,771,565 |
United States Treasury Notes 2.2% |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | |
0.375%, due 10/31/23 | 7,430,000 | 7,386,175 |
0.625%, due 10/15/24 | 1,645,000 | 1,631,634 |
1.125%, due 10/31/26 | 4,320,000 | 4,291,312 |
1.375%, due 11/15/31 | 2,335,000 | 2,305,448 |
| | 15,614,569 |
Total U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (Cost $36,400,415) | | 37,024,037 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $333,400,815) | | 339,925,764 |
|
| Shares | |
Common Stocks 45.2% |
Aerospace & Defense 1.1% |
BAE Systems plc (United Kingdom) | 311,291 | 2,316,571 |
Lockheed Martin Corp. | 6,339 | 2,252,944 |
Raytheon Technologies Corp. | 34,111 | 2,935,593 |
| | 7,505,108 |
Air Freight & Logistics 1.0% |
Deutsche Post AG (Registered) (Germany) | 57,058 | 3,672,641 |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 14,566 | 3,122,076 |
| | 6,794,717 |
Auto Components 0.2% |
Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA (France) | 10,474 | 1,718,938 |
Automobiles 0.4% |
Toyota Motor Corp. (Japan) | 133,300 | 2,460,701 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Banks 2.4% |
Bank of America Corp. | 68,846 | $ 3,062,958 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 25,749 | 4,077,354 |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | 11,409 | 2,287,733 |
Royal Bank of Canada (Canada) | 45,024 | 4,778,428 |
Truist Financial Corp. | 38,050 | 2,227,827 |
| | 16,434,300 |
Beverages 1.2% |
Coca-Cola Co. (The) | 47,125 | 2,790,271 |
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc (United Kingdom) | 65,570 | 3,667,330 |
PepsiCo, Inc. | 9,836 | 1,708,612 |
| | 8,166,213 |
Biotechnology 0.9% |
AbbVie, Inc. | 29,828 | 4,038,711 |
Amgen, Inc. | 9,006 | 2,026,080 |
| | 6,064,791 |
Capital Markets 0.3% |
Lazard Ltd., Class A | 56,134 | 2,449,126 |
Chemicals 2.3% |
BASF SE (Germany) | 33,766 | 2,374,948 |
Dow, Inc. | 39,000 | 2,212,080 |
Linde plc (United Kingdom) | 11,231 | 3,890,755 |
LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A | 22,232 | 2,050,457 |
Nutrien Ltd. (Canada) | 77,944 | 5,861,389 |
| | 16,389,629 |
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.0% ‡ |
Quad/Graphics, Inc. (c)(k) | 6 | 24 |
Communications Equipment 1.0% |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 109,771 | 6,956,188 |
Consumer Finance 0.5% |
Ally Financial, Inc. | 79,983 | 3,807,991 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.6% |
Deutsche Telekom AG (Registered) (Germany) | 211,901 | 3,938,211 |
Orange SA (France) | 165,794 | 1,776,765 |
Telenor ASA (Norway) | 130,906 | 2,059,820 |
TELUS Corp. (Canada) | 73,047 | 1,720,281 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 33,220 | 1,726,111 |
| | 11,221,188 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Electric Utilities 1.8% |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | 33,661 | $ 2,994,819 |
Duke Energy Corp. | 15,195 | 1,593,956 |
Entergy Corp. | 17,190 | 1,936,453 |
Evergy, Inc. | 24,716 | 1,695,765 |
Fortis, Inc. (Canada) | 33,877 | 1,634,462 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 32,338 | 3,019,076 |
| | 12,874,531 |
Electrical Equipment 1.5% |
Eaton Corp. plc | 13,306 | 2,299,543 |
Emerson Electric Co. | 60,596 | 5,633,610 |
Hubbell, Inc. | 11,231 | 2,339,080 |
| | 10,272,233 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.3% |
American Tower Corp. | 6,435 | 1,882,237 |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | 33,702 | 1,763,626 |
Realty Income Corp. | 24,418 | 1,748,085 |
Welltower, Inc. | 21,092 | 1,809,061 |
WP Carey, Inc. | 23,078 | 1,893,550 |
| | 9,096,559 |
Food & Staples Retailing 0.4% |
Walmart, Inc. | 20,898 | 3,023,732 |
Food Products 0.8% |
Danone SA (France) | 27,795 | 1,727,479 |
Nestle SA (Registered) (Switzerland) | 16,159 | 2,258,896 |
Orkla ASA (Norway) | 186,551 | 1,870,440 |
| | 5,856,815 |
Gas Utilities 0.5% |
China Resources Gas Group Ltd. (China) | 302,000 | 1,706,062 |
Snam SpA (Italy) | 273,356 | 1,642,996 |
| | 3,349,058 |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.7% |
Medtronic plc | 44,908 | 4,645,733 |
Health Care Providers & Services 0.4% |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 5,046 | 2,533,798 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.2% |
McDonald's Corp. | 8,369 | 2,243,478 |
Restaurant Brands International, Inc. (Canada) | 71,896 | 4,362,649 |
| Shares | Value |
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (continued) |
Vail Resorts, Inc. | 6,431 | $ 2,108,725 |
| | 8,714,852 |
Household Durables 0.3% |
Leggett & Platt, Inc. | 43,351 | 1,784,327 |
Household Products 0.3% |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | 11,370 | 1,859,905 |
Industrial Conglomerates 0.8% |
Honeywell International, Inc. | 14,340 | 2,990,033 |
Siemens AG (Registered) (Germany) | 14,698 | 2,554,846 |
| | 5,544,879 |
Insurance 3.4% |
Allianz SE (Registered) (Germany) | 12,485 | 2,951,697 |
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | 17,773 | 3,015,545 |
Assicurazioni Generali SpA (Italy) | 80,367 | 1,696,189 |
AXA SA (France) | 68,372 | 2,038,280 |
Great-West Lifeco, Inc. (Canada) | 55,670 | 1,670,606 |
Manulife Financial Corp. (Canada) | 88,787 | 1,692,284 |
MetLife, Inc. | 45,464 | 2,841,045 |
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG (Registered) (Germany) | 7,756 | 2,300,938 |
Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. (Japan) | 44,200 | 2,456,334 |
Travelers Cos., Inc. (The) | 19,587 | 3,063,995 |
| | 23,726,913 |
IT Services 0.8% |
International Business Machines Corp. | 44,077 | 5,891,332 |
Leisure Products 0.6% |
Hasbro, Inc. | 37,855 | 3,852,882 |
Machinery 0.4% |
Cummins, Inc. | 13,173 | 2,873,558 |
Media 0.7% |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 62,886 | 3,165,052 |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | 25,619 | 1,877,104 |
| | 5,042,156 |
Multiline Retail 0.4% |
Target Corp. | 12,813 | 2,965,441 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | Value |
Common Stocks (continued) |
Multi-Utilities 1.1% |
Ameren Corp. | 18,666 | $ 1,661,461 |
National Grid plc (United Kingdom) | 123,447 | 1,770,838 |
NiSource, Inc. | 85,952 | 2,373,135 |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 16,907 | 1,641,162 |
| | 7,446,596 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.8% |
Chevron Corp. | 18,151 | 2,130,020 |
Enbridge, Inc. (Canada) | 44,726 | 1,747,034 |
Enterprise Products Partners LP | 121,672 | 2,671,917 |
Magellan Midstream Partners LP | 36,986 | 1,717,630 |
TotalEnergies SE (France) | 86,170 | 4,378,406 |
| | 12,645,007 |
Personal Products 0.2% |
Unilever plc (United Kingdom) | 31,262 | 1,669,526 |
Pharmaceuticals 3.7% |
AstraZeneca plc, Sponsored ADR (United Kingdom) | 97,226 | 5,663,414 |
Bayer AG (Registered) (Germany) | 30,665 | 1,641,635 |
Eli Lilly and Co. | 12,072 | 3,334,528 |
GlaxoSmithKline plc (United Kingdom) | 80,079 | 1,741,409 |
Johnson & Johnson | 11,528 | 1,972,095 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 37,073 | 2,841,275 |
Novartis AG (Registered) (Switzerland) | 27,926 | 2,452,358 |
Pfizer, Inc. | 30,259 | 1,786,794 |
Roche Holding AG (Switzerland) | 4,126 | 1,710,373 |
Sanofi (France) | 28,001 | 2,823,854 |
| | 25,967,735 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 4.3% |
Analog Devices, Inc. | 36,708 | 6,452,165 |
Broadcom, Inc. | 11,894 | 7,914,387 |
Intel Corp. | 50,727 | 2,612,440 |
KLA Corp. | 12,690 | 5,458,096 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Sponsored ADR (Taiwan) | 36,399 | 4,379,164 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 17,385 | 3,276,551 |
| | 30,092,803 |
Software 1.1% |
Microsoft Corp. | 22,419 | 7,539,958 |
Specialty Retail 0.6% |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 6,033 | 2,503,755 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Specialty Retail (continued) |
Industria de Diseno Textil SA (Spain) | 61,077 | | $ 1,979,409 |
| | | 4,483,164 |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 1.6% |
Apple, Inc. | 43,297 | | 7,688,248 |
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., GDR (Republic of Korea) | 1,918 | | 3,162,782 |
| | | 10,851,030 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.2% |
Hanesbrands, Inc. | 101,798 | | 1,702,063 |
Tobacco 1.0% |
Altria Group, Inc. | 42,960 | | 2,035,874 |
British American Tobacco plc (United Kingdom) | 62,252 | | 2,303,280 |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | 26,319 | | 2,500,305 |
| | | 6,839,459 |
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.4% |
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A | 32,661 | | 2,745,484 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $267,200,363) | | | 315,860,443 |
Short-Term Investments 4.4% |
Affiliated Investment Company 4.1% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (l) | 28,679,003 | | 28,679,003 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 0.3% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, 0.025% (l)(m) | 1,000,000 | | 1,000,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (l)(m) | 1,333,357 | | 1,333,357 |
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies (Cost $2,333,357) | | | 2,333,357 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $31,012,360) | | | 31,012,360 |
Total Investments (Cost $631,613,538) | 98.2% | | 686,798,567 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.8 | | 12,257,222 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 699,055,789 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(b) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(c) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $2,779,327; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $2,866,534. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $533,177. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $2,333,357. (See Note 2(L)) |
(d) | Fixed to floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(e) | Security is perpetual and, thus, does not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date. |
(f) | Step coupon—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(g) | Collateralized Mortgage Obligation Interest Only Strip—Pays a fixed or variable rate of interest based on mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. The principal amount of the underlying pool represents the notional amount on which the current interest was calculated. The value of these stripped securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates and are typically more sensitive to changes in prepayment rates than traditional mortgage-backed securities. |
(h) | Collateral strip rate—A bond whose interest was based on the weighted net interest rate of the collateral. The coupon rate adjusts periodically based on a predetermined schedule. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(i) | Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(j) | Treasury Inflation Protected Security—Pays a fixed rate of interest on a principal amount that is continuously adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index-Urban Consumers. |
(k) | Non-income producing security. |
(l) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(m) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following foreign currency forward contracts1:
Currency Purchased | Currency Sold | Counterparty | Settlement Date | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
AUD | 9,875,000 | USD | 7,422,712 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 2/1/22 | $ (237,504) |
EUR | 19,212,000 | USD | 22,444,496 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 2/1/22 | (558,973) |
GBP | 13,801,000 | USD | 19,076,860 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 2/1/22 | (397,788) |
JPY | 2,168,758,000 | USD | 19,011,535 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 2/1/22 | (153,421) |
USD | 19,957,426 | EUR | 17,604,000 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 2/1/22 | (96,329) |
Total Unrealized Depreciation | $ (1,444,015) |
1. | Foreign Currency Forward Contracts are subject to limitations such that they cannot be “sold or repurchased,” although the Portfolio would be able to exit the transaction through other means, such as through the execution of an offsetting transaction. |
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts1:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
E-mini Industrial Equity Index | 261 | March 2022 | $ 27,306,642 | $ 27,770,400 | $ 463,758 |
Euro STOXX 50 Index | 472 | March 2022 | 22,571,161 | 23,039,825 | 468,664 |
FTSE 100 Index | 73 | March 2022 | 7,107,623 | 7,236,782 | 129,159 |
Russell 2000 E-Mini Index | 182 | March 2022 | 20,105,491 | 20,409,480 | 303,989 |
S&P 500 E-Mini Index | 149 | March 2022 | 35,040,290 | 35,450,825 | 410,535 |
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Notes | 204 | March 2022 | 44,549,132 | 44,507,063 | (42,069) |
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Notes | 189 | March 2022 | 22,940,299 | 22,864,570 | (75,729) |
U.S. Treasury Long Bonds | 52 | March 2022 | 8,309,331 | 8,342,750 | 33,419 |
U.S. Treasury Ultra Bonds | 162 | March 2022 | 31,615,696 | 31,934,250 | 318,554 |
XAF Financial Index | 177 | March 2022 | 21,189,670 | 21,262,125 | 72,455 |
Yen Denominated Nikkei 225 Index | 192 | March 2022 | 23,137,950 | 24,056,333 | 918,383 |
Total Long Contracts | | | | | 3,001,118 |
Short Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Notes | (72) | March 2022 | (9,319,805) | (9,393,750) | (73,945) |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Ultra Bonds | (128) | March 2022 | (18,521,165) | (18,744,000) | (222,835) |
Total Short Contracts | | | | | (296,780) |
Net Unrealized Appreciation | | | | | $ 2,704,338 |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $11,156,520 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions. |
2. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ADR—American Depositary Receipt |
AUD—Australia Dollar |
EUR—Euro |
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. |
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association |
FREMF—Freddie Mac Multifamily |
FTSE—Financial Times Stock Exchange |
GBP—British Pound Sterling |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
GDR—Global Depositary Receipt |
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association |
JPY—Japanese Yen |
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
REMIC—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit |
SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
UMBS—Uniform Mortgage Backed Securities |
USD—United States Dollar |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | $ — | | $ 33,728,393 | | $ — | | $ 33,728,393 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 198,852,552 | | — | | 198,852,552 |
Foreign Government Bonds | — | | 9,756,184 | | — | | 9,756,184 |
Loan Assignments | — | | 3,999,059 | | — | | 3,999,059 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | | 55,416,149 | | — | | 55,416,149 |
Municipal Bond | — | | 1,149,390 | | — | | 1,149,390 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies | — | | 37,024,037 | | — | | 37,024,037 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 339,925,764 | | — | | 339,925,764 |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | |
Air Freight & Logistics | 3,122,076 | | 3,672,641 | | — | | 6,794,717 |
Automobiles | — | | 2,460,701 | | — | | 2,460,701 |
Chemicals | 14,014,681 | | 2,374,948 | | — | | 16,389,629 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 5,223,157 | | 5,998,031 | | — | | 11,221,188 |
Food Products | 1,727,479 | | 4,129,336 | | — | | 5,856,815 |
Gas Utilities | 1,706,062 | | 1,642,996 | | — | | 3,349,058 |
Industrial Conglomerates | 2,990,033 | | 2,554,846 | | — | | 5,544,879 |
Insurance | 14,321,755 | | 9,405,158 | | — | | 23,726,913 |
Pharmaceuticals | 20,163,369 | | 5,804,366 | | — | | 25,967,735 |
Specialty Retail | 2,503,755 | | 1,979,409 | | — | | 4,483,164 |
All Other Industries | 210,065,644 | | — | | — | | 210,065,644 |
Total Common Stocks | 275,838,011 | | 40,022,432 | | — | | 315,860,443 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 28,679,003 | | — | | — | | 28,679,003 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 2,333,357 | | — | | — | | 2,333,357 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 31,012,360 | | — | | — | | 31,012,360 |
Total Investments in Securities | 306,850,371 | | 379,948,196 | | — | | 686,798,567 |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | 3,118,916 | | — | | — | | 3,118,916 |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ 309,969,287 | | $ 379,948,196 | | $ — | | $ 689,917,483 |
Liability Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts (b) | $ — | | $ (1,444,015) | | $ — | | $ (1,444,015) |
Futures Contracts (b) | (414,578) | | — | | — | | (414,578) |
Total Other Financial Instruments | $ (414,578) | | $ (1,444,015) | | $ — | | $ (1,858,593) |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
30 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $602,934,535) including securities on loan of $2,779,327 | $658,119,564 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $28,679,003) | 28,679,003 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies (identified cost $1,315,694) | 1,324,600 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 11,156,520 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends and interest | 3,330,082 |
Investment securities sold | 2,916,799 |
Portfolio shares sold | 218,184 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 186,456 |
Securities lending | 2,177 |
Other assets | 31,242 |
Total assets | 705,964,627 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 2,333,357 |
Due to custodian | 4,129 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 2,085,062 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 504,294 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 333,210 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 104,700 |
Professional fees | 48,091 |
Shareholder communication | 34,923 |
Custodian | 16,120 |
Trustees | 937 |
Unrealized depreciation on foreign currency forward contracts | 1,444,015 |
Total liabilities | 6,908,838 |
Net assets | $699,055,789 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 38,612 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 593,294,759 |
| 593,333,371 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 105,722,418 |
Net assets | $699,055,789 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $198,243,398 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 10,877,228 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 18.23 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $500,812,391 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 27,734,521 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 18.06 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
31
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest (net of foreign tax withholding of $2,070) | $10,379,343 |
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $577,998) | 9,552,623 |
Securities lending | 50,367 |
Dividends-affiliated | 2,229 |
Total income | 19,984,562 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 3,899,264 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 1,218,900 |
Professional fees | 113,498 |
Custodian | 63,530 |
Shareholder communication | 45,940 |
Trustees | 14,510 |
Miscellaneous | 36,539 |
Total expenses | 5,392,181 |
Net investment income (loss) | 14,592,381 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 36,198,648 |
Futures transactions | 23,134,809 |
Foreign currency transactions | 11,209 |
Foreign currency forward transactions | (2,690,923) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 56,653,743 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (1,484,020) |
Futures contracts | 214,818 |
Foreign currency forward contracts | (2,325,666) |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (748,513) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (4,343,381) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 52,310,362 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $66,902,743 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
32 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 14,592,381 | $ 14,317,119 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 56,653,743 | 13,600,217 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (4,343,381) | 19,536,923 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 66,902,743 | 47,454,259 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (10,040,167) | (11,330,042) |
Service Class | (24,035,185) | (26,508,706) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (34,075,352) | (37,838,748) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 67,772,446 | 88,346,012 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 34,075,352 | 37,838,748 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (100,759,606) | (97,426,876) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 1,088,192 | 28,757,884 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 33,915,583 | 38,373,395 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 665,140,206 | 626,766,811 |
End of year | $ 699,055,789 | $665,140,206 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
33
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 17.37 | | $ 17.14 | | $ 15.23 | | $ 17.29 | | $ 15.94 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.42 | | 0.41 | | 0.49 | | 0.53 | | 0.49 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.37 | | 0.87 | | 2.22 | | (1.38) | | 1.48 |
Total from investment operations | 1.79 | | 1.28 | | 2.71 | | (0.85) | | 1.97 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.39) | | (0.42) | | (0.68) | | (0.46) | | (0.54) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.54) | | (0.63) | | (0.12) | | (0.75) | | (0.08) |
Total distributions | (0.93) | | (1.05) | | (0.80) | | (1.21) | | (0.62) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 18.23 | | $ 17.37 | | $ 17.14 | | $ 15.23 | | $ 17.29 |
Total investment return (b) | 10.52% | | 7.98% | | 18.07% | | (5.21)% | | 12.53% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.31% | | 2.50% | | 3.00% | | 3.18% | | 2.91% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.61% | | 0.62% | | 0.63% | | 0.62% | | 0.62% |
Interest expense and fees | —% | | —% | | —% | | 0.00%(d) | | 0.01% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 67%(e) | | 68%(e) | | 59%(e) | | 50%(e) | | 26% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 198,243 | | $ 192,022 | | $ 193,252 | | $ 178,608 | | $ 207,056 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | Less than 0.01%. |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rates not including mortgage dollar rolls were 67%, 67%, 52% and 39% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 17.22 | | $ 16.99 | | $ 15.11 | | $ 17.17 | | $ 15.83 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.37 | | 0.37 | | 0.45 | | 0.48 | | 0.44 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.36 | | 0.86 | | 2.19 | | (1.37) | | 1.48 |
Total from investment operations | 1.73 | | 1.23 | | 2.64 | | (0.89) | | 1.92 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.35) | | (0.37) | | (0.64) | | (0.42) | | (0.50) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.54) | | (0.63) | | (0.12) | | (0.75) | | (0.08) |
Total distributions | (0.89) | | (1.00) | | (0.76) | | (1.17) | | (0.58) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 18.06 | | $ 17.22 | | $ 16.99 | | $ 15.11 | | $ 17.17 |
Total investment return (b) | 10.24% | | 7.71% | | 17.78% | | (5.45)% | | 12.25% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.06% | | 2.25% | | 2.74% | | 2.93% | | 2.65% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.86% | | 0.87% | | 0.88% | | 0.87% | | 0.87% |
Interest expense and fees | —% | | —% | | —% | | 0.00%(d) | | 0.01% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 67%(e) | | 68%(e) | | 59%(e) | | 50%(e) | | 26% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 500,812 | | $ 473,118 | | $ 433,515 | | $ 360,874 | | $ 425,340 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | Less than 0.01%. |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rates not including mortgage dollar rolls were 67%, 67%, 52% and 39% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
34 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | January 29, 1993 |
Service Class | June 4, 2003 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek current income consistent with reasonable opportunity for future growth of capital and income.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisors (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisors or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or
liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisors, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Certain securities held by the Portfolio may principally trade in foreign markets. Events may occur between the time the foreign markets close and the time at which the Portfolio's NAVs are calculated. These events may include, but are not limited to, situations relating to a single issuer in a market sector, significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets, natural disasters, armed conflicts, governmental actions or other developments not tied directly to the securities markets. Should the Manager or the Subadvisors conclude that such events may have affected the accuracy of the last price of such securities reported on the local foreign market, the Subcommittee may, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, adjust the value of the local price to reflect the estimated impact on the price of such securities as a result of such events. In this instance, securities are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Additionally, certain foreign equity securities are also fair valued whenever the movement of a particular index exceeds certain thresholds. In such cases, the securities are fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No foreign equity securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021 were fair valued in such a manner.
If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using
36 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Securities that were fair valued in such a manner as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisors. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisors, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at their fair market values measured on the basis of the mean between the last current bid and ask prices based on dealer or exchange quotations and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Loan assignments, participations and commitments are valued at the average of bid quotations obtained from the engaged independent pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Certain loan assignments, participations and commitments may be valued by utilizing significant unobservable inputs obtained from the pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The Portfolio may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Portfolio's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income, if any, at least quarterly and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method and includes any realized gains and losses from repayments of principal on mortgage-backed securities. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of
shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have
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minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(I) Loan Assignments, Participations and Commitments. The Portfolio may invest in loan assignments and participations ("loans"). Commitments are agreements to make money available to a borrower in a specified amount, at a specified rate and within a specified time. The Portfolio records an investment when the borrower withdraws money on a commitment or when a funded loan is purchased (trade date) and records interest as earned. These loans pay interest at rates that are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR").
The loans in which the Portfolio may invest are generally readily marketable, but may be subject to some restrictions on resale. For example, the Portfolio may be contractually obligated to receive approval from the agent bank and/or borrower prior to the sale of these investments. If the Portfolio purchases an assignment from a lender, the Portfolio will generally have direct contractual rights against the borrower in favor of the lender. If the Portfolio purchases a participation interest either from a lender or a participant, the Portfolio typically will have established a direct contractual relationship with the seller of the participation interest, but not with the borrower. Consequently, the Portfolio is subject to the credit risk of the lender or participant who sold the participation interest to the Portfolio, in addition to the usual credit risk of the borrower. In the event that the borrower, selling participant or intermediate participants become insolvent or enter into bankruptcy, the Portfolio may incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment, or may suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.
Unfunded commitments represent the remaining obligation of the Portfolio to the borrower. At any point in time, up to the maturity date of the issue, the borrower may demand the unfunded portion. Unfunded amounts, if any, are marked to market and any unrealized gains or losses are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not hold any unfunded commitments.
(J) Foreign Currency Forward Contracts. The Portfolio may enter into foreign currency forward contracts, which are agreements to buy or sell foreign currencies on a specified future date at a specified rate. The Portfolio is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the normal course of investing in these transactions. During the period the forward contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such
contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. Cash movement occurs on the settlement date. When the forward contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract. The Portfolio may purchase and sell foreign currency forward contracts for purposes of seeking to enhance portfolio returns and manage portfolio risk more efficiently. Foreign currency forward contracts may also be used to gain exposure to a particular currency or to hedge against the risk of loss due to changing currency exchange rates. Foreign currency forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency may also be used in anticipation of future purchases or sales of securities denominated in foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected.
The use of foreign currency forward contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, including counterparty risk, market risk and illiquidity risk. Counterparty risk is heightened for these instruments because foreign currency forward contracts are not exchange-traded and therefore no clearinghouse or exchange stands ready to meet the obligations under such contracts. Thus, the Portfolio faces the risk that its counterparties under such contracts may not perform their obligations. Market risk is the risk that the value of a foreign currency forward contract will depreciate due to unfavorable changes in exchange rates. Illiquidity risk arises because the secondary market for foreign currency forward contracts may have less liquidity relative to markets for other securities and financial instruments. Risks also arise from the possible movements in the foreign exchange rates underlying these instruments. While the Portfolio may enter into forward contracts to reduce currency exchange risks, changes in currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance for the Portfolio than if it had not engaged in such transactions. Exchange rate movements can be large, depending on the currency, and can last for extended periods of time, affecting the value of the Portfolio's assets. Moreover, there may be an imperfect correlation between the Portfolio's holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Portfolio from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward contracts also reflects the Portfolio's exposure at the valuation date to credit loss in the event of a counterparty’s failure to perform its obligations. Open foreign currency forward contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(K) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(L) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(M) Dollar Rolls. The Portfolio may enter into dollar roll transactions in which it sells mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") from its portfolio to a counterparty from whom it simultaneously agrees to buy a similar security
on a delayed delivery basis. The Portfolio generally transfers MBS where the MBS are "to be announced," therefore, the Portfolio accounts for these transactions as purchases and sales.
When accounted for as purchase and sales, the securities sold in connection with the dollar rolls are removed from the portfolio and a realized gain or loss is recognized. The securities the Portfolio has agreed to acquire are included at market value in the Portfolio of Investments and liabilities for such purchase commitments are included as payables for investments purchased. During the roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future as well as by the earnings on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls may be renewed without physical delivery of the securities subject to the contract. The Portfolio maintains liquid assets from its portfolio having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest. Dollar roll transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the securities returned to the Portfolio at the end of the roll period, while substantially similar, could be inferior to what was initially sold to the counterparty.
(N) Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
The Portfolio may invest in high-yield debt securities (sometimes called “junk bonds”), which are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher quality debt securities. These securities pay investors a premium—a higher interest rate or yield than investment grade debt securities—because of the increased risk of loss. These securities can also be subject to greater price volatility. In times of unusual or adverse market, economic or political conditions, these securities may experience higher than normal default rates.
The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
The Portfolio may invest in loans which are usually rated below investment grade and are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher rated debt securities. These investments pay investors a higher interest rate than investment grade debt securities because of the increased risk of loss. Although certain loans are collateralized, there is no guarantee that the
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value of the collateral will be sufficient to repay the loan. In a recession or serious credit event, the value of these investments could decline significantly. As a result, the Portfolio’s NAVs could go down and you could lose money.
In addition, loans generally are subject to extended settlement periods that may be longer than seven days. As a result, the Portfolio may be adversely affected by selling other investments at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions or engaging in borrowing transactions, such as borrowing against its credit facility, to raise cash to meet redemption obligations or pursue other investment opportunities.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities. As a result, the Portfolio may not have the protection of anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. In such cases, the Portfolio generally must rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
(O) Counterparty Credit Risk. In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Portfolio mitigate its counterparty risk, the Portfolio may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Portfolio and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains collateral posting terms and netting provisions. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/ or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may restrict or prohibit the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. In addition, certain ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels or if the Portfolio fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreements. The result would cause the Portfolio to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.
For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(P) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the LIBOR, as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around
that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(Q) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(R) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio entered into Treasury futures contracts in order to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates that might otherwise have an adverse effect upon the value of the Portfolio’s securities. The Portfolio
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
also entered into domestic and foreign equity index futures contracts to increase the equity sensitivity to the Portfolio.
The Portfolio entered into foreign currency forward contracts to gain exposure to a particular currency or to hedge against the risk of loss due to changing currency exchange rates. These derivatives are not accounted for as hedging instruments.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Asset Derivatives | Equity Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts (a) | $2,766,943 | $351,973 | $3,118,916 |
Total Fair Value | $2,766,943 | $351,973 | $3,118,916 |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Liability Derivatives | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (a) | $ — | $(414,578) | $ (414,578) |
Forward Contracts - Unrealized depreciation on foreign currency forward contracts | (1,444,015) | — | (1,444,015) |
Total Fair Value | $(1,444,015) | $(414,578) | $(1,858,593) |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Equity Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $ — | $25,086,939 | $(1,952,130) | $23,134,809 |
Forward Contracts | (2,690,923) | — | — | (2,690,923) |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $(2,690,923) | $25,086,939 | $(1,952,130) | $20,443,886 |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Equity Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $ — | $8,628 | $206,190 | $ 214,818 |
Forward Contracts | (2,325,666) | — | — | (2,325,666) |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $(2,325,666) | $8,628 | $206,190 | $(2,110,848) |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Futures Contracts Long | $242,071,885 |
Futures Contracts Short | $ (25,128,311) |
Forward Contracts Long | $ 78,263,764 |
Forward Contracts Short (a) | $ (35,562,015) |
(a) | Positions were open four months during the reporting period. |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisors. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement with New York Life Investments, MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as a Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the fixed-income portion of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement with New York Life Investments, Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (“Epoch” or “Subadvisor” and, together with MacKay Shields, the “Subadvisors”), a registered investment adviser, also serves as a Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the equity portion of the Portfolio. Asset allocation decisions for the Portfolio are made by a committee chaired by New York Life Investments in collaboration with MacKay. New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisors.
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Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.57% up to $1 billion; and 0.55% in excess of $1 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.57%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $3,899,264 and paid MacKay Shields and Epoch fees of $1,082,460 and $867,734, respectively.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 25,926 | $ 214,647 | $ (211,894) | $ — | $ — | $ 28,679 | $ 2 | $ — | 28,679 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $633,359,225 | $60,089,156 | $(7,443,753) | $52,645,403 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$7,496,224 | $45,325,103 | $73,077 | $52,828,014 | $105,722,418 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale deferrals, mark to market on foreign currency forward contracts, mark to market of futures contracts,
partnerships and straddle losses deferred. The other temporary differences are primarily due to deferred dividends from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $24,793,365 | $19,117,766 |
Long-Term Capital Gains | 9,281,987 | 18,720,982 |
Total | $34,075,352 | $37,838,748 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
fees which totaled $9,533 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month LIBOR, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of U.S. government securities were $134,850 and $130,853, respectively. Purchases and sales of securities, other than U.S. government securities and short-term securities, were $300,544 and $304,329, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 295,188 | $ 5,323,316 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 563,265 | 10,040,167 |
Shares redeemed | (1,036,303) | (18,698,533) |
Net increase (decrease) | (177,850) | $ (3,335,050) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 471,005 | $ 7,739,984 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 698,843 | 11,330,042 |
Shares redeemed | (1,392,697) | (22,876,387) |
Net increase (decrease) | (222,849) | $ (3,806,361) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 3,492,661 | $ 62,449,130 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,361,246 | 24,035,185 |
Shares redeemed | (4,598,203) | (82,061,073) |
Net increase (decrease) | 255,704 | $ 4,423,242 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 4,941,562 | $ 80,606,028 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,648,141 | 26,508,706 |
Shares redeemed | (4,620,404) | (74,550,489) |
Net increase (decrease) | 1,969,299 | $ 32,564,245 |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreements between New York Life Investments and each of MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (“Epoch”) with respect to the Portfolio (collectively, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments, MacKay and/or Epoch that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as
presentations from New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may
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have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of MacKay and Epoch, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreements should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of MacKay and Epoch and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay and Epoch with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s and Epoch’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii)
compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay and Epoch provide to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated MacKay’s and Epoch’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisors to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s and Epoch’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay and Epoch and New York Life Investments’, MacKay’s and Epoch’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed MacKay’s and Epoch’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreements (Unaudited) (continued)
performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to MacKay and Epoch as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments, MacKay or Epoch had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, and Epoch due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate. The Board considered that Epoch’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of Epoch’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, and Epoch, the Board
considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’, including MacKay, and Epoch’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fees for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch and acknowledged that New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay and Epoch from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay and Epoch in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between Epoch and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates and considered the existence of a strategic partnership between New York Life Investments and Epoch that relates to certain current and future products that represents a conflict of interest associated with New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the Subadvisory Agreement. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money
48 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to Epoch, the Board considered that any profits realized by Epoch due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and Epoch, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to Epoch by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fees paid to MacKay and Epoch are paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fees paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments, MacKay and Epoch on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies
similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
52 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
54 | MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio |
MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI522
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
(formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Unconstrained Bond Portfolio)
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 4/29/2011 | 1.96% | 3.70% | 4.28% | 0.68% |
Service Class Shares | 4/29/2011 | 1.71 | 3.45 | 4.02 | 0.93 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1 | -1.54% | 3.57% | 2.90% |
ICE BofA U.S. Dollar 3-Month Deposit Offered Rate Constant Maturity Index2 | 0.17 | 1.41 | 0.89 |
Morningstar Nontraditional Bond Category Average3 | 1.53 | 2.90 | 2.57 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures performance of the investment-grade, U.S. dollar denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasurys, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Portfolio has selected the ICE BofA U.S. Dollar 3-Month Deposit Offered Rate Constant Maturity Index as a secondary benchmark. The ICE BofA U.S. Dollar 3-Month Deposit Offered Rate Constant Maturity Index is unmanaged and tracks the performance of a synthetic asset paying London Interbank Offered Rate to a stated maturity. The index is based on the assumed purchase at par of a synthetic instrument having exactly its stated maturity and with a coupon equal to that day’s fixing rate. That issue is assumed to be sold the following business day (priced at a yield equal to the current day fixing rate) and rolled into a new instrument. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Portfolio has selected the Morningstar Nontraditional Bond Category Average as an additional benchmark. The Morningstar Nontraditional Bond Category Average contains funds that pursue strategies divergent in one or more ways from conventional practice in the broader bond-fund universe. Morningstar category averages are equal-weighted returns based on constituents of the category at the end of the period. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2, 3 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,003.20 | $3.08 | $1,022.13 | $3.11 | 0.61% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,001.90 | $4.34 | $1,020.87 | $4.38 | 0.86% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
3. | Expenses are inclusive of dividends and interest on investments sold short. |
6 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Notes, 0.125%-0.875%, due 7/15/28–1/15/30 |
2. | FNMA, (zero coupon)-5.948%, due 4/25/29–3/25/60 |
3. | Morgan Stanley, 2.484%-5.00%, due 4/29/24–9/16/36 |
4. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 1.326%-6.75%, due 5/15/26–10/1/37 |
5. | Brazil Government Bond, 3.75%-4.625%, due 1/13/28–9/12/31 |
6. | Bank of America Corp., 2.087%-8.57%, due 11/15/24–6/14/29 |
7. | Citigroup, Inc., 4.15%-6.30%, due 5/15/24–11/15/26 |
8. | JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2.956%-4.60%, due 2/1/25–5/13/31 |
9. | Ally Financial, Inc., 5.75%-8.00%, due 11/20/25–11/1/31 |
10. | FHLMC, STRIPS, (zero coupon), due 10/15/47 |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Joseph Cantwell,1 Shu-Yang Tan, CFA, Matt Jacob, Stephen R. Cianci, CFA, and Neil Moriarty III, of MacKay Shields LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio returned 1.96% for Initial Class shares and 1.71% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes outperformed the −1.54% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and the 0.17% return of the ICE BofA U.S. Dollar 3-Month Deposit Offered Rate Constant Maturity Index, which is the Portfolio’s secondary benchmark. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes also outperformed the 1.53% return of the Morningstar Nontraditional Bond Category Average.2
Were there any changes to the Portfolio during the reporting period?
At a meeting held on December 9-10, 2020, the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust considered and approved, changing the Portfolio's name, among other related proposals. Effective May 1, 2021, the MainStay VP MacKay Unconstrained Bond Portfolio changed its name to MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio. For more information on this change refer to the supplement dated December 11, 2020.
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
On the whole, risk continued to rally throughout the reporting period. This trend was accentuated by the approval of multiple coronavirus vaccines in the fourth quarter of 2020, along with the global acceleration of vaccination rates in the first quarter of 2021. Additionally, the fiscal packages that were passed by the U.S. Congress helped to propel risk assets. Lastly, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s monetary policy remained accommodative. These factors were catalysts that led risk assets to outperform, especially in the first quarter of 2021 when credit spreads3 narrowed as risk assets rallied, despite a volatile environment that saw long-term Treasury rates rise faster than short-term rates.
During the reporting period, the Portfolio outperformed the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index partly driven by underweight allocation to U.S. Treasury bonds. At the same time, the Portfolio held an overweight exposure to spread product that generated positive excess returns. Specifically, overweight
allocation and security selection to corporate bonds, both investment grade and high yield, aided performance. Underweight exposure to AAA-rated4 credits further boosted these results. Conversely, the Portfolio’s exposure to emerging-market sovereign credit detracted from relative performance.
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio used Treasury futures to hedge its duration.5 This position had a positive impact on returns.
What was the Portfolio’s duration strategy during the reporting period?
The Portfolio does not track a fixed-income index and can demonstrate a low correlation to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The average duration of the Portfolio will normally vary from 0 to 7 years. Duration positioning is based on what we believe to be most appropriate at a given point in the cycle. Towards the middle of the reporting period, we extended the Portfolio’s duration profile, but then began reducing Portfolio duration to offset the spread risk. At the end of the reporting period, the Portfolio’s effective duration was 1.8 years compared to 6.4 years for the Index.
During the reporting period, which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s absolute performance and which market segments were particularly weak?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio’s exposure to corporate bonds, both investment grade and high yield, bolstered absolute performance. In addition, the Portfolio’s holdings of bank loans and exposure to equity-linked products made positive contributions to total return. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) During the same period, emerging-market credits detracted from the Portfolio’s absolute return.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
A robust primary calendar for corporate credit offered several opportunities to introduce new names into the Portfolio in the midstream, financials and consumer non-cyclical industries. Meanwhile, as spreads narrowed, we trimmed the Portfolio’s
1. | Effective July 20, 2021, Joseph Cantwell is no longer a portfolio manager. |
2. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
3. | The terms “spread” and “yield spread” may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time |
4. | An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), and in the opinion of S&P, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. When applied to Portfolio holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Portfolio. |
5. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
8 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
exposure to higher-quality credits with limited total return potential.
In emerging markets, we reduced the Portfolio’s exposure to Chinese technology companies, as well as to an oil major rumored to be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges. Through the primary market, the Portfolio added a new issue from a Mexican petrochemical company at favorable terms. We also added a new Brazilian credit in the consumer non-cyclical sector from a company with what we viewed to be a strong global presence and solid fundamentals.
Among commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), the Portfolio took advantage of rich valuations by selling AAA-rated conduit bonds at levels tighter than pre-pandemic. The Portfolio also continued to add more opportunistic single-asset deals, such as securitizations6 backed by Las Vegas properties. Other purchases in the CMBS primary market included securitizations backed by multifamily housing, an office building in Seattle and industrial properties spread throughout the country. In the secondary market, the Portfolio purchased seasoned subordinate bonds at attractive yields with, in our judgement, sufficient credit enhancement to withstand stresses in the market.
Among non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities, given what we viewed to be strong underlying housing fundamentals, the Portfolio participated in a credit-risk transfer deal brought by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (known as Freddie Mac); the deal had underlying collateral characteristics that we consider the strongest ever for the program, given the high FICO credit-risk scores of the borrowers.
How did the Portfolio’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Portfolio maintained its risk-positive positioning, keeping broader exposures fairly consistent. Changes included modest additions to CMBS exposure and agency commercial mortgage obligations. At the same time, the Portfolio trimmed a small amount of its investment-grade credit and bank loans allocations. The most significant activity during the reporting period occurred in sectors where the Portfolio took advantage of opportunities in the new-issue markets, rotating out of rich secondary positions in favor of cheaper new issues.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, relative to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, the Portfolio held overweight exposure to high-yield corporate bonds, along with securitized assets. As of the same date, the Portfolio held underweight exposure to U.S. Treasury securities and agency mortgages.
6. | A securitization is a financial instrument created by an issuer by combining a pool of financial assets (such as mortgages). The financial instrument is then marketed to investors, sometimes in tiers. |
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 96.1% |
Asset-Backed Securities 11.9% |
Automobile Asset-Backed Securities 4.7% |
American Credit Acceptance Receivables Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-4, Class D | | |
1.82%, due 2/14/28 | $ 1,955,000 | $ 1,942,903 |
Series 2020-2, Class C | | |
3.88%, due 4/13/26 | 3,615,000 | 3,718,705 |
Avis Budget Rental Car Funding AESOP LLC (a) | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A | | |
1.38%, due 8/20/27 | 2,550,000 | 2,504,042 |
Series 2020-2A, Class A | | |
2.02%, due 2/20/27 | 1,880,000 | 1,899,981 |
Drive Auto Receivables Trust | |
Series 2021-2, Class D | | |
1.39%, due 3/15/29 | 1,160,000 | 1,137,256 |
Series 2021-1, Class D | | |
1.45%, due 1/16/29 | 3,390,000 | 3,372,789 |
Flagship Credit Auto Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-4, Class D | | |
2.26%, due 12/15/27 | 2,590,000 | 2,582,736 |
Series 2020-1, Class E | | |
3.52%, due 6/15/27 | 2,460,000 | 2,490,479 |
Series 2019-2, Class E | | |
4.52%, due 12/15/26 | 1,258,000 | 1,301,659 |
Ford Credit Floorplan Master Owner Trust | |
Series 2018-4, Class A | | |
4.06%, due 11/15/30 | 1,795,000 | 2,010,076 |
GLS Auto Receivables Issuer Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-3A, Class D | | |
1.48%, due 7/15/27 | 3,430,000 | 3,370,456 |
Series 2021-4A, Class D | | |
2.48%, due 10/15/27 | 2,510,000 | 2,510,389 |
Series 2020-1A, Class D | | |
3.68%, due 11/16/26 | 1,430,000 | 1,455,161 |
GLS Auto Receivables Trust | |
Series 2021-2A, Class D | | |
1.42%, due 4/15/27 (a) | 1,350,000 | 1,327,499 |
Hertz Vehicle Financing III LP (a) | |
Series 2021-2A, Class C | | |
2.52%, due 12/27/27 | 5,027,000 | 4,987,907 |
Series 2021-2A, Class D | | |
4.34%, due 12/27/27 | 3,289,000 | 3,280,571 |
Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class D | | |
3.98%, due 12/26/25 (a) | 1,000,000 | 994,125 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Automobile Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust | |
Series 2021-4, Class D | | |
1.67%, due 10/15/27 | $ 3,600,000 | $ 3,574,957 |
| | 44,461,691 |
Home Equity Asset-Backed Securities 0.4% |
Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2007-HE1, Class A3 | | |
0.292% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.19%), due 6/25/37 (b) | 2,732,989 | 2,706,138 |
First NLC Trust | |
Series 2007-1, Class A1 | | |
0.172% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.07%), due 8/25/37 (a)(b) | 59,144 | 37,703 |
J.P. Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust | |
Series 2007-HE1, Class AF1 | | |
0.202% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.10%), due 3/25/47 (b) | 21,157 | 14,441 |
Mastr Asset-Backed Securities Trust | |
Series 2006-HE4, Class A1 | | |
0.202% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.10%), due 11/25/36 (b) | 16,218 | 6,811 |
Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, Inc. Trust (b) | |
Series 2007-HE4, Class A2A | | |
0.212% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.11%), due 2/25/37 | 17,364 | 7,345 |
Series 2007-HE7, Class M1 | | |
2.102% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 7/25/37 | 930,000 | 985,684 |
| | 3,758,122 |
Other Asset-Backed Securities 6.8% |
American Airlines Pass-Through Trust | |
Series 2016-2, Class A | | |
3.65%, due 6/15/28 | 1,531,293 | 1,479,200 |
Series 2019-1, Class B | | |
3.85%, due 2/15/28 | 1,412,122 | 1,348,815 |
Series 2015-2, Class A | | |
4.00%, due 9/22/27 | 369,741 | 362,242 |
Series 2013-2, Class A | | |
4.95%, due 1/15/23 | 1,955,596 | 1,998,400 |
AMSR Trust | |
Series 2020-SFR4, Class A | | |
1.355%, due 11/17/37 (a) | 2,575,000 | 2,510,196 |
CF Hippolyta LLC (a) | |
Series 2020-1, Class A1 | | |
1.69%, due 7/15/60 | 1,136,822 | 1,127,681 |
Series 2021-1A, Class B1 | | |
1.98%, due 3/15/61 | 5,483,212 | 5,401,470 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
CF Hippolyta LLC (a) (continued) | |
Series 2020-1, Class A2 | | |
1.99%, due 7/15/60 | $ 1,256,869 | $ 1,234,429 |
Continental Airlines Pass-Through Trust | |
Series 2007-1, Class A | | |
5.983%, due 4/19/22 | 125,421 | 126,854 |
Crown Castle Towers LLC | |
4.241%, due 7/15/28 (a) | 3,755,000 | 4,096,213 |
DB Master Finance LLC (a) | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A23 | | |
2.791%, due 11/20/51 | 2,440,000 | 2,433,832 |
Series 2019-1A, Class A23 | | |
4.352%, due 5/20/49 | 1,906,125 | 2,040,080 |
Domino's Pizza Master Issuer LLC | |
Series 2015-1A, Class A2II | | |
4.474%, due 10/25/45 (a) | 2,555,500 | 2,624,069 |
FirstKey Homes Trust (a) | |
Series 2020-SFR1, Class A | | |
1.339%, due 8/17/37 | 4,936,750 | 4,842,389 |
Series 2021-SFR2, Class B | | |
1.607%, due 9/17/38 | 1,860,000 | 1,797,739 |
Series 2021-SFR1, Class B | | |
1.788%, due 8/17/38 | 3,320,000 | 3,263,438 |
Series 2021-SFR1, Class C | | |
1.888%, due 8/17/38 | 3,800,000 | 3,723,915 |
Home Partners of America Trust | |
Series 2021-2, Class B | | |
2.302%, due 12/17/26 (a) | 2,418,580 | 2,388,932 |
Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-EA, Class B | | |
2.03%, due 12/16/69 | 3,490,000 | 3,395,737 |
Series 2020-GA, Class B | | |
2.50%, due 9/16/69 | 1,590,000 | 1,591,087 |
Series 2020-HA, Class B | | |
2.78%, due 1/15/69 | 840,000 | 849,419 |
New Economy Assets Phase 1 Sponsor LLC (a) | |
Series 2021-1, Class A1 | | |
1.91%, due 10/20/61 | 1,730,000 | 1,696,285 |
Series 2021-1, Class B1 | | |
2.41%, due 10/20/61 | 1,665,000 | 1,668,836 |
Progress Residential | |
Series 2021-SFR4, Class B | | |
1.808%, due 5/17/38 (a) | 2,085,000 | 2,043,542 |
Progress Residential Trust | |
Series 2021-SFR2, Class B | | |
1.796%, due 4/19/38 (a) | 3,000,000 | 2,932,315 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Sierra Timeshare Receivables Funding LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class C | | |
1.79%, due 11/20/37 (a) | $ 611,367 | $ 603,544 |
Taco Bell Funding LLC | |
Series 2021-1A, Class A23 | | |
2.542%, due 8/25/51 (a) | 2,255,000 | 2,203,455 |
U.S. Airways Pass-Through Trust | |
Series 2012-1, Class A | | |
5.90%, due 10/1/24 | 855,830 | 896,857 |
Series 2010-1, Class A | | |
6.25%, due 4/22/23 | 531,512 | 544,363 |
United Airlines Pass-Through Trust | |
Series 2014-2, Class B | | |
4.625%, due 9/3/22 | 778,186 | 791,850 |
Series 2020-1, Class A | | |
5.875%, due 10/15/27 | 2,014,359 | 2,206,474 |
Series 2007-1 | | |
6.636%, due 7/2/22 | 1,113,098 | 1,135,360 |
| | 65,359,018 |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $113,588,825) | | 113,578,831 |
Corporate Bonds 50.6% |
Aerospace & Defense 0.6% |
Howmet Aerospace, Inc. | | |
3.00%, due 1/15/29 | 2,150,000 | 2,152,892 |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | | |
4.40%, due 6/15/28 | 3,270,000 | 3,670,295 |
| | 5,823,187 |
Agriculture 0.2% |
BAT Capital Corp. | | |
3.734%, due 9/25/40 | 1,900,000 | 1,825,022 |
Airlines 1.2% |
American Airlines, Inc. (a) | | |
5.50%, due 4/20/26 | 1,640,000 | 1,705,396 |
5.75%, due 4/20/29 | 3,255,000 | 3,478,683 |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (a) | | |
4.50%, due 10/20/25 | 1,185,000 | 1,245,449 |
4.75%, due 10/20/28 | 2,245,000 | 2,451,498 |
Mileage Plus Holdings LLC | | |
6.50%, due 6/20/27 (a) | 2,050,000 | 2,188,375 |
| | 11,069,401 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Auto Manufacturers 1.4% |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC | | |
1.391% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.235%), due 2/15/23 (b) | $ 1,230,000 | $ 1,227,577 |
4.063%, due 11/1/24 | 3,410,000 | 3,587,899 |
4.25%, due 9/20/22 | 900,000 | 916,200 |
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. | | |
2.35%, due 1/8/31 | 908,000 | 883,858 |
2.70%, due 6/10/31 | 2,255,000 | 2,246,958 |
Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC | | |
1.85%, due 9/16/26 (a) | 5,030,000 | 4,907,613 |
| | 13,770,105 |
Auto Parts & Equipment 0.4% |
Dana, Inc. | | |
4.50%, due 2/15/32 | 3,885,000 | 3,875,287 |
Banks 13.4% |
Bank of America Corp. | | |
2.087%, due 6/14/29 (c) | 1,895,000 | 1,881,680 |
3.705%, due 4/24/28 (c) | 1,695,000 | 1,839,468 |
Series MM | | |
4.30%, due 1/28/25 (c)(d) | 3,121,000 | 3,156,111 |
Series DD | | |
6.30%, due 3/10/26 (c)(d) | 1,810,000 | 2,036,250 |
8.57%, due 11/15/24 | 455,000 | 542,132 |
Barclays plc | | |
4.375% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.41%), due 3/15/28 (b)(d) | 3,510,000 | 3,438,045 |
5.20%, due 5/12/26 | 1,725,000 | 1,924,876 |
BNP Paribas SA (a) | | |
3.052%, due 1/13/31 (c) | 2,900,000 | 2,983,207 |
4.625% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.34%), due 2/25/31 (b)(d) | 2,250,000 | 2,256,750 |
BPCE SA | | |
2.045%, due 10/19/27 (a)(c) | 1,370,000 | 1,358,228 |
Citigroup, Inc. | | |
Series Y | | |
4.15% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.00%), due 11/15/26 (b)(d) | 2,180,000 | 2,215,425 |
5.50%, due 9/13/25 | 2,710,000 | 3,064,804 |
Series M | | |
6.30%, due 5/15/24 (c)(d) | 3,975,000 | 4,166,317 |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | | |
2.638%, due 9/30/32 | 2,550,000 | 2,518,872 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Banks (continued) |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (continued) | | |
Series G | | |
4.00% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.215%), due 10/6/26 (b)(d) | $ 1,620,000 | $ 1,620,000 |
Credit Suisse Group AG | | |
3.091%, due 5/14/32 (a)(c) | 2,195,000 | 2,233,526 |
Deutsche Bank AG | | |
3.035%, due 5/28/32 (c) | 640,000 | 644,888 |
4.875% (USISDA05 + 2.553%), due 12/1/32 (b) | 4,285,000 | 4,629,806 |
Freedom Mortgage Corp. | | |
7.625%, due 5/1/26 (a) | 2,920,000 | 2,982,079 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | |
1.326% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.17%), due 5/15/26 (b) | 3,075,000 | 3,136,162 |
1.948%, due 10/21/27 (c) | 1,555,000 | 1,548,159 |
Series V | | |
4.125% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.949%), due 11/10/26 (b)(d) | 3,875,000 | 3,938,695 |
6.75%, due 10/1/37 | 1,828,000 | 2,591,919 |
Huntington National Bank (The) | | |
3.55%, due 10/6/23 | 1,445,000 | 1,508,176 |
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA | | |
4.198% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.60%), due 6/1/32 (a)(b) | 3,460,000 | 3,490,013 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (c) | | |
2.956%, due 5/13/31 | 1,245,000 | 1,289,040 |
3.54%, due 5/1/28 | 4,175,000 | 4,534,191 |
Series HH | | |
4.60%, due 2/1/25 (d) | 3,232,000 | 3,316,840 |
Lloyds Banking Group plc | | |
2.907%, due 11/7/23 (c) | 1,160,000 | 1,178,693 |
4.582%, due 12/10/25 | 2,500,000 | 2,727,086 |
Macquarie Group Ltd. | | |
2.871%, due 1/14/33 (a)(c) | 2,065,000 | 2,058,753 |
Morgan Stanley | | |
2.484%, due 9/16/36 (c) | 1,830,000 | 1,762,198 |
Series F | | |
3.875%, due 4/29/24 | 6,015,000 | 6,376,445 |
5.00%, due 11/24/25 | 3,840,000 | 4,298,641 |
NatWest Group plc (b) | | |
3.073% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.55%), due 5/22/28 | 2,685,000 | 2,792,640 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Banks (continued) |
NatWest Group plc (b) (continued) | | |
4.60% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.10%), due 6/28/31 (d) | $ 2,740,000 | $ 2,685,200 |
Popular, Inc. | | |
6.125%, due 9/14/23 | 1,953,000 | 2,078,578 |
Santander Holdings USA, Inc. | | |
3.40%, due 1/18/23 | 5,055,000 | 5,166,364 |
Societe Generale SA (a)(b)(d) | | |
4.75% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.931%), due 5/26/26 | 3,455,000 | 3,508,242 |
5.375% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 4.514%), due 11/18/30 | 3,255,000 | 3,419,052 |
Standard Chartered plc (a)(b) | | |
2.678% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.20%), due 6/29/32 | 1,150,000 | 1,128,532 |
4.75% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.805%), due 1/14/31 (d)(e) | 3,345,000 | 3,319,912 |
SVB Financial Group | | |
Series C | | |
4.00% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.202%), due 5/15/26 (b)(d) | 2,070,000 | 2,080,350 |
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. | | |
4.00% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.15%), due 5/6/31 (b) | 3,010,000 | 3,110,474 |
UBS Group AG | | |
4.375% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.313%), due 2/10/31 (a)(b)(d) | 2,715,000 | 2,681,877 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | |
3.00%, due 10/23/26 | 1,640,000 | 1,722,971 |
Series U | | |
5.875%, due 6/15/25 (c)(d) | 595,000 | 650,038 |
Series S | | |
5.90%, due 6/15/24 (c)(d) | 2,725,000 | 2,875,256 |
Westpac Banking Corp. | | |
3.02% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 1.53%), due 11/18/36 (b) | 1,825,000 | 1,803,291 |
| | 128,270,252 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Beverages 0.5% |
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 1/23/29 | $ 1,833,000 | $ 2,133,494 |
Constellation Brands, Inc. | | |
4.25%, due 5/1/23 | 2,985,000 | 3,110,634 |
| | 5,244,128 |
Biotechnology 0.1% |
Biogen, Inc. | | |
3.15%, due 5/1/50 | 1,125,000 | 1,081,309 |
Chemicals 0.7% |
Alpek SAB de CV | | |
3.25%, due 2/25/31 (a) | 3,185,000 | 3,177,037 |
Braskem Netherlands Finance BV | | |
4.50%, due 1/10/28 (a) | 1,015,000 | 1,075,900 |
Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV | | |
4.00%, due 10/4/27 (a) | 2,200,000 | 2,351,822 |
| | 6,604,759 |
Commercial Services 1.3% |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC | | |
6.625%, due 7/15/26 (a) | 1,320,000 | 1,384,944 |
Ashtead Capital, Inc. | | |
4.25%, due 11/1/29 (a) | 2,250,000 | 2,400,281 |
California Institute of Technology | | |
3.65%, due 9/1/19 | 1,614,000 | 1,877,813 |
Hertz Corp. (The) | | |
5.00%, due 12/1/29 (a) | 1,350,000 | 1,351,154 |
IHS Markit Ltd. | | |
4.125%, due 8/1/23 | 2,175,000 | 2,272,875 |
4.75%, due 2/15/25 (a) | 3,105,000 | 3,380,570 |
| | 12,667,637 |
Computers 0.7% |
Dell International LLC | | |
6.02%, due 6/15/26 | 625,000 | 722,407 |
8.10%, due 7/15/36 | 670,000 | 1,019,472 |
NCR Corp. (a) | | |
5.00%, due 10/1/28 | 3,660,000 | 3,769,800 |
6.125%, due 9/1/29 | 893,000 | 954,298 |
| | 6,465,977 |
Diversified Financial Services 3.4% |
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC | | |
3.00%, due 10/29/28 | 2,200,000 | 2,231,099 |
3.30%, due 1/23/23 | 1,400,000 | 1,429,449 |
Air Lease Corp. | | |
2.30%, due 2/1/25 | 3,640,000 | 3,690,011 |
2.75%, due 1/15/23 | 1,040,000 | 1,055,849 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Diversified Financial Services (continued) |
Aircastle Ltd. | | |
5.25% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 4.41%), due 6/15/26 (a)(b)(d) | $ 3,325,000 | $ 3,391,500 |
Ally Financial, Inc. | | |
5.75%, due 11/20/25 | 3,570,000 | 4,026,352 |
8.00%, due 11/1/31 | 3,450,000 | 4,883,714 |
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd. | | |
3.25%, due 2/15/27 (a) | 2,340,000 | 2,356,341 |
Banco BTG Pactual SA | | |
2.75%, due 1/11/26 (a) | 5,405,000 | 5,128,048 |
Discover Financial Services | | |
3.85%, due 11/21/22 | 300,000 | 307,903 |
OneMain Finance Corp. | | |
3.50%, due 1/15/27 | 2,715,000 | 2,684,456 |
6.125%, due 3/15/24 | 880,000 | 933,002 |
X-Caliber Funding LLC | | |
Series A | | |
5.00%, due 9/24/24 (a) | 810,000 | 813,912 |
| | 32,931,636 |
Electric 1.8% |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | | |
Series C | | |
4.35% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.195%), due 1/15/27 (b)(d) | 1,045,000 | 1,078,963 |
Duke Energy Corp. | | |
4.875% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.388%), due 9/16/24 (b)(d) | 2,625,000 | 2,723,438 |
Edison International | | |
Series B | | |
5.00% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.901%), due 12/15/26 (b)(d) | 2,685,000 | 2,743,533 |
FirstEnergy Transmission LLC | | |
4.35%, due 1/15/25 (a) | 1,675,000 | 1,780,795 |
Ohio Power Co. | | |
Series R | | |
2.90%, due 10/1/51 | 1,345,000 | 1,297,007 |
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. | | |
3.50%, due 8/1/50 | 2,460,000 | 2,278,852 |
Puget Energy, Inc. | | |
5.625%, due 7/15/22 | 585,000 | 592,963 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Electric (continued) |
Sempra Energy | | |
4.125% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.868%), due 4/1/52 (b) | $ 2,935,000 | $ 2,972,235 |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. | | |
2.269% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.113%), due 5/15/67 (b) | 1,860,340 | 1,727,791 |
| | 17,195,577 |
Environmental Control 0.2% |
Republic Services, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 5/15/23 | 1,999,000 | 2,083,808 |
Stericycle, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 1/15/29 (a) | 310,000 | 305,350 |
| | 2,389,158 |
Food 1.3% |
Kraft Heinz Foods Co. | | |
5.00%, due 7/15/35 | 718,000 | 878,359 |
Performance Food Group, Inc. (a) | | |
4.25%, due 8/1/29 | 775,000 | 768,847 |
5.50%, due 10/15/27 | 4,355,000 | 4,545,531 |
Smithfield Foods, Inc. | | |
3.00%, due 10/15/30 (a) | 2,005,000 | 1,996,783 |
Sysco Corp. | | |
3.30%, due 7/15/26 | 1,735,000 | 1,847,779 |
U.S. Foods, Inc. | | |
4.625%, due 6/1/30 (a) | 2,330,000 | 2,355,980 |
| | 12,393,279 |
Gas 0.3% |
National Fuel Gas Co. | | |
2.95%, due 3/1/31 | 1,195,000 | 1,200,875 |
Southern Co. Gas Capital Corp. | | |
Series 21A | | |
3.15%, due 9/30/51 | 2,010,000 | 1,984,661 |
| | 3,185,536 |
Healthcare-Products 0.7% |
Baxter International, Inc. | | |
2.60%, due 8/15/26 | 6,085,000 | 6,305,805 |
Healthcare-Services 0.4% |
Health Care Service Corp. A Mutual Legal Reserve Co. | | |
3.20%, due 6/1/50 (a) | 1,485,000 | 1,510,913 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Healthcare-Services (continued) |
NYU Langone Hospitals | | |
Series 2020 | | |
3.38%, due 7/1/55 | $ 1,805,000 | $ 1,852,134 |
| | 3,363,047 |
Home Builders 0.8% |
Thor Industries, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 10/15/29 (a) | 3,650,000 | 3,613,500 |
Toll Brothers Finance Corp. | | |
3.80%, due 11/1/29 | 1,251,000 | 1,344,825 |
4.35%, due 2/15/28 | 2,089,000 | 2,287,455 |
| | 7,245,780 |
Household Products & Wares 0.3% |
Kronos Acquisition Holdings, Inc. | | |
5.00%, due 12/31/26 (a) | 2,465,000 | 2,435,001 |
Housewares 0.2% |
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The) | | |
5.25%, due 12/15/26 | 1,960,000 | 2,013,900 |
Insurance 1.7% |
Athene Global Funding | | |
2.50%, due 3/24/28 (a) | 2,985,000 | 3,001,886 |
Lincoln National Corp. | | |
2.515% (3 Month LIBOR + 2.358%), due 5/17/66 (b) | 6,418,000 | 5,695,975 |
MassMutual Global Funding II | | |
2.95%, due 1/11/25 (a) | 2,995,000 | 3,137,697 |
NMI Holdings, Inc. | | |
7.375%, due 6/1/25 (a) | 870,000 | 987,885 |
Protective Life Corp. | | |
8.45%, due 10/15/39 | 1,564,000 | 2,489,900 |
Willis North America, Inc. | | |
3.875%, due 9/15/49 | 840,000 | 911,481 |
| | 16,224,824 |
Internet 1.5% |
Cablevision Lightpath LLC | | |
3.875%, due 9/15/27 (a) | 3,630,000 | 3,521,100 |
Expedia Group, Inc. | | |
3.25%, due 2/15/30 | 2,315,000 | 2,362,459 |
3.80%, due 2/15/28 | 2,245,000 | 2,400,239 |
5.00%, due 2/15/26 | 315,000 | 350,335 |
Match Group Holdings II LLC (a) | | |
3.625%, due 10/1/31 | 1,975,000 | 1,918,219 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Internet (continued) |
Match Group Holdings II LLC (a) (continued) | | |
4.125%, due 8/1/30 | $ 148,000 | $ 149,480 |
5.00%, due 12/15/27 | 3,170,000 | 3,296,800 |
| | 13,998,632 |
Iron & Steel 0.5% |
Vale Overseas Ltd. | | |
3.75%, due 7/8/30 | 1,440,000 | 1,490,414 |
6.25%, due 8/10/26 | 2,780,000 | 3,217,878 |
| | 4,708,292 |
Lodging 1.7% |
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc. | | |
4.875%, due 1/15/30 | 2,120,000 | 2,265,750 |
5.375%, due 5/1/25 (a) | 3,470,000 | 3,610,882 |
Hyatt Hotels Corp. | | |
1.80%, due 10/1/24 | 5,450,000 | 5,454,855 |
Marriott International, Inc. | | |
3.75%, due 10/1/25 | 1,860,000 | 1,969,749 |
Series X | | |
4.00%, due 4/15/28 | 880,000 | 949,616 |
MGM Resorts International | | |
6.00%, due 3/15/23 | 2,300,000 | 2,403,500 |
| | 16,654,352 |
Machinery-Diversified 0.2% |
Clark Equipment Co. | | |
5.875%, due 6/1/25 (a) | 1,535,000 | 1,594,481 |
Media 1.0% |
Charter Communications Operating LLC | | |
4.464%, due 7/23/22 | 2,770,000 | 2,810,886 |
DISH DBS Corp. | | |
5.75%, due 12/1/28 (a) | 2,150,000 | 2,171,500 |
Grupo Televisa SAB | | |
5.25%, due 5/24/49 | 1,735,000 | 2,174,596 |
Sky Ltd. | | |
3.75%, due 9/16/24 (a) | 1,105,000 | 1,176,606 |
Time Warner Entertainment Co. LP | | |
8.375%, due 3/15/23 | 740,000 | 802,414 |
| | 9,136,002 |
Mining 0.5% |
Industrias Penoles SAB de CV | | |
4.75%, due 8/6/50 (a) | 4,007,000 | 4,382,656 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Miscellaneous—Manufacturing 0.3% |
Textron Financial Corp. | | |
1.891% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.735%), due 2/15/42 (a)(b) | $ 3,720,000 | $ 3,189,900 |
Oil & Gas 2.0% |
Gazprom PJSC Via Gaz Capital SA | | |
7.288%, due 8/16/37 (a) | 2,500,000 | 3,318,775 |
Marathon Petroleum Corp. | | |
5.125%, due 12/15/26 | 5,755,000 | 6,549,498 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | |
3.50%, due 8/15/29 | 4,810,000 | 4,941,313 |
4.30%, due 8/15/39 | 585,000 | 583,403 |
Petrobras Global Finance BV | | |
5.50%, due 6/10/51 | 1,215,000 | 1,126,913 |
Valero Energy Corp. | | |
4.00%, due 4/1/29 | 2,250,000 | 2,448,388 |
| | 18,968,290 |
Packaging & Containers 0.6% |
Berry Global, Inc. | | |
4.875%, due 7/15/26 (a) | 166,000 | 171,714 |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. | | |
6.625%, due 5/13/27 (a) | 2,950,000 | 3,112,250 |
WestRock RKT LLC | | |
4.00%, due 3/1/23 | 2,230,000 | 2,289,679 |
| | 5,573,643 |
Pharmaceuticals 1.0% |
AbbVie, Inc. | | |
4.25%, due 11/21/49 | 3,065,000 | 3,684,658 |
Becton Dickinson and Co. | | |
3.363%, due 6/6/24 | 1,018,000 | 1,065,793 |
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV | | |
3.15%, due 10/1/26 | 2,575,000 | 2,420,500 |
4.75%, due 5/9/27 | 2,855,000 | 2,828,934 |
| | 9,999,885 |
Pipelines 4.0% |
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC | | |
2.742%, due 12/31/39 (a) | 1,640,000 | 1,599,977 |
CNX Midstream Partners LP | | |
4.75%, due 4/15/30 (a) | 3,535,000 | 3,521,744 |
DCP Midstream Operating LP | | |
3.25%, due 2/15/32 | 4,165,000 | 4,196,237 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Pipelines (continued) |
Energy Transfer LP | | |
Series H | | |
6.50% (5 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 5.694%), due 11/15/26 (b)(d) | $ 3,435,000 | $ 3,495,113 |
Enterprise Products Operating LLC | | |
3.95%, due 1/31/60 | 1,760,000 | 1,900,100 |
4.20%, due 1/31/50 | 545,000 | 610,941 |
Flex Intermediate Holdco LLC | | |
3.363%, due 6/30/31 (a) | 2,310,000 | 2,318,772 |
Hess Midstream Operations LP (a) | | |
4.25%, due 2/15/30 | 3,710,000 | 3,682,175 |
5.625%, due 2/15/26 | 389,000 | 400,670 |
MPLX LP | | |
4.00%, due 3/15/28 | 2,500,000 | 2,709,150 |
4.125%, due 3/1/27 | 1,780,000 | 1,947,456 |
Plains All American Pipeline LP | | |
3.80%, due 9/15/30 | 1,330,000 | 1,388,843 |
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC | | |
5.75%, due 5/15/24 | 2,710,000 | 2,947,252 |
Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC | | |
3.875%, due 11/1/33 (a) | 3,490,000 | 3,666,524 |
Western Midstream Operating LP | | |
6.50%, due 2/1/50 (f) | 1,975,000 | 2,335,447 |
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) | | |
3.50%, due 10/15/51 | 1,975,000 | 1,995,229 |
| | 38,715,630 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.1% |
CyrusOne LP | | |
3.45%, due 11/15/29 | 2,030,000 | 2,201,759 |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | | |
4.875%, due 9/15/29 (a) | 3,539,000 | 3,662,794 |
Office Properties Income Trust | | |
2.65%, due 6/15/26 | 2,310,000 | 2,291,945 |
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. | | |
3.625%, due 7/15/26 (a) | 2,340,000 | 2,328,300 |
| | 10,484,798 |
Retail 1.8% |
AutoNation, Inc. | | |
4.75%, due 6/1/30 | 2,880,000 | 3,289,801 |
Darden Restaurants, Inc. | | |
3.85%, due 5/1/27 | 2,025,000 | 2,192,106 |
Macy's Retail Holdings LLC | | |
5.875%, due 4/1/29 (a)(e) | 2,645,000 | 2,820,231 |
Nordstrom, Inc. | | |
4.00%, due 3/15/27 | 840,000 | 844,200 |
4.25%, due 8/1/31 (e) | 3,200,000 | 3,144,016 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Retail (continued) |
QVC, Inc. | | |
4.375%, due 9/1/28 | $ 2,870,000 | $ 2,848,475 |
Victoria's Secret & Co. | | |
4.625%, due 7/15/29 (a) | 2,445,000 | 2,500,013 |
| | 17,638,842 |
Semiconductors 0.5% |
Broadcom, Inc. (a) | | |
3.469%, due 4/15/34 | 2,470,000 | 2,585,274 |
3.75%, due 2/15/51 | 910,000 | 951,408 |
NXP BV | | |
3.40%, due 5/1/30 (a) | 1,380,000 | 1,470,681 |
| | 5,007,363 |
Software 0.5% |
MSCI, Inc. | | |
3.25%, due 8/15/33 (a) | 3,960,000 | 4,004,550 |
Oracle Corp. | | |
3.65%, due 3/25/41 | 685,000 | 692,626 |
| | 4,697,176 |
Telecommunications 1.8% |
Altice France SA | | |
5.125%, due 7/15/29 (a) | 3,915,000 | 3,818,887 |
AT&T, Inc. | | |
3.65%, due 6/1/51 | 1,860,000 | 1,926,299 |
CommScope Technologies LLC | | |
5.00%, due 3/15/27 (a) | 1,629,000 | 1,523,115 |
CommScope, Inc. | | |
7.125%, due 7/1/28 (a) | 645,000 | 633,712 |
T-Mobile US, Inc. | | |
2.625%, due 2/15/29 | 2,630,000 | 2,590,550 |
3.50%, due 4/15/31 (a) | 1,295,000 | 1,347,292 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | |
3.40%, due 3/22/41 | 900,000 | 942,249 |
4.016%, due 12/3/29 | 2,125,000 | 2,382,341 |
Vodafone Group plc | | |
4.25%, due 9/17/50 | 1,775,000 | 2,048,640 |
| | 17,213,085 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $468,888,221) | | 484,343,634 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Foreign Government Bonds 4.6% |
Brazil 1.1% |
Brazil Government Bond | | |
3.75%, due 9/12/31 | $ 2,565,000 | $ 2,411,100 |
4.625%, due 1/13/28 | 7,789,000 | 8,129,847 |
| | 10,540,947 |
Chile 1.3% |
Chile Government Bond | | |
2.55%, due 7/27/33 | 4,770,000 | 4,638,825 |
Corp. Nacional del Cobre de Chile (a) | | |
3.00%, due 9/30/29 | 2,055,000 | 2,077,551 |
3.75%, due 1/15/31 | 1,635,000 | 1,741,484 |
Empresa Nacional del Petroleo | | |
3.45%, due 9/16/31 (a) | 4,005,000 | 3,814,802 |
| | 12,272,662 |
Colombia 0.2% |
Colombia Government Bond | | |
3.25%, due 4/22/32 | 2,065,000 | 1,855,919 |
Mexico 2.0% |
Comision Federal de Electricidad (a) | | |
3.875%, due 7/26/33 | 3,255,000 | 3,191,560 |
4.677%, due 2/9/51 | 2,765,000 | 2,595,643 |
Mexico Government Bond | | |
2.659%, due 5/24/31 | 3,402,000 | 3,316,984 |
3.75%, due 4/19/71 | 2,230,000 | 2,004,770 |
Petroleos Mexicanos | | |
6.50%, due 3/13/27 | 3,570,000 | 3,808,619 |
6.75%, due 9/21/47 | 4,990,000 | 4,428,625 |
| | 19,346,201 |
Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $45,602,608) | | 44,015,729 |
Loan Assignments 3.5% |
Containers, Packaging & Glass 0.5% |
Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co. | |
Initial Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 4/3/24 (b) | 4,992,378 | 4,920,169 |
Diversified/Conglomerate Service 0.6% |
Change Healthcare Holdings, Inc. | |
Closing Date Term Loan | |
3.50% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/1/24 (b) | 3,976,219 | 3,971,746 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Loan Assignments (continued) |
Diversified/Conglomerate Service (continued) |
TruGreen LP (b) | |
First Lien Second Refinancing Term Loan | |
4.75% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.00%), due 11/2/27 | $ 1,480,050 | $ 1,480,512 |
Second Lien Initial Term Loan | |
9.25% (3 Month LIBOR + 8.50%), due 11/2/28 | 645,000 | 648,225 |
| | 6,100,483 |
Ecological 0.2% |
GFL Environmental, Inc. | |
2020 Refinancing Term Loan | |
3.50% (3 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 5/30/25 (b) | 1,960,533 | 1,963,473 |
Finance 1.2% |
Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC | |
2018 Initial Term Loan | |
3.354% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 5/9/25 (b) | 3,947,950 | 3,906,003 |
Iqvia, Inc. | |
Dollar Term Loan B3 | |
1.974% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 6/11/25 (b) | 3,487,247 | 3,470,780 |
Match Group, Inc. | |
2020 Refinancing Term Loan | |
1.908% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 2/13/27 (b) | 1,859,000 | 1,833,439 |
ON Semiconductor Corp. | |
2019 New Replacement Term Loan B4 | |
2.104% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 9/19/26 (b) | 1,843,709 | 1,841,174 |
| | 11,051,396 |
Telecommunications 0.8% |
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | |
Tranche 2027 Term Loan B | |
1.854% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 3/1/27 (b) | 3,963,602 | 3,907,121 |
SBA Senior Finance II LLC | |
Initial Term Loan | |
1.86% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 4/11/25 (b) | 4,127,343 | 4,079,762 |
| | 7,986,883 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Utilities 0.2% |
Southwestern Energy Co. | |
Initial Loan | |
3.00%, due 6/22/27 | $ 1,350,000 | $ 1,350,844 |
Total Loan Assignments (Cost $33,529,035) | | 33,373,248 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities 21.9% |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 2.8% |
FHLMC (g) | |
REMIC, Series 5070, Class IG | | |
1.50%, due 1/25/44 | 9,349,238 | 515,969 |
REMIC, Series 5048, Class IC | | |
2.00%, due 12/25/50 | 10,053,746 | 981,368 |
REMIC, Series 5051, Class KI | | |
2.50%, due 12/25/50 | 6,223,326 | 1,050,848 |
REMIC, Series 5036, Class IO | | |
3.50%, due 11/25/50 | 5,299,812 | 867,868 |
REMIC, Series 4924, Class NS | | |
5.948% (1 Month LIBOR + 6.05%), due 10/25/49 (b) | 3,071,300 | 415,729 |
REMIC, Series 4957, Class SB | | |
5.948% (1 Month LIBOR + 6.05%), due 11/25/49 (b) | 1,860,536 | 344,288 |
FHLMC, STRIPS | |
REMIC, Series 358, Class PO | | |
(zero coupon), due 10/15/47 | 4,865,059 | 4,576,483 |
FNMA | |
REMIC, Series 2013-110, Class CO | | |
(zero coupon), due 12/25/39 | 1,994,404 | 1,866,316 |
REMIC, Series 2013-105, Class QO | | |
(zero coupon), due 5/25/40 | 707,783 | 656,544 |
REMIC, Series 2013-105, Class KO | | |
(zero coupon), due 10/25/43 | 652,086 | 616,811 |
REMIC, Series 2013-110, Class DO | | |
(zero coupon), due 11/25/43 | 842,729 | 784,361 |
REMIC, Series 2020-78, Class TI | | |
2.00%, due 11/25/50 (g) | 5,894,034 | 666,953 |
REMIC, Series 2020-91, Class MI | | |
2.00%, due 12/25/50 (g) | 7,030,100 | 761,087 |
REMIC, Series 2021-2, Class AI | | |
2.00%, due 2/25/51 (g) | 14,517,690 | 1,393,030 |
REMIC, Series 2020-91, Class AI | | |
2.50%, due 12/25/50 (g) | 5,954,465 | 908,808 |
REMIC, Series 2021-7, Class EI | | |
2.50%, due 2/25/51 (g) | 4,123,505 | 539,271 |
REMIC, Series 2021-13, Class BI | | |
3.00%, due 2/25/50 (g) | 3,285,792 | 333,088 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
FNMA (continued) | |
REMIC, Series 2020-10, Class DA | | |
3.50%, due 3/25/60 | $ 1,976,168 | $ 2,108,315 |
REMIC, Series 2019-32, Class SB | | |
5.948% (1 Month LIBOR + 6.05%), due 6/25/49 (b)(g) | 3,819,286 | 644,948 |
FREMF Mortgage Trust | |
REMIC, Series 2017-K63, Class C | | |
3.873%, due 2/25/50 (a)(h) | 1,925,000 | 2,024,878 |
GNMA (g) | |
REMIC, Series 2021-15, Class AI | | |
2.00%, due 1/20/51 | 5,717,318 | 502,649 |
REMIC, Series 2021-57, Class AI | | |
2.00%, due 2/20/51 | 7,373,313 | 852,558 |
REMIC, Series 2021-57, Class IB | | |
2.50%, due 2/20/51 | 4,851,884 | 633,554 |
REMIC, Series 2021-25, Class LI | | |
2.50%, due 2/20/51 | 4,216,137 | 482,588 |
REMIC, Series 2021-77, Class KS | | |
2.55% (SOFR 30A + 2.60%), due 5/20/51 (b) | 14,363,474 | 747,356 |
REMIC, Series 2021-44, Class IQ | | |
3.00%, due 3/20/51 | 6,833,133 | 882,145 |
REMIC, Series 2021-158, Class NI | | |
3.00%, due 9/20/51 | 5,149,416 | 699,047 |
| | 26,856,860 |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 10.8% |
Bayview Commercial Asset Trust | |
Series 2005-3A, Class A1 | | |
0.582% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.48%), due 11/25/35 (a)(b) | 1,084,672 | 1,034,320 |
BX Commercial Mortgage Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-VOLT, Class D | | |
1.76% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.65%), due 9/15/36 (b) | 2,150,000 | 2,131,011 |
Series 2021-VOLT, Class E | | |
2.11% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 9/15/36 (b) | 2,600,000 | 2,577,042 |
Series 2021-ACNT, Class E | | |
2.307% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.197%), due 11/15/26 (b) | 3,400,000 | 3,385,022 |
Series 2020-VIV2, Class C | | |
3.542%, due 3/9/44 (h) | 2,790,000 | 2,826,364 |
Series 2020-VIV3, Class B | | |
3.544%, due 3/9/44 (h) | 1,680,000 | 1,738,281 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
BX Commercial Mortgage Trust (a) (continued) | |
Series 2020-VIVA, Class D | | |
3.549%, due 3/11/44 (h) | $ 950,000 | $ 946,133 |
BX Trust (a) | |
Series 2021-MFM1, Class C | | |
1.31% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.20%), due 1/15/34 (b) | 4,155,000 | 4,122,454 |
Series 2021-MFM1, Class D | | |
1.61% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.50%), due 1/15/34 (b) | 2,056,500 | 2,024,288 |
Series 2021-LBA, Class DV | | |
1.71% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.60%), due 2/15/36 (b) | 2,000,000 | 1,984,331 |
Series 2021-RISE, Class D | | |
1.85% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.75%), due 11/15/36 (b) | 2,400,000 | 2,394,467 |
Series 2021-ARIA, Class E | | |
2.355% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.245%), due 10/15/36 (b) | 4,000,000 | 3,977,538 |
Series 2019-OC11, Class A | | |
3.202%, due 12/9/41 | 1,395,000 | 1,468,326 |
Series 2019-OC11, Class C | | |
3.856%, due 12/9/41 | 895,000 | 920,012 |
Series 2019-OC11, Class E | | |
4.075%, due 12/9/41 (h) | 4,935,000 | 4,887,839 |
BXHPP Trust | |
Series 2021-FILM, Class C | | |
1.21% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.10%), due 8/15/36 (a)(b) | 1,500,000 | 1,482,087 |
COMM Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2012-CR4, Class AM | | |
3.251%, due 10/15/45 | 2,255,000 | 2,271,505 |
Series 2013-CR9, Class B | | |
4.279%, due 7/10/45 (a)(h) | 1,500,000 | 1,497,472 |
CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2015-C3, Class A4 | | |
3.718%, due 8/15/48 | 2,715,503 | 2,886,978 |
CSMC WEST Trust | |
Series 2020-WEST, Class A | | |
3.04%, due 2/15/35 (a) | 3,107,500 | 3,202,245 |
DROP Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2021-FILE, Class A | | |
1.26% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 4/15/26 (a)(b) | 1,535,000 | 1,535,465 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
Extended Stay America Trust | |
Series 2021-ESH, Class D | | |
2.36% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.25%), due 7/15/38 (a)(b) | $ 2,387,579 | $ 2,387,576 |
FREMF Mortgage Trust (a)(h) | |
REMIC, Series 2018-K154, Class B | | |
4.021%, due 11/25/32 | 2,450,000 | 2,591,045 |
REMIC, Series 2018-K155, Class B | | |
4.163%, due 4/25/33 | 2,975,000 | 3,206,590 |
REMIC, Series 2018-K81, Class C | | |
4.168%, due 9/25/51 | 2,020,000 | 2,181,198 |
REMIC, Series 2019-K87, Class C | | |
4.322%, due 1/25/51 | 1,385,000 | 1,507,885 |
REMIC, Series 2019-K88, Class C | | |
4.38%, due 2/25/52 | 2,140,000 | 2,346,795 |
GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust | |
Series 2019-BOCA, Class A | | |
1.31% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.20%), due 6/15/38 (a)(b) | 4,480,000 | 4,477,220 |
GS Mortgage Securities Trust | |
Series 2017-GS7, Class A4 | | |
3.43%, due 8/10/50 | 2,990,000 | 3,205,723 |
Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2019-30HY, Class A | | |
3.228%, due 7/10/39 (a) | 1,580,000 | 1,683,952 |
J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust | |
Series 2018-AON, Class B | | |
4.379%, due 7/5/31 (a)(h) | 2,795,000 | 2,890,550 |
JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust | |
Series 2014-C26, Class A3 | | |
3.231%, due 1/15/48 | 2,033,577 | 2,092,891 |
Manhattan West Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2020-1MW, Class A | | |
2.13%, due 9/10/39 (a) | 1,725,000 | 1,719,065 |
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust | |
Series 2015-C23, Class A3 | | |
3.451%, due 7/15/50 | 1,391,013 | 1,446,070 |
One Bryant Park Trust | |
Series 2019-OBP, Class A | | |
2.516%, due 9/15/54 (a) | 4,735,000 | 4,791,703 |
SLG Office Trust | |
Series 2021-OVA, Class D | | |
2.851%, due 7/15/41 (a) | 1,600,000 | 1,554,679 |
UBS-Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2013-C6, Class B | | |
3.875%, due 4/10/46 (a)(i) | 1,485,000 | 1,493,162 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2019-C53, Class A3 | | |
2.787%, due 10/15/52 | $ 1,005,000 | $ 1,040,277 |
Series 2019-C53, Class A4 | | |
3.04%, due 10/15/52 | 3,566,000 | 3,783,858 |
Series 2018-1745, Class A | | |
3.749%, due 6/15/36 (a)(h) | 3,010,000 | 3,261,436 |
Series 2018-AUS, Class A | | |
4.058%, due 8/17/36 (a)(h) | 4,325,000 | 4,734,672 |
WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2012-C7, Class AS | | |
4.09%, due 6/15/45 (i) | 2,040,000 | 2,041,510 |
| | 103,731,037 |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 8.3% |
Alternative Loan Trust | |
Series 2005-31, Class 1A1 | | |
0.662% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.56%), due 8/25/35 (b) | 2,781,558 | 2,659,729 |
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2020-R02, Class 2M2 | | |
2.103% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.00%), due 1/25/40 | 2,485,249 | 2,491,483 |
Series 2021-R01, Class 1B1 | | |
3.15% (SOFR 30A + 3.10%), due 10/25/41 | 3,150,000 | 3,182,525 |
Series 2020-SBT1, Class 1M2 | | |
3.753% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.65%), due 2/25/40 | 1,700,000 | 1,765,060 |
FHLMC STACR REMIC Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2020-DNA6, Class M2 | | |
2.05% (SOFR 30A + 2.00%), due 12/25/50 | 4,395,000 | 4,418,376 |
Series 2021-HQA1, Class B1 | | |
3.05% (SOFR 30A + 3.00%), due 8/25/33 | 1,510,000 | 1,513,681 |
Series 2021-DNA5, Class B1 | | |
3.10% (SOFR 30A + 3.05%), due 1/25/34 | 2,780,000 | 2,792,251 |
FHLMC STACR Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2018-DNA2, Class M2 | | |
2.253% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.15%), due 12/25/30 | 4,205,973 | 4,257,104 |
Series 2018-HQA2, Class M2 | | |
2.403% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.30%), due 10/25/48 | 1,355,000 | 1,370,722 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
FHLMC STACR Trust (a)(b) (continued) | |
Series 2019-DNA3, Class B1 | | |
3.353% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.25%), due 7/25/49 | $ 2,400,000 | $ 2,428,592 |
Series 2018-DNA2, Class B1 | | |
3.803% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.70%), due 12/25/30 | 4,225,000 | 4,373,037 |
Series 2019-DNA2, Class B1 | | |
4.453% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.35%), due 3/25/49 | 1,900,000 | 1,957,094 |
FHLMC Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes (b) | |
Series 2017-DNA3, Class M2 | | |
2.603% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 3/25/30 | 1,232,078 | 1,255,790 |
Series 2016-DNA4, Class M3 | | |
3.903% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.80%), due 3/25/29 | 1,883,566 | 1,940,807 |
FNMA (b) | |
Series 2017-C05, Class 1M2 | | |
2.303% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.20%), due 1/25/30 | 1,295,677 | 1,317,810 |
Series 2017-C07, Class 2M2 | | |
2.602% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.50%), due 5/25/30 | 1,856,219 | 1,878,365 |
Series 2017-C04, Class 2M2 | | |
2.953% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.85%), due 11/25/29 | 1,981,514 | 2,031,185 |
Series 2017-C03, Class 1M2 | | |
3.103% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.00%), due 10/25/29 | 1,592,307 | 1,629,242 |
Series 2021-R02, Class 2B1 | | |
3.35% (SOFR 30A + 3.30%), due 11/25/41 (a) | 680,000 | 685,087 |
Series 2016-C06, Class 1M2 | | |
4.353% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.25%), due 4/25/29 | 2,743,495 | 2,832,365 |
Series 2016-C07, Class 2M2 | | |
4.453% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.35%), due 5/25/29 | 3,910,663 | 4,059,843 |
Galton Funding Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2018-2, Class A51 | | |
4.50%, due 10/25/58 (a)(i) | 1,169,708 | 1,182,942 |
GreenPoint Mortgage Funding Trust | |
Series 2007-AR3, Class A1 | | |
0.542% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.44%), due 6/25/37 (b) | 574,021 | 575,063 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust | |
Series 2021-1, Class B | | |
1.002% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 2/25/55 (a)(b) | $ 1,600,000 | $ 1,593,826 |
New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust (a) | |
Series 2019-5A, Class B7 | | |
4.434%, due 8/25/59 (h) | 3,514,329 | 2,630,218 |
Series 2019-4A, Class B6 | | |
4.746%, due 12/25/58 (i) | 2,986,172 | 2,310,574 |
Series 2019-2A, Class B6 | | |
4.942%, due 12/25/57 (i) | 1,253,519 | 1,000,901 |
NewRez Warehouse Securitization Trust | |
Series 2021-1, Class B | | |
1.002% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 5/25/55 (a)(b) | 4,615,000 | 4,599,566 |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust | |
Series 2018-7, Class B3 | | |
4.252%, due 9/25/48 (a)(i) | 1,584,168 | 1,588,334 |
STACR Trust (a)(b) | |
Series 2018-DNA3, Class M2 | | |
2.203% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.10%), due 9/25/48 | 2,025,000 | 2,047,360 |
Series 2018-HRP2, Class M3 | | |
2.503% (1 Month LIBOR + 2.40%), due 2/25/47 | 6,045,000 | 6,140,517 |
Series 2018-HRP1, Class B1 | | |
3.853% (1 Month LIBOR + 3.75%), due 4/25/43 | 2,275,000 | 2,329,974 |
Series 2018-HRP2, Class B1 | | |
4.303% (1 Month LIBOR + 4.20%), due 2/25/47 | 1,700,000 | 1,802,628 |
WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust | |
Series 2006-AR9, Class 2A | | |
1.725% (11th District Cost of Funds Index + 1.50%), due 8/25/46 (b) | 876,530 | 859,717 |
| | 79,501,768 |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $208,688,395) | | 210,089,665 |
Municipal Bonds 0.5% |
California 0.5% |
Golden State Tobacco Securitization Corp. Revenue Bonds | | |
Series B, Insured: State Appropriations | | |
3.293%, due 6/1/42 | 1,440,000 | 1,468,536 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | | Value |
Municipal Bonds (continued) |
California (continued) |
Regents of the University of California Medical Center, Pooled Revenue Bonds | | | |
Series N | | | |
3.006%, due 5/15/50 | $ 3,170,000 | | $ 3,267,772 |
| | | 4,736,308 |
Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $4,610,000) | | | 4,736,308 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies 3.1% |
United States Treasury Inflation - Indexed Notes 3.1% |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Notes (j) | | | |
0.125%, due 1/15/30 | 2,504,843 | | 2,779,948 |
0.75%, due 7/15/28 | 10,561,520 | | 12,094,233 |
0.875%, due 1/15/29 | 12,564,123 | | 14,528,170 |
| | | 29,402,351 |
Total U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (Cost $26,676,415) | | | 29,402,351 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $901,583,499) | | | 919,539,766 |
|
| Shares | | |
Short-Term Investments 3.5% |
Affiliated Investment Company 3.0% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (k) | 29,106,126 | | 29,106,126 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 0.5% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund, 0.025% (k)(l) | 4,000,000 | | 4,000,000 |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (k)(l) | 524,173 | | 524,173 |
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies (Cost $4,524,173) | | | 4,524,173 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $33,630,299) | | | 33,630,299 |
Total Investments (Cost $935,213,798) | 99.6% | | 953,170,065 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.4 | | 4,211,847 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 957,381,912 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(b) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(c) | Fixed to floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Security is perpetual and, thus, does not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date. |
(e) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $5,051,575; the total market value of collateral held by the Portfolio was $5,239,486. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $715,313. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $4,524,173. (See Note 2(N)) |
(f) | Step coupon—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(g) | Collateralized Mortgage Obligation Interest Only Strip—Pays a fixed or variable rate of interest based on mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. The principal amount of the underlying pool represents the notional amount on which the current interest was calculated. The value of these stripped securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates and are typically more sensitive to changes in prepayment rates than traditional mortgage-backed securities. |
(h) | Collateral strip rate—A bond whose interest was based on the weighted net interest rate of the collateral. The coupon rate adjusts periodically based on a predetermined schedule. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(i) | Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(j) | Treasury Inflation Protected Security—Pays a fixed rate of interest on a principal amount that is continuously adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index-Urban Consumers. |
(k) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(l) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts1:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Long Bonds | 119 | March 2022 | $ 18,950,964 | $ 19,092,063 | $ 141,099 |
Short Contracts | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Notes | (371) | March 2022 | (81,011,976) | (80,941,766) | 70,210 |
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Notes | (1,020) | March 2022 | (123,101,371) | (123,396,094) | (294,723) |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Notes | (1,590) | March 2022 | (205,779,032) | (207,445,313) | (1,666,281) |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Ultra Bonds | (280) | March 2022 | (40,471,615) | (41,002,500) | (530,885) |
U.S. Treasury Ultra Bonds | (32) | March 2022 | (6,247,349) | (6,308,000) | (60,651) |
Total Short Contracts | | | | | (2,482,330) |
Net Unrealized Depreciation | | | | | $ (2,341,231) |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $4,551,003 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions. |
2. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
Swap Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following centrally cleared interest swap agreements1:
Notional Amount | Currency | Expiration Date | Payments made by Portfolio | Payments Received by Portfolio | Payment Frequency Paid/Received | Upfront Premiums Paid/ (Received) | | Value | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
$ 50,000,000 | USD | 3/16/23 | Fixed 2.793% | 3 month USD LIBOR | Semi-Annually/Quarterly | $ — | | $ (1,308,188) | | $ (1,308,188) |
50,000,000 | USD | 3/29/23 | Fixed 2.762% | 3 month USD LIBOR | Semi-Annually/Quarterly | — | | (1,318,304) | | (1,318,304) |
| | | | | | $ — | | $ (2,626,492) | | $ (2,626,492) |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $633,353 was on deposit with a broker for centrally cleared swap agreements. |
Abbreviation(s): |
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. |
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association |
FREMF—Freddie Mac Multifamily |
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association |
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
REMIC—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit |
SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
USD—United States Dollar |
USISDA—U.S. dollar International Swaps and Derivatives Association |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | $ — | | $ 113,578,831 | | $ — | | $ 113,578,831 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 484,343,634 | | — | | 484,343,634 |
Foreign Government Bonds | — | | 44,015,729 | | — | | 44,015,729 |
Loan Assignments | — | | 33,373,248 | | — | | 33,373,248 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | ��� — | | 210,089,665 | | — | | 210,089,665 |
Municipal Bonds | — | | 4,736,308 | | — | | 4,736,308 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies | — | | 29,402,351 | | — | | 29,402,351 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 919,539,766 | | — | | 919,539,766 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 29,106,126 | | — | | — | | 29,106,126 |
Unaffiliated Investment Companies | 4,524,173 | | — | | — | | 4,524,173 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 33,630,299 | | — | | — | | 33,630,299 |
Total Investments in Securities | 33,630,299 | | 919,539,766 | | — | | 953,170,065 |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | 211,309 | | — | | — | | 211,309 |
Total Other Financial Instruments | 211,309 | | — | | — | | 211,309 |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ 33,841,608 | | $ 919,539,766 | | $ — | | $ 953,381,374 |
Liability Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts (b) | $ (2,552,540) | | $ — | | $ — | | $ (2,552,540) |
Interest Rate Swaps (b) | — | | (2,626,492) | | — | | (2,626,492) |
Total Other Financial Instruments | $ (2,552,540) | | $ (2,626,492) | | $ — | | $ (5,179,032) |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $906,107,672) including securities on loan of $5,051,575 | $924,063,939 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $29,106,126) | 29,106,126 |
Cash | 66,907 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 4,551,003 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 633,353 |
Receivables: | |
Interest | 6,336,758 |
Portfolio shares sold | 54,909 |
Securities lending | 9,581 |
Other assets | 4,771 |
Total assets | 964,827,347 |
Liabilities |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 4,524,173 |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 1,346,625 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 468,929 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 406,055 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 280,981 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 198,256 |
Shareholder communication | 58,726 |
Professional fees | 52,164 |
Broker fees and charges on short sales | 51,986 |
Variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts | 25,374 |
Custodian | 13,059 |
Trustees | 1,605 |
Accrued expenses | 17,502 |
Total liabilities | 7,445,435 |
Net assets | $957,381,912 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 94,229 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 965,949,755 |
| 966,043,984 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | (8,662,072) |
Net assets | $957,381,912 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 24,819,920 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 2,435,083 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 10.19 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $932,561,992 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 91,794,374 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 10.16 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest | $ 33,330,956 |
Securities lending | 33,651 |
Dividends-affiliated | 6,488 |
Other | 111,740 |
Total income | 33,482,835 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 5,674,845 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 2,406,330 |
Professional fees | 120,417 |
Shareholder communication | 70,027 |
Custodian | 52,031 |
Broker fees and charges on short sales | 51,570 |
Interest on investments sold short | 30,201 |
Trustees | 21,496 |
Miscellaneous | 56,887 |
Total expenses | 8,483,804 |
Net investment income (loss) | 24,999,031 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 29,819,567 |
Futures transactions | 11,595,717 |
Investments sold short | (323,726) |
Swap transactions | (2,636,453) |
Foreign currency transactions | 129,165 |
Foreign currency forward transactions | (75,058) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 38,509,212 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (47,570,394) |
Futures contracts | (2,619,506) |
Investments sold short | 206,075 |
Swap contracts | 3,119,679 |
Foreign currency forward contracts | 225,778 |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (10,857) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (46,649,225) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (8,140,013) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 16,859,018 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 24,999,031 | $ 25,072,270 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 38,509,212 | (12,109,969) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (46,649,225) | 36,714,085 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 16,859,018 | 49,676,386 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (595,939) | (692,907) |
Service Class | (21,362,833) | (22,210,493) |
| (21,958,772) | (22,903,400) |
Distributions to shareholders from return of capital: | | |
Initial Class | — | (16,255) |
Service Class | — | (521,050) |
| — | (537,305) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (21,958,772) | (23,440,705) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 54,269,932 | 75,789,465 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 21,958,772 | 23,440,705 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (105,606,377) | (173,638,542) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (29,377,673) | (74,408,372) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (34,477,427) | (48,172,691) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 991,859,339 | 1,040,032,030 |
End of year | $ 957,381,912 | $ 991,859,339 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 10.25 | | $ 9.92 | | $ 9.60 | | $ 10.06 | | $ 9.90 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.29 | | 0.28 | | 0.29 | | 0.30 | | 0.29 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.10) | | 0.32 | | 0.38 | | (0.43) | | 0.18 |
Total from investment operations | 0.19 | | 0.60 | | 0.67 | | (0.13) | | 0.47 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.25) | | (0.26) | | (0.35) | | (0.33) | | (0.31) |
Return of capital | — | | (0.01) | | — | | — | | — |
Total distributions | (0.25) | | (0.27) | | (0.35) | | (0.33) | | (0.31) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 10.19 | | $ 10.25 | | $ 9.92 | | $ 9.60 | | $ 10.06 |
Total investment return (b) | 1.96% | | 6.12% | | 7.06% | | (1.21)% | | 4.81% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.80% | | 2.84% | | 2.96% | | 3.04% | | 2.89% |
Net expenses (c)(d) | 0.62% | | 0.70% | | 0.76% | | 0.75% | | 0.67% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 62% | | 52%(e) | | 51%(e) | | 33% | | 32% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 24,820 | | $ 22,538 | | $ 49,296 | | $ 116,901 | | $ 137,454 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | The expense ratios presented below show the impact of short sales expense: |
Year ended Ended | | Net Expenses (excluding short sale expenses) | | Short Sales Expenses |
December 31, 2021 | | 0.61% | | 0.01% |
December 31, 2020 | | 0.62% | | 0.08% |
December 31, 2019 | | 0.61% | | 0.15% |
December 31, 2018 | | 0.60% | | 0.15% |
December 31, 2017 | | 0.60% | | 0.07% |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rate not including mortgage dollar rolls was 51% and 45% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 10.21 | | $ 9.89 | | $ 9.57 | | $ 10.03 | | $ 9.87 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.26 | | 0.26 | | 0.26 | | 0.28 | | 0.26 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.08) | | 0.30 | | 0.39 | | (0.43) | | 0.19 |
Total from investment operations | 0.18 | | 0.56 | | 0.65 | | (0.15) | | 0.45 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.23) | | (0.23) | | (0.33) | | (0.31) | | (0.29) |
Return of capital | — | | (0.01) | | — | | — | | — |
Total distributions | (0.23) | | (0.24) | | (0.33) | | (0.31) | | (0.29) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 10.16 | | $ 10.21 | | $ 9.89 | | $ 9.57 | | $ 10.03 |
Total investment return (b) | 1.71% | | 5.86% | | 6.80% | | (1.46)% | | 4.55% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.53% | | 2.59% | | 2.66% | | 2.79% | | 2.64% |
Net expenses (c)(d) | 0.87% | | 0.93% | | 1.01% | | 1.00% | | 0.92% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 62% | | 52%(e) | | 51%(e) | | 33% | | 32% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 932,562 | | $ 969,321 | | $ 990,736 | | $ 999,100 | | $ 1,064,435 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(d) | The expense ratios presented below show the impact of short sales expense: |
Year ended Ended | | Net Expenses (excluding short sale expenses) | | Short Sales Expenses |
December 31, 2021 | | 0.86% | | 0.01% |
December 31, 2020 | | 0.86% | | 0.07% |
December 31, 2019 | | 0.86% | | 0.15% |
December 31, 2018 | | 0.85% | | 0.15% |
December 31, 2017 | | 0.85% | | 0.07% |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rate not including mortgage dollar rolls was 51% and 45% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Unconstrained Bond Portfolio) (the "Portfolio"), a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | April 29, 2011 |
Service Class | April 29, 2011 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek total return by investing primarily in domestic and foreign debt securities.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
30 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Monthly payment information | |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The
Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Swaps are marked to market daily based upon quotations from pricing agents, brokers or market makers. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Loan assignments, participations and commitments are valued at the average of bid quotations obtained from the engaged independent pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Certain loan assignments, participations and commitments may be valued by utilizing significant unobservable inputs obtained from the pricing service and are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or
expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
The Portfolio may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Portfolio's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method and includes any realized gains and losses from repayments of principal on mortgage-backed securities.
32 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in
the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(I) Loan Assignments, Participations and Commitments. The Portfolio may invest in loan assignments and participations ("loans"). Commitments are agreements to make money available to a borrower in a specified amount, at a specified rate and within a specified time. The Portfolio records an investment when the borrower withdraws money on a commitment or when a funded loan is purchased (trade date) and records interest as earned. These loans pay interest at rates that are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR").
The loans in which the Portfolio may invest are generally readily marketable, but may be subject to some restrictions on resale. For example, the Portfolio may be contractually obligated to receive approval from the agent bank and/or borrower prior to the sale of these investments. If the Portfolio purchases an assignment from a lender, the Portfolio will generally have direct contractual rights against the borrower in favor of the lender. If the Portfolio purchases a participation interest either from a lender or a participant, the Portfolio typically will have established a direct contractual relationship with the seller of the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
participation interest, but not with the borrower. Consequently, the Portfolio is subject to the credit risk of the lender or participant who sold the participation interest to the Portfolio, in addition to the usual credit risk of the borrower. In the event that the borrower, selling participant or intermediate participants become insolvent or enter into bankruptcy, the Portfolio may incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment, or may suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.
Unfunded commitments represent the remaining obligation of the Portfolio to the borrower. At any point in time, up to the maturity date of the issue, the borrower may demand the unfunded portion. Unfunded amounts, if any, are marked to market and any unrealized gains or losses are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not hold any unfunded commitments.
(J) Swap Contracts. The Portfolio may enter into credit default, interest rate, equity, index and currency exchange rate swap contracts (“swaps”). In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the future returns (or differentials in rates of future returns) earned or realized at periodic intervals on a particular investment or instrument based on a notional principal amount. Generally, the Portfolio will enter into a swap on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams under the swap are netted, with the Portfolio receiving or paying (as the case may be) only the net amount of the two payment streams. Therefore, the Portfolio's current obligation under a swap generally will be equal to the net amount to be paid or received under the swap, based on the relative value of notional positions attributable to each counterparty to the swap. The payments may be adjusted for transaction costs, interest payments, the amount of interest paid on the investment or instrument or other factors. Collateral, in the form of cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the custodian bank or broker in accordance with the terms of the swap. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over the counter (“OTC”) market and may be executed in a multilateral or other trade facilities platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally cleared swaps”).
Certain standardized swaps, including certain credit default and interest rate swaps, are subject to mandatory clearing and exchange-trading, and more types of standardized swaps are expected to be subject to mandatory clearing and exchange-trading in the future. The counterparty risk for exchange-traded and cleared derivatives is expected to be generally lower than for uncleared derivatives, but cleared contracts are not risk-free. In a cleared derivative transaction, the Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio's exposure to the credit risk of its original counterparty. The Portfolio will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared transaction.
Swaps are marked to market daily based upon quotations from pricing agents, brokers, or market makers and the change in value, if any, is
recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Any payments made or received upon entering into a swap would be amortized or accreted over the life of the swap and recorded as a realized gain or loss. Early termination of a swap is recorded as a realized gain or loss. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for the change in value as appropriate on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap in the event of the default or bankruptcy of the swap counterparty. The Portfolio may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap with the same party or a similar credit-worthy party. Swaps are not actively traded on financial markets. Entering into swaps involves elements of credit, market, and documentation risk in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibilities that there will be no liquid market for these swaps, that the counterparty to the swaps may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the swaps and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates, the price of the index or the security underlying these transactions.
Interest Rate Swaps : An interest rate swap is an agreement between two parties where one stream of future interest payments is exchanged for another based on a specified principal amount. Interest rate swaps often exchange a fixed payment for a floating payment that is linked to an interest rate (most often LIBOR). The Portfolio will typically use interest rate swaps to limit, or manage, its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, or to obtain a marginally lower interest rate than it would have been able to get without the swap.
(K) Foreign Currency Forward Contracts. The Portfolio may enter into foreign currency forward contracts, which are agreements to buy or sell foreign currencies on a specified future date at a specified rate. The Portfolio is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the normal course of investing in these transactions. During the period the forward contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. Cash movement occurs on the settlement date. When the forward contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract. The Portfolio may purchase and sell foreign currency forward contracts for purposes of seeking to enhance portfolio returns and manage portfolio risk more efficiently. Foreign currency forward contracts may also be used to gain exposure to a particular currency or to hedge against the risk of loss due to changing currency exchange rates. Foreign currency forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency may also be used in anticipation of future purchases or sales of securities denominated in foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected.
The use of foreign currency forward contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of risk in excess of the amount recognized in the
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities, including counterparty risk, market risk and illiquidity risk. Counterparty risk is heightened for these instruments because foreign currency forward contracts are not exchange-traded and therefore no clearinghouse or exchange stands ready to meet the obligations under such contracts. Thus, the Portfolio faces the risk that its counterparties under such contracts may not perform their obligations. Market risk is the risk that the value of a foreign currency forward contract will depreciate due to unfavorable changes in exchange rates. Illiquidity risk arises because the secondary market for foreign currency forward contracts may have less liquidity relative to markets for other securities and financial instruments. Risks also arise from the possible movements in the foreign exchange rates underlying these instruments. While the Portfolio may enter into forward contracts to reduce currency exchange risks, changes in currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance for the Portfolio than if it had not engaged in such transactions. Exchange rate movements can be large, depending on the currency, and can last for extended periods of time, affecting the value of the Portfolio's assets. Moreover, there may be an imperfect correlation between the Portfolio's holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Portfolio from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward contracts also reflects the Portfolio's exposure at the valuation date to credit loss in the event of a counterparty’s failure to perform its obligations. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not hold any foreign currency forward contracts.
(L) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(M) Securities Sold Short. The Portfolio may engage in sales of securities it does not own ("short sales") as part of its investment strategies. When the Portfolio enters into a short sale, it must segregate or maintain with a broker the cash proceeds from the security sold short or other securities as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. During the period a short position is open, depending on the nature and type of security, a short position is reflected as a liability and is marked to market in accordance with the valuation methodologies previously detailed (See Note 2(A)). Liabilities for securities sold short are closed out by purchasing the applicable securities for delivery to the counterparty broker. A gain, limited to the price at which the Portfolio sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited as to dollar amount, will be recognized upon termination of a short sale if the market price on the date the short position is closed out is less or greater, respectively, than the proceeds originally received. Any such gain or loss may be offset, completely or in part, by the change in the value of the hedged investments. Interest on short positions held is accrued daily, while dividends declared on short positions existing on the record date are recorded on the ex-dividend date as a dividend expense in the Statement of Operations. Broker fees and other expenses related to securities sold short are disclosed in the Statement of Operations. Short sales involve risk of loss in excess of the related amounts reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not enter into any securities sold short.
(N) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(O) Dollar Rolls. The Portfolio may enter into dollar roll transactions in which it sells mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") from its portfolio to a counterparty from whom it simultaneously agrees to buy a similar security on a delayed delivery basis. The Portfolio generally transfers MBS where the MBS are "to be announced," therefore, the Portfolio accounts for these transactions as purchases and sales.
When accounted for as purchase and sales, the securities sold in connection with the dollar rolls are removed from the portfolio and a realized gain or loss is recognized. The securities the Portfolio has agreed to acquire are included at market value in the Portfolio of Investments and liabilities for such purchase commitments are included as payables for investments purchased. During the roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future as well as by the earnings on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls may be renewed without physical delivery of the securities subject to the contract. The Portfolio maintains liquid assets from its portfolio having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest. Dollar roll transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the securities returned to the Portfolio at the end of the roll period, while substantially similar, could be inferior to what was initially sold to the counterparty.
(P) Debt and Foreign Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates. The Portfolio primarily invests in high yield debt securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”), which are considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher rated debt securities. These securities pay investors a premium—a higher interest rate or yield than investment grade debt securities—because of the increased risk of loss. These securities can also be subject to greater price volatility. In times of unusual or adverse market, economic or political conditions, these securities may experience higher than normal default rates.
Investments in the Portfolio are not guaranteed, even though some of the Portfolio’s underlying investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The principal risk of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities is that the underlying debt may be prepaid ahead of schedule, if interest rates fall, thereby reducing the value of the Portfolio’s investment. If interest rates rise, less of the debt may be prepaid and the Portfolio may lose money because the Portfolio may be unable to invest in higher yielding assets. The Portfolio is subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise.
Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner.
The Portfolio may invest in loans which are usually rated below investment grade and are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher rated debt securities. These investments pay investors a higher interest rate than investment grade debt securities because of the increased risk of loss. Although certain loans are collateralized, there is no guarantee that the value of the collateral will be sufficient to repay the loan. In a recession or serious credit event, the value of these investments could decline significantly. As a result of these and other events, the Portfolio’s NAVs could go down and you could lose money.
In addition, loans generally are subject to the extended settlement periods that may be longer than seven days. As a result, the Portfolio may be adversely affected by selling other investments at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions or engaging in borrowing trans-actions, such as borrowing against its credit facility, to raise cash to meet redemption obligations or pursue other investment opportunities.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities. As a result, the Portfolio may not have the protection of anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. In such cases, the Portfolio generally must rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates. The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(Q) Counterparty Credit Risk. In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Portfolio mitigate its counterparty risk, the Portfolio may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Portfolio and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains collateral posting terms and netting provisions. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/ or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or
36 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
insolvency of the counterparty. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may restrict or prohibit the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. In addition, certain ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels or if the Portfolio fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreements. The result would cause the Portfolio to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.
For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(R) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(S) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(T) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows. These derivatives are not accounted for as hedging instruments.
The Portfolio entered into futures contracts in order to help manage the duration and yield curve of the portfolio while minimizing the exposure to wider bid/ask spreads in traditional bonds.
The Portfolio also entered into interest rate swaps to hedge the potential risk of rising short term interest rates.
The Portfolio entered into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge against the risk of loss due to changing currency exchange rates.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Asset Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts (a) | $211,309 | $211,309 |
Total Fair Value | $211,309 | $211,309 |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Liability Derivatives | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (a) | $(2,552,540) | $(2,552,540) |
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on swap contracts (b) | (2,626,492) | (2,626,492) |
Total Fair Value | $(5,179,032) | $(5,179,032) |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
(b) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of centrally cleared swap agreements as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $ — | $11,595,717 | $11,595,717 |
Swap Contracts | — | (2,636,453) | (2,636,453) |
Forward Contracts | (75,058) | — | (75,058) |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $(75,058) | $ 8,959,264 | $ 8,884,206 |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Futures Contracts | $ — | $(2,619,506) | $(2,619,506) |
Swap Contracts | — | 3,119,679 | 3,119,679 |
Forward Contracts | 225,778 | — | 225,778 |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $225,778 | $ 500,173 | $ 725,951 |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Futures Contracts Long | $ 54,483,238 |
Futures Contracts Short | $(263,703,633) |
Swap Contracts Long | $ 100,000,000 |
Forward Contracts Long (a) | $ 4,041,070 |
Forward Contracts Short (b) | $ (6,913,309) |
(a) | Positions were open five months during the reporting period. |
(b) | Positions were open seven months during the reporting period. |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The
Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Portfolio's average daily net assets as follows: 0.60% up to $500 million; 0.55% from $500 million to $1 billion; 0.50% from $1 billion to $5 billion; and 0.475% in excess of $5 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate was 0.58%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $5,674,845 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $2,837,412.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its
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services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 63,644 | $ 418,953 | $ (453,491) | $ — | $ — | $ 29,106 | $ 6 | $ — | 29,106 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $935,346,730 | $22,410,401 | $(10,072,712) | $12,337,689 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$767,860 | $(24,626,776) | $15,196,844 | $(8,662,072) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to Bond Amortization discount, straddle loss deferral and mark to market of futures contracts.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $21,767,621, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $1,412 | $20,356 |
The Portfolio utilized $41,078,623 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $21,958,772 | $22,903,400 |
Return of Capital | — | 537,305 |
Total | $21,958,772 | $23,440,705 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $6,055 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of U.S. government securities were $45,148 and $78,736, respectively. Purchases and sales of securities, other than U.S. government securities and short-term securities, were $538,652 and $491,132, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 257,807 | $ 2,650,372 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 58,257 | 595,939 |
Shares redeemed | (80,307) | (824,780) |
Net increase (decrease) | 235,757 | $ 2,421,531 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 258,514 | $ 2,583,158 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 73,639 | 709,162 |
Shares redeemed | (3,101,043) | (29,875,147) |
Net increase (decrease) | (2,768,890) | $ (26,582,827) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 5,040,050 | $ 51,619,560 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,095,125 | 21,362,833 |
Shares redeemed | (10,233,577) | (104,781,597) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,098,402) | $ (31,799,204) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 7,366,851 | $ 73,206,307 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,339,365 | 22,731,543 |
Shares redeemed | (14,977,424) | (143,763,395) |
Net increase (decrease) | (5,271,208) | $ (47,825,545) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP MacKay Unconstrained Bond Portfolio)
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or MacKay that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and MacKay personnel. In
addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and MacKay; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and MacKay; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and MacKay. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life
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Investments and MacKay resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of MacKay, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of MacKay and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated MacKay’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay and New York Life Investments’ and MacKay’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed MacKay’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Portfolio’s
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to MacKay as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or MacKay had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio. Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and MacKay must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and MacKay to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board
recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay in exchange for commissions paid by the Portfolio with respect to trades in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the
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Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to MacKay is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints and voluntary waivers on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that
addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
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| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
50 | MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio |
MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI532
MainStay VP Allocation Portfolios
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio) |
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/13/2006 | 7.13% | 7.05% | 6.76% | 0.54% |
Service Class Shares | 2/13/2006 | 6.86 | 6.79 | 6.50 | 0.79 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
S&P 500® Index1 | 28.71% | 18.47% | 16.55% |
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 | 11.26 | 9.55 | 8.03 |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index3 | -1.54 | 3.57 | 2.90 |
Conservative Allocation Composite Index4 | 8.22 | 8.77 | 7.63 |
Morningstar Allocation - 30% to 50% Equity Category Average5 | 8.40 | 7.01 | 5.91 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. S&P 500® is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Portfolio's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Portfolio has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as an additional benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasurys, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
4. | The Portfolio has selected the Conservative Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Conservative Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index, the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index weighted 30%, 10% and 60%, respectively. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
5. | The Morningstar Allocation – 30% to 50% Equity Category Average is representative of funds that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These funds are dominated by domestic holdings and have equity exposures between 30% to 50%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
6 | MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,023.80 | $0.10 | $1,025.10 | $0.10 | 0.02% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,022.50 | $1.38 | $1,023.84 | $1.38 | 0.27% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying Portfolios/Funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
Asset Diversification as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds | 36.4% |
Fixed Income Funds | 55.0 |
Short-Term Investment | 8.2 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.4 |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 12 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio’s holdings are subject to change.
8 | MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investments,1 the Portfolio’s Manager.
How did MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio returned 7.13% for Initial Class shares and 6.86% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 28.71% return of the S& P 500® Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and the 11.26% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is a secondary benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the −1.54% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and underperformed the 8.22% return of the Conservative Allocation Composite Index, which are additional benchmarks of the Portfolio. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 8.40% return of the Morningstar Allocation—30% to 50% Equity Category Average.2
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio is a “fund of funds,” meaning that it seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates (the “Underlying Portfolios/Funds”). The Underlying Portfolios/Funds may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. The Portfolio’s management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Portfolio. The most influential factor affecting relative performance for the Portfolio versus the performance of this weighted combination of indices is the net performance of the Underlying Portfolios/Funds relative to their respective benchmarks.
The Portfolio’s stock/bond blend—which was neutral, or slightly overweight, to equities for most of the reporting period—contributed positively to performance. Nevertheless, the Portfolio’s performance moderately trailed the performance of the internally maintained blend of indices, primarily due to the materially negative impact of asset class policy along the following dimensions:
• The most notable drag on performance arose from the Portfolio’s tilt toward small-cap stocks over larger-cap stocks during the latter part of the reporting period. We anticipated that robust economic performance in the wake of the pandemic would fuel a rally that would benefit most
those firms that struggled particularly acutely during lockdowns. That did not happen – possibly due to softer restrictions that accompanied the Delta and Omicron waves of COVID-19. Large-cap growth stocks, particularly technology companies, led the market higher.
• An expected rebound in overseas markets relative to the U.S. market failed to materialize during the reporting period, disadvantaging the Portfolio’s tilt toward developed international markets.
• The Portfolio’s tilt away from bank loans also proved detrimental. Tight spreads3 did not appear to justify the risk that some less qualified borrowers might experience distress amid ongoing pandemic conditions. As it happened, these borrowers fared well as a group, benefiting from fiscal stimulus, loose monetary conditions and a healthy consumer.
• Finally, the Portfolio’s bias in favor of value stocks, as well as some specific industries and firms expected to benefit from the reopening and reacceleration of the economy, failed to perform as expected. This added another small impediment to expected performance.
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
Total return swaps were used to implement most of the Portfolio’s asset class policy decisions. Therefore, the swaps can be seen as detracting from the Portfolio’s relative performance over the course of the reporting period.
How did you allocate the Portfolio’s assets during the reporting period and why?
The Portfolio began the reporting period with the end of pandemic restrictions seemingly on the horizon. As such, we adjusted the Portfolio to favor cyclical sectors and businesses in industries likely to benefit most from the reopening of the economy. We also increased the Portfolio’s exposure to non-U.S. equities we believed were positioned to experience a recovery similar to that seen in the U.S., but on a lagged basis due to a slower vaccine rollout. Similarly, we moved down the capitalization spectrum, committing a larger allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to small- and mid-cap companies we judged likely to fare well in this environment. In addition, we reduced interest-rate sensitivity in the bond portion of the Portfolio, anticipating that mounting inflationary pressures would result in higher bond yields.
These adjustments provided a modest tailwind to the Portfolio’s performance through the late winter and early spring, however progress was reversed with the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant and a premature decline in vaccination rates. Positioning remained largely static during the second half of the reporting period as the economic reopening was partially postponed by the resurgence in case rates.
1. | “New York Life Investments” is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary New York Life Investment Management LLC. |
2. | See page 6 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
3. | The terms "spread" and "yield spread" may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
How did the Portfolio’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
We implemented the restructuring noted above largely through derivatives, specifically total return swaps. The Portfolio increased exposure to mid- and small-cap stocks, non-U.S. markets, and a basket of companies specifically leveraged to the reopening of the economy, while reducing exposure for large-cap U.S. stocks and a basket of companies identified as having been beneficiaries of lockdown conditions. The swaps on these reopening- and lockdown-sensitive baskets were removed late in the reporting period as the Omicron wave gathered momentum.
The Portfolio also made a number of adjustments at the Underlying Fund level; the most pronounced being a reduction in holdings of MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio, with proceeds redirected to a mix of cash, MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio and MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio. We took these steps to lessen the Portfolio’s interest-rate sensitivity and boost credit exposure at a time when we believed high-grade bond yields were poised to rise in response to mounting inflationary concerns.
Other notable changes arose from fund restructurings, as Wellington Management Company was named the new subadvisor of several MainStay funds that concurrently underwent name changes. Several Underlying Funds were also subject to mergers. By way of example, MainStay MAP Equity Fund was renamed MainStay WMC Value Fund when Wellington took the helm in late April. At the same time, MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund was merged into MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity Funds had the highest total returns and which had the lowest total returns?
The Underlying Equity Funds held for the entire reporting period that generated the highest total returns included IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF, MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (successor to the MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio) and MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio. The Underlying Equity Funds with the lowest returns were MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund.
Which Underlying Equity Funds were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance and which Underlying Equity Funds were particularly weak?
Allowing for the size of the allocation, the variation of that allocation across the reporting period and performance during that time, the positions that made the largest positive contributions to performance during the reporting period were MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio, IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF and MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio was the only Underlying Equity Fund to produce negative returns, while the smallest positive contributions to performance came from MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund and MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund.
What factors and risks affected the Portfolio’s Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolio/Fund investments during the reporting period?
Yields on U.S. Treasury instruments moved higher across the curve4 during 2021, largely due to sustained inflationary pressure and the ensuing expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) would need to tighten monetary policy in order to restore price stability. The same activity that drove price indices higher also gave a boost to corporate profits. That, and abundant liquidity provided by the Fed, led to a tightening in credit spreads.
During the reporting period, which fixed-income market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance and which segments were particularly weak?
Low-quality instruments, including high-yield bonds and bank loans, led fixed-income performance during the reporting period and contributed positively to the Portfolio’s returns. Inflation-indexed securities also performed well. At the opposite end of the spectrum were higher-quality, longer-duration5 bonds that tracked Treasury bond prices lower, without benefitting from spread compression and higher coupons to the same degree as debt issued by weaker borrowers.
4. | The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting. |
5. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
10 | MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
Which Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolios/Funds made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s performance, and which Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolios/Funds were the greatest detractors?
The largest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s returns came from MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund and MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio. The most significant detractors from performance were MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio and MainStay VP Bond Portfolio.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Affiliated Investment Companies 91.4% |
Equity Funds 36.4% |
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF | 550,465 | $ 13,789,148 |
IQ 500 International ETF | 353,035 | 11,475,756 |
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF (a) | 387,133 | 11,604,234 |
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF | 494,094 | 20,569,825 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF | 403,378 | 14,606,196 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF | 125,804 | 4,613,031 |
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund Class I | 187,951 | 2,554,579 |
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund Class I | 172,303 | 7,039,787 |
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 917,101 | 10,230,349 |
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio Initial Class | 848,889 | 15,406,315 |
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 382,007 | 6,869,602 |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio Initial Class | 118,306 | 10,619,637 |
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 509,106 | 8,924,840 |
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio Initial Class | 1,037,041 | 14,444,636 |
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 488,768 | 19,594,068 |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio Initial Class | 605,994 | 9,899,756 |
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio Initial Class | 517,336 | 7,130,283 |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 302,277 | 10,396,733 |
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 540,023 | 20,477,148 |
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6 | 246,213 | 8,737,628 |
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund Class I | 865,676 | 6,859,619 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Equity Funds (continued) |
MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6 | 464,792 | | $ 14,819,927 |
Total Equity Funds (Cost $207,022,807) | | | 250,663,097 |
Fixed Income Funds 55.0% |
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund Class I | 4,236,652 | | 41,539,102 |
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,609,404 | | 37,645,087 |
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 5,854,540 | | 51,854,247 |
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 20,646,484 | | 212,609,238 |
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio Initial Class | 2,790,474 | | 27,741,498 |
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 700,957 | | 6,957,560 |
Total Fixed Income Funds (Cost $380,299,688) | | | 378,346,732 |
Total Affiliated Investment Companies (Cost $587,322,495) | | | 629,009,829 |
Short-Term Investment 8.2% |
Affiliated Investment Company 8.2% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (b) | 56,347,598 | | 56,347,598 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $56,347,598) | 8.2% | | 56,347,598 |
Total Investments (Cost $643,670,093) | 99.6% | | 685,357,427 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.4 | | 2,690,185 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 688,047,612 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio's ownership exceeds 5% of the outstanding shares of the Underlying Portfolio's/Fund's share class. |
(b) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
Swap Contracts
Open OTC total return equity swap contracts as of December 31, 2021 were as follows1:
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.45% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 10,238 | $ — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.60% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 6,842 | — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 1 day FEDF minus 0.35% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (10,088) | — |
Citibank NA | iShares Semiconductor ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.35% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 2,242 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 1000 Growth Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.08% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (18,457) | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 1000 Value Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.60% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 16,317 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 2000 Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.40% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 32,057 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell Midcap Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.40% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 11,787 | — |
Citibank NA | S&P 500 Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.30% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (14,011) | — |
Citibank NA | SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF | 1 day FEDF minus 0.30% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 4,436 | — |
Citibank NA | VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.55% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 7,050 | — |
Citibank NA | Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.45% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 13,928 | — |
| | | | | | $ — |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount $2,402,734 was pledged to brokers for OTC swap contracts. |
2. | Portfolio pays the floating rate and receives the total return of the reference entity. |
3. | Notional amounts reflected as a positive value indicate a long position held by the Portfolio or Index and a negative value indicates a short position. |
4. | Reflects the value at reset date as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East |
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund |
FEDF—Federal Funds Rate |
FTSE—Financial Times Stock Exchange |
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International |
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Companies | | | | | | | |
Equity Funds | $ 250,663,097 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 250,663,097 |
Fixed Income Funds | 378,346,732 | | — | | — | | 378,346,732 |
Total Affiliated Investment Companies | 629,009,829 | | — | | — | | 629,009,829 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 56,347,598 | | — | | — | | 56,347,598 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 685,357,427 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 685,357,427 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $643,670,093) | $685,357,427 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 2,402,734 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 407,148 |
Portfolio shares sold | 311,380 |
Dividends and interest on OTC swaps contracts | 64,923 |
Other assets | 3,321 |
Total assets | 688,546,933 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Investment securities purchased | 144,736 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 141,766 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 132,023 |
Shareholder communication | 37,850 |
Professional fees | 29,460 |
Custodian | 5,850 |
Trustees | 1,109 |
Accrued expenses | 6,527 |
Total liabilities | 499,321 |
Net assets | $688,047,612 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 53,876 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 596,642,363 |
| 596,696,239 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 91,351,373 |
Net assets | $688,047,612 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 17,168,206 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 1,329,418 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 12.91 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $670,879,406 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 52,546,094 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 12.77 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividend distributions from affiliated investment companies | $ 14,736,674 |
Expenses | |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 1,701,261 |
Professional fees | 69,397 |
Shareholder communication | 44,307 |
Custodian | 39,898 |
Trustees | 15,108 |
Miscellaneous | 26,283 |
Total expenses | 1,896,254 |
Net investment income (loss) | 12,840,420 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Affiliated investment company transactions | 31,553,505 |
Realized capital gain distributions from affiliated investment companies | 29,833,416 |
Swap transactions | 683,852 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 62,070,773 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: Affiliated investments companies | (28,483,081) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 33,587,692 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 46,428,112 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 12,840,420 | $ 10,323,185 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 62,070,773 | 11,277,304 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (28,483,081) | 40,337,689 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 46,428,112 | 61,938,178 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (531,222) | (565,783) |
Service Class | (19,279,410) | (22,500,681) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (19,810,632) | (23,066,464) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 58,685,105 | 71,082,058 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 19,810,632 | 23,066,464 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (120,116,541) | (162,373,215) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (41,620,804) | (68,224,693) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (15,003,324) | (29,352,979) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 703,050,936 | 732,403,915 |
End of year | $ 688,047,612 | $ 703,050,936 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 12.44 | | $ 11.70 | | $ 10.77 | | $ 11.80 | | $ 10.87 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.27 | | 0.21 | | 0.20 | | 0.23 | | 0.22 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.61 | | 0.97 | | 1.38 | | (0.98) | | 0.95 |
Total from investment operations | 0.88 | | 1.18 | | 1.58 | | (0.75) | | 1.17 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.25) | | (0.25) | | (0.34) | | (0.28) | | (0.24) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.16) | | (0.19) | | (0.31) | | — | | — |
Total distributions | (0.41) | | (0.44) | | (0.65) | | (0.28) | | (0.24) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 12.91 | | $ 12.44 | | $ 11.70 | | $ 10.77 | | $ 11.80 |
Total investment return (b) | 7.13% | | 10.28% | | 14.83% | | (6.47)% | | 10.80% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.12% | | 1.76% | | 1.75% | | 2.02% | | 1.89% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.03% | | 0.04% | | 0.03% | | 0.03% | | 0.02% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 25% | | 29% | | 42% | | 58% | | 44% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 17,168 | | $ 16,707 | | $ 16,327 | | $ 14,616 | | $ 16,481 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 12.30 | | $ 11.57 | | $ 10.66 | | $ 11.67 | | $ 10.75 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.23 | | 0.17 | | 0.17 | | 0.20 | | 0.19 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.61 | | 0.97 | | 1.35 | | (0.96) | | 0.94 |
Total from investment operations | 0.84 | | 1.14 | | 1.52 | | (0.76) | | 1.13 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.21) | | (0.22) | | (0.30) | | (0.25) | | (0.21) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.16) | | (0.19) | | (0.31) | | — | | — |
Total distributions | (0.37) | | (0.41) | | (0.61) | | (0.25) | | (0.21) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 12.77 | | $ 12.30 | | $ 11.57 | | $ 10.66 | | $ 11.67 |
Total investment return (b) | 6.86% | | 10.01% | | 14.55% | | (6.68)% | | 10.52% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.83% | | 1.50% | | 1.47% | | 1.70% | | 1.66% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.28% | | 0.29% | | 0.28% | | 0.28% | | 0.27% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 25% | | 29% | | 42% | | 58% | | 44% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 670,879 | | $ 686,344 | | $ 716,077 | | $ 714,720 | | $ 865,873 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/13/2006 | 11.37% | 9.13% | 8.56% | 0.61% |
Service Class Shares | 2/13/2006 | 11.10 | 8.86 | 8.29 | 0.86 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
S&P 500® Index1 | 28.71% | 18.47% | 16.55% |
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 | 11.26 | 9.55 | 8.03 |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index3 | -1.54 | 3.57 | 2.90 |
Moderate Allocation Composite Index4 | 13.36 | 11.31 | 9.94 |
Morningstar Allocation - 50% to 70% Equity Category Average5 | 13.91 | 9.97 | 8.81 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. S&P 500® is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Portfolio's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Portfolio has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as an additional benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasurys, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
4. | The Portfolio has selected the Moderate Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Moderate Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index, the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index weighted 45%, 15% and 40%, respectively. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
5. | The Morningstar Allocation – 50% to 70% Equity Category Average is representative of funds that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These funds are dominated by domestic holdings and have equity exposures between 50% and 70%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
20 | MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,035.40 | $0.10 | $1,025.10 | $0.10 | 0.02% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,034.10 | $1.38 | $1,023.84 | $1.38 | 0.27% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying Portfolios/Funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
Asset Diversification as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds | 56.6% |
Fixed Income Funds | 34.9 |
Short-Term Investment | 8.1 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.4 |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 26 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio’s holdings are subject to change.
22 | MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investments,1 the Portfolio’s Manager.
How did MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio returned 11.37% for Initial Class shares and 11.10% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 28.71% return of the S& P 500® Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, while Initial Class shares outperformed, and Service Class shares underperformed, the 11.26% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is a secondary benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the −1.54% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and underperformed the 13.36% return of the Moderate Allocation Composite Index, which are additional benchmarks of the Portfolio. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 13.91% return of the Morningstar Allocation—50% to 70% Equity Category Average.2
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio is a “fund of funds,” meaning that it seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates (the “Underlying Portfolios/Funds”). The Underlying Portfolios/Funds may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. The Portfolio’s management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Portfolio. The most influential factor affecting relative performance for the Portfolio versus the performance of this weighted combination of indices is the net performance of the Underlying Portfolios/Funds relative to their respective benchmarks.
The Portfolio’s stock/bond blend—which was neutral, or slightly overweight, to equities for most of the reporting period— contributed positively to performance. Nevertheless, the Portfolio’s performance moderately trailed the performance of the internally maintained blend of indices, primarily due to the materially negative impact of asset class policy along the following dimensions:
• The most notable drag on performance arose from the Portfolio’s tilt toward small-cap stocks over larger-cap stocks during the latter part of the reporting period. We anticipated that robust economic performance in the wake of the pandemic would fuel a rally that would most benefit
those firms that struggled particularly acutely during lockdowns. That did not happen – possibly due to softer restrictions that accompanied the Delta and Omicron waves of COVID-19. Large-cap growth stocks, particularly technology companies, led the market higher.
• An expected rebound in overseas markets relative to the U.S. market failed to materialize during the reporting period, disadvantaging the Portfolio’s tilt toward developed international markets.
• The Portfolio’s tilt away from bank loans also proved detrimental. Tight spreads3 did not appear to justify the risk that some less qualified borrowers might experience distress amid ongoing pandemic conditions. As it happened, these borrowers fared well as a group, benefiting from fiscal stimulus, loose monetary conditions and a healthy consumer.
• Finally, the Portfolio’s bias in favor of value stocks, as well as some specific industries and firms expected to benefit from the reopening and reacceleration of the economy, failed to perform as expected. This added another small impediment to expected performance.
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
Total return swaps were used to implement most of the Portfolio’s asset class policy decisions. Therefore, the swaps can be seen as detracting from the Portfolio’s relative performance over the course of the reporting period.
How did you allocate the Portfolio’s assets during the reporting period and why?
The Portfolio began the reporting period with the end of pandemic restrictions seemingly on the horizon. As such, we adjusted the Portfolio to favor cyclical sectors and businesses in industries likely to benefit most from the reopening of the economy. We also increased the Portfolio’s exposure to non-U.S. equities we believed were positioned to experience a recovery similar to that seen in the U.S., but on a lagged basis due to a slower vaccine rollout. Similarly, we moved down the capitalization spectrum, committing a larger allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to small- and mid-cap companies we judged likely to fare well in this environment. In addition, we reduced interest-rate sensitivity in the bond portion of the Portfolio, anticipating that mounting inflationary pressures would result in higher bond yields.
These adjustments provided a modest tailwind to the Portfolio’s performance through the late winter and early spring, however progress was reversed with the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant and a premature decline in vaccination rates. Positioning remained largely static during the second half of the reporting period as the economic reopening was partially postponed by the resurgence in case rates.
1. | “New York Life Investments” is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary New York Life Investment Management LLC. |
2. | See page 19 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
3. | The terms "spread" and "yield spread" may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
How did the Portfolio’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
We implemented the restructuring noted above largely through derivatives, specifically total return swaps. The Portfolio increased exposure to mid- and small-cap stocks, non-U.S. markets, and a basket of companies specifically leveraged to the reopening of the economy in this way, while reducing exposure for large-cap U.S. stocks and a basket of companies identified as having been beneficiaries of lockdown conditions. The swaps on these reopening- and lockdown-sensitive baskets were removed late in the reporting period as the Omicron wave gathered momentum.
The Portfolio also made a number of adjustments at the Underlying Fund level; the most pronounced being a reduction in holdings of MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio, with proceeds redirected to a mix of cash, MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio and MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio. We took these steps to lessen the Portfolio’s interest-rate sensitivity and boost credit exposure at a time when we believed high-grade bond yields were poised to rise in response to mounting inflationary concerns.
Other notable changes arose from fund restructurings, as Wellington Management Company was named the new subadvisor of several MainStay funds that concurrently underwent name changes. Several Underlying Funds were also subject to mergers. By way of example, MainStay MAP Equity Fund was renamed MainStay WMC Value Fund when Wellington took the helm in late April. At the same time, MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund was merged into MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity Funds had the highest total returns and which had the lowest total returns?
The Underlying Equity Funds held for the entire reporting period that generated the highest total returns included IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF, MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (successor to the MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio) and MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio. The Underlying Equity Funds with the lowest returns were MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund.
Which Underlying Equity Funds were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance and which Underlying Equity Funds were particularly weak?
Allowing for the size of the allocation, the variation of that allocation across the reporting period and performance during that time, the positions that made the largest positive contributions to performance during the reporting period were MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio, IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF and MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The smallest positive contributions to performance came from MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio, MainStay VP Wellington US Equity Portfolio and MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund.
What factors and risks affected the Portfolio’s Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolio/Fund investments during the reporting period?
Yields on U.S. Treasury instruments moved higher across the curve4 during 2021, largely due to sustained inflationary pressure and the ensuing expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) would need to tighten monetary policy in order to restore price stability. The same activity that drove price indices higher also gave a boost to corporate profits. That, and abundant liquidity provided by the Fed, led to a tightening in credit spreads.
During the reporting period, which fixed-income market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance and which segments were particularly weak?
Low-quality instruments, such as high-yield bonds and bank loans, led fixed-income performance during the reporting period and contributed positively to the Portfolio’s returns. Inflation-indexed securities also performed well. At the opposite end of the spectrum were higher-quality, longer-duration5 bonds that tracked Treasury bond prices lower, without benefitting from spread compression and higher coupons to the same degree as debt issued by weaker borrowers.
4. | The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting. |
5. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
24 | MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
Which Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolios/Funds made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s performance, and which Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolios/Funds were the greatest detractors?
The largest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s returns came from MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund and MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio. The most significant detractors from performance were MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio and MainStay VP Bond Portfolio.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Affiliated Investment Companies 91.5% |
Equity Funds 56.6% |
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF (a) | 862,836 | $ 21,614,042 |
IQ 500 International ETF (a) | 863,307 | 28,062,657 |
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF (a) | 905,520 | 27,142,781 |
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF (a) | 1,343,401 | 55,927,664 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF (a) | 1,012,897 | 36,676,697 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF (a) | 345,842 | 12,681,473 |
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund Class I (a) | 335,125 | 4,554,916 |
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund Class I (a) | 491,653 | 20,087,425 |
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,262,952 | 25,243,452 |
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,934,580 | 35,110,310 |
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,014,955 | 18,251,834 |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio Initial Class | 269,196 | 24,164,278 |
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,476,015 | 25,875,135 |
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,130,127 | 29,669,897 |
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 815,145 | 32,678,100 |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,678,543 | 27,421,347 |
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,435,064 | 19,779,053 |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 461,354 | 15,868,137 |
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,547,408 | 58,676,183 |
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6 (a) | 837,166 | 29,709,428 |
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund Class I (a) | 2,411,245 | 19,106,704 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Equity Funds (continued) |
MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6 (a) | 1,246,832 | | $ 39,755,368 |
Total Equity Funds (Cost $506,700,077) | | | 608,056,881 |
Fixed Income Funds 34.9% |
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund Class I | 3,852,423 | | 37,771,856 |
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,395,673 | | 34,561,659 |
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 6,083,434 | | 53,881,579 |
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 18,955,064 | | 195,191,668 |
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 4,349,362 | | 43,239,184 |
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,092,546 | | 10,844,389 |
Total Fixed Income Funds (Cost $387,731,046) | | | 375,490,335 |
Total Affiliated Investment Companies (Cost $894,431,123) | | | 983,547,216 |
Short-Term Investment 8.1% |
Affiliated Investment Company 8.1% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (a)(b) | 86,595,191 | | 86,595,191 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $86,595,191) | 8.1% | | 86,595,191 |
Total Investments (Cost $981,026,314) | 99.6% | | 1,070,142,407 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.4 | | 4,303,938 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 1,074,446,345 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio's ownership exceeds 5% of the outstanding shares of the Underlying Portfolio's/Fund's share class. |
(b) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 | MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
Swap Contracts
Open OTC total return equity swap contracts as of December 31, 2021 were as follows1:
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.45% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 15,958 | $ — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.60% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 10,665 | — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 1 day FEDF minus 0.35% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (20,964) | — |
Citibank NA | iShares Semiconductor ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.35% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 3,475 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 1000 Growth Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.08% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (25,926) | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 1000 Value Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.60% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 28,257 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 2000 Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.40% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 47,295 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell Midcap Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.40% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 20,807 | — |
Citibank NA | S&P 500 Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.30% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (21,770) | — |
Citibank NA | SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF | 1 day FEDF minus 0.30% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 6,876 | — |
Citibank NA | VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.55% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 10,990 | — |
Citibank NA | Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.45% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 21,709 | — |
| | | | | | $ — |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount $3,927,887 was pledged to brokers for OTC swap contracts. |
2. | Portfolio pays the floating rate and receives the total return of the reference entity. |
3. | Notional amounts reflected as a positive value indicate a long position held by the Portfolio or Index and a negative value indicates a short position. |
4. | Reflects the value at reset date as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East |
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund |
FEDF—Federal Funds Rate |
FTSE—Financial Times Stock Exchange |
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International |
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Companies | | | | | | | |
Equity Funds | $ 608,056,881 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 608,056,881 |
Fixed Income Funds | 375,490,335 | | — | | — | | 375,490,335 |
Total Affiliated Investment Companies | 983,547,216 | | — | | — | | 983,547,216 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 86,595,191 | | — | | — | | 86,595,191 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 1,070,142,407 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,070,142,407 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 | MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $981,026,314) | $1,070,142,407 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 3,927,887 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 800,849 |
Dividends and interest on OTC swaps contracts | 101,295 |
Portfolio shares sold | 59,515 |
Other assets | 5,099 |
Total assets | 1,075,037,052 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 214,588 |
Investment securities purchased | 150,375 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 115,087 |
Shareholder communication | 57,932 |
Professional fees | 36,496 |
Custodian | 6,231 |
Trustees | 1,649 |
Accrued expenses | 8,349 |
Total liabilities | 590,707 |
Net assets | $1,074,446,345 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 84,434 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 898,282,781 |
| 898,367,215 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 176,079,130 |
Net assets | $1,074,446,345 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 53,604,074 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 4,173,732 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 12.84 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $1,020,842,271 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 80,260,642 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 12.72 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividend distributions from affiliated investment companies | $ 19,380,607 |
Expenses | |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 2,584,786 |
Professional fees | 87,958 |
Shareholder communication | 68,681 |
Custodian | 41,295 |
Trustees | 23,321 |
Miscellaneous | 39,595 |
Total expenses | 2,845,636 |
Net investment income (loss) | 16,534,971 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Affiliated investment company transactions | 58,338,823 |
Realized capital gain distributions from affiliated investment companies | 57,826,768 |
Swap transactions | 2,039,182 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 118,204,773 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: Affiliated investments companies | (20,277,086) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 97,927,687 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $114,462,658 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
30 | MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 16,534,971 | $ 16,200,095 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 118,204,773 | 23,048,257 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (20,277,086) | 68,669,592 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 114,462,658 | 107,917,944 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (1,998,108) | (2,317,718) |
Service Class | (36,451,506) | (49,413,476) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (38,449,614) | (51,731,194) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 49,533,268 | 44,548,280 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 38,449,614 | 51,731,194 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (175,474,825) | (213,972,555) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (87,491,943) | (117,693,081) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (11,478,899) | (61,506,331) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 1,085,925,244 | 1,147,431,575 |
End of year | $1,074,446,345 | $1,085,925,244 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
31
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.99 | | $ 11.32 | | $ 10.33 | | $ 11.89 | | $ 10.57 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.23 | | 0.20 | | 0.23 | | 0.23 | | 0.20 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.11 | | 1.07 | | 1.60 | | (1.16) | | 1.36 |
Total from investment operations | 1.34 | | 1.27 | | 1.83 | | (0.93) | | 1.56 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.15) | | (0.29) | | (0.36) | | (0.27) | | (0.19) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.34) | | (0.31) | | (0.48) | | (0.36) | | (0.05) |
Total distributions | (0.49) | | (0.60) | | (0.84) | | (0.63) | | (0.24) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 12.84 | | $ 11.99 | | $ 11.32 | | $ 10.33 | | $ 11.89 |
Total investment return (b) | 11.37% | | 11.57% | | 18.29% | | (8.40)% | | 14.97% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.81% | | 1.83% | | 2.04% | | 1.99% | | 1.79% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.02% | | 0.03% | | 0.03% | | 0.02% | | 0.02% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 27% | | 31% | | 40% | | 52% | | 33% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 53,604 | | $ 48,025 | | $ 45,283 | | $ 43,161 | | $ 49,419 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 11.88 | | $ 11.22 | | $ 10.23 | | $ 11.79 | | $ 10.48 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.19 | | 0.17 | | 0.20 | | 0.20 | | 0.17 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.11 | | 1.06 | | 1.60 | | (1.16) | | 1.36 |
Total from investment operations | 1.30 | | 1.23 | | 1.80 | | (0.96) | | 1.53 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.12) | | (0.26) | | (0.33) | | (0.24) | | (0.17) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.34) | | (0.31) | | (0.48) | | (0.36) | | (0.05) |
Total distributions | (0.46) | | (0.57) | | (0.81) | | (0.60) | | (0.22) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 12.72 | | $ 11.88 | | $ 11.22 | | $ 10.23 | | $ 11.79 |
Total investment return (b) | 11.10% | | 11.29% | | 18.00% | | (8.63)% | | 14.68% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.51% | | 1.52% | | 1.76% | | 1.73% | | 1.53% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.27% | | 0.28% | | 0.27% | | 0.27% | | 0.27% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 27% | | 31% | | 40% | | 52% | | 33% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 1,020,842 | | $ 1,037,900 | | $ 1,102,149 | | $ 1,103,235 | | $ 1,288,895 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
32 | MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/13/2006 | 16.01% | 10.99% | 10.33% | 0.71% |
Service Class Shares | 2/13/2006 | 15.72 | 10.72 | 10.05 | 0.96 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
S&P 500® Index1 | 28.71% | 18.47% | 16.55% |
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 | 11.26 | 9.55 | 8.03 |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index3 | -1.54 | 3.57 | 2.90 |
Growth Allocation Composite Index4 | 18.68 | 13.80 | 12.22 |
Morningstar Allocation - 70% to 85% Equity Category Average5 | 16.33 | 10.86 | 9.78 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. S&P 500® is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Portfolio's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Portfolio has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as an additional benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasurys, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
4. | The Portfolio has selected the Growth Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Growth Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index, the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index weighted 60%, 20% and 20%, respectively. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
5. | The Morningstar Allocation—70% to 85% Equity Category Average is representative of funds that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These funds are dominated by domestic holdings and have equity exposures between 70% and 85%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
34 | MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,045.70 | $0.10 | $1,025.10 | $0.10 | 0.02% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,044.40 | $1.39 | $1,023.84 | $1.38 | 0.27% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying Portfolios/Funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
Asset Diversification as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds | 76.9% |
Fixed Income Funds | 15.1 |
Short-Term Investment | 7.6 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.4 |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 40 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio’s holdings are subject to change.
36 | MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investments,1 the Portfolio’s Manager.
How did MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio returned 16.01% for Initial Class shares and 15.72% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 28.71% return of the S&P 500® Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and outperformed the 11.26% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is a secondary benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes outperformed the −1.54% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and underperformed the 18.68% return of the Growth Allocation Composite Index, which are additional benchmarks of the Portfolio. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 16.33% return of the Morningstar Allocation—70% to 85% Equity Category Average.2
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio is a “fund of funds,” meaning that it seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates (the “Underlying Portfolios/Funds”). The Underlying Portfolios/Funds may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. The Portfolio’s management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Portfolio. The most influential factor affecting relative performance for the Portfolio versus the performance of this weighted combination of indices is the net performance of the Underlying Portfolios/Funds relative to their respective benchmarks.
The Portfolio’s stock/bond blend—which was neutral, or slightly overweight, to equities for most of the reporting period—contributed positively to performance. Nevertheless, the Portfolio’s performance moderately trailed the performance of the internally maintained blend of indices, primarily due to the materially negative impact of asset class policy along the following dimensions:
• The most notable drag on performance arose from the Portfolio’s tilt toward small-cap stocks over larger-cap stocks during the latter part of the reporting period. We anticipated that robust economic performance in the wake of the pandemic would fuel a rally that would benefit most
those firms that struggled particularly acutely during lockdowns. That did not happen – possibly due to softer restrictions that accompanied the Delta and Omicron waves of COVID-19. Large-cap growth stocks, particularly technology companies, led the market higher.
• An expected rebound in overseas markets relative to the U.S. market failed to materialize during the reporting period, disadvantaging the Portfolio’s tilt toward developed international markets.
• The Portfolio’s tilt away from bank loans also proved detrimental. Tight spreads3 did not appear to justify the risk that some less qualified borrowers might experience distress amid ongoing pandemic conditions. As it happened, these borrowers fared well as a group, benefiting from fiscal stimulus, loose monetary conditions and a healthy consumer.
• Finally, the Portfolio’s bias in favor of value stocks, as well as some specific industries and firms expected to benefit from the reopening and reacceleration of the economy, failed to perform as expected. This added another small impediment to expected performance.
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
Total return swaps were used to implement most of the Portfolio’s asset class policy decisions. Therefore, the swaps can be seen as detracting from the Portfolio’s relative performance over the course of the reporting period.
How did you allocate the Portfolio’s assets during the reporting period and why?
The Portfolio began the reporting period with the end of pandemic restrictions seemingly on the horizon. As such, we adjusted the Portfolio to favor cyclical sectors and businesses in industries likely to benefit most from the reopening of the economy. We also increased the Portfolio’s exposure to non-U.S. equities we believed were positioned to experience a recovery similar to that seen in the U.S., but on a lagged basis due to a slower vaccine rollout. Similarly, we moved down the capitalization spectrum, committing a larger allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to small- and mid-cap companies we judged likely to fare well in this environment. In addition, we reduced interest-rate sensitivity in the bond portion of the Portfolio, anticipating that mounting inflationary pressures would result in higher bond yields.
These adjustments provided a modest tailwind to the Portfolio’s performance through the late winter and early spring, however progress was reversed with the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant and a premature decline in vaccination rates. Positioning remained largely static during the second half of the reporting period as the economic reopening was partially postponed by the resurgence in case rates.
1. | “New York Life Investments” is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary New York Life Investment Management LLC. |
2. | See page 33 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
3. | The terms "spread" and "yield spread" may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
How did the Portfolio’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
We implemented the restructuring noted above largely through derivatives, specifically total return swaps. The Portfolio increased exposure to mid- and small-cap stocks, non-U.S. markets, and a basket of companies specifically leveraged to the reopening of the economy, while reducing exposure for large-cap U.S. stocks and a basket of companies identified as having been beneficiaries of lockdown conditions. The swaps on these reopening- and lockdown-sensitive baskets were removed late in the reporting period as the Omicron wave gathered momentum.
The Portfolio also made a number of adjustments at the Underlying Fund level; the most pronounced being a reduction in holdings of MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio, with proceeds redirected to a mix of cash, MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio and MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio. We took these steps to lessen the Portfolio’s interest-rate sensitivity and boost credit exposure at a time when we believed high-grade bond yields were poised to rise in response to mounting inflationary concerns.
Other notable changes arose from fund restructurings, as Wellington Management Company was named the new subadvisor of several MainStay funds that concurrently underwent name changes. Several Underlying Funds were also subject to mergers. By way of example, MainStay MAP Equity Fund was renamed MainStay WMC Value Fund when Wellington took the helm in late April. At the same time, MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund was merged into MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity Funds had the highest total returns and which had the lowest total returns?
The Underlying Equity Funds held for the entire reporting period that generated the highest total returns included IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF, MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (successor to the MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio) and MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio. The Underlying Equity Funds with the lowest returns were MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund.
Which Underlying Equity Funds were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance and which Underlying Equity Funds were particularly weak?
Allowing for the size of the allocation, the variation of that allocation across the reporting period and performance during that time, the positions that made the largest positive contributions to performance during the reporting period were MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio, IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF and MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The smallest positive contributions to performance came from MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio, MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio and MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund.
What factors and risks affected the Portfolio’s Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolio/Fund investments during the reporting period?
Yields on U.S. Treasury instruments moved higher across the curve4 during 2021, largely due to sustained inflationary pressure and the ensuing expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) would need to tighten monetary policy in order to restore price stability. The same activity that drove price indices higher also gave a boost to corporate profits. That, and abundant liquidity provided by the Fed, led to a tightening in credit spreads.
During the reporting period, which fixed-income market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance and which segments were particularly weak?
Low-quality instruments, such as high-yield bonds and bank loans, led fixed-income performance during the reporting period and contributed positively to the Portfolio’s returns. Inflation-indexed securities also performed well. At the opposite end of the spectrum were higher-quality, longer-duration5 bonds that tracked Treasury bond prices lower, without benefitting from spread compression and higher coupons to the same degree as debt issued by weaker borrowers.
4. | The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting. |
5. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
38 | MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
Which Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolios/Funds made the strongest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s performance, and which Underlying Fixed-Income Portfolios/Funds were the greatest detractors?
The largest positive contributions to the Portfolio’s returns came from MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund and MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio. The most significant detractors from performance were MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio and MainStay VP Bond Portfolio.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Affiliated Investment Companies 92.0% |
Equity Funds 76.9% |
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF (a) | 1,662,493 | $ 41,645,450 |
IQ 500 International ETF (a) | 2,035,476 | 66,165,183 |
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF (a) | 1,406,982 | 42,174,004 |
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF (a) | 2,676,861 | 111,441,471 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF (a) | 2,400,954 | 86,937,824 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF (a) | 720,962 | 26,436,523 |
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund Class I (a) | 556,003 | 7,557,032 |
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund Class I (a) | 1,298,111 | 53,036,798 |
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 5,619,255 | 62,683,355 |
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 4,767,027 | 86,515,811 |
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,843,756 | 33,156,073 |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio Initial Class | 785,747 | 70,532,163 |
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 4,353,982 | 76,327,048 |
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 5,179,229 | 72,139,923 |
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,362,684 | 54,628,216 |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 3,896,575 | 63,656,007 |
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 4,109,194 | 56,635,791 |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 456,780 | 15,710,819 |
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 3,142,121 | 119,146,074 |
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6 (a) | 1,773,396 | 62,934,451 |
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund Class I (a) | 6,495,198 | 51,467,949 |
MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6 (a) | 2,976,155 | 94,895,013 |
Total Equity Funds (Cost $1,133,870,646) | | 1,355,822,978 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Fixed Income Funds 15.1% |
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund Class I (a) | 6,323,933 | | $ 62,004,262 |
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio Initial Class | 274,226 | | 3,956,174 |
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 9,986,259 | | 88,449,295 |
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,177,037 | | 22,418,261 |
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 7,139,672 | | 70,979,048 |
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,793,454 | | 17,801,462 |
Total Fixed Income Funds (Cost $267,729,077) | | | 265,608,502 |
Total Affiliated Investment Companies (Cost $1,401,599,723) | | | 1,621,431,480 |
Short-Term Investment 7.6% |
Affiliated Investment Company 7.6% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (a)(b) | 134,290,380 | | 134,290,380 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $134,290,380) | 7.6% | | 134,290,380 |
Total Investments (Cost $1,535,890,103) | 99.6% | | 1,755,721,860 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.4 | | 7,387,355 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 1,763,109,215 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio's ownership exceeds 5% of the outstanding shares of the Underlying Portfolio's/Fund's share class. |
(b) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
40 | MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
Swap Contracts
Open OTC total return equity swap contracts as of December 31, 2021 were as follows1:
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.45% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 26,194 | $ — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.60% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 17,506 | — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 1 day FEDF minus 0.35% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (34,413) | — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.55% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 10,533 | — |
Citibank NA | iShares Semiconductor ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.35% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 5,674 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 1000 Growth Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.08% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (46,453) | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 1000 Value Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.60% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 42,458 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 2000 Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.40% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 72,947 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell Midcap Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.40% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 36,220 | — |
Citibank NA | S&P 500 Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.30% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (35,691) | — |
Citibank NA | SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF | 1 day FEDF minus 0.30% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 11,227 | — |
Citibank NA | VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.55% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 18,040 | — |
Citibank NA | Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.45% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 35,636 | — |
| | | | | | $ — |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount $6,089,216 was pledged to brokers for OTC swap contracts. |
2. | Portfolio pays the floating rate and receives the total return of the reference entity. |
3. | Notional amounts reflected as a positive value indicate a long position held by the Portfolio or Index and a negative value indicates a short position. |
4. | Reflects the value at reset date as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East |
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund |
FEDF—Federal Funds Rate |
FTSE—Financial Times Stock Exchange |
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International |
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
41
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Companies | | | | | | | |
Equity Funds | $ 1,355,822,978 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,355,822,978 |
Fixed Income Funds | 265,608,502 | | — | | — | | 265,608,502 |
Total Affiliated Investment Companies | 1,621,431,480 | | — | | — | | 1,621,431,480 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 134,290,380 | | — | | — | | 134,290,380 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 1,755,721,860 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,755,721,860 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
42 | MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $1,535,890,103) | $1,755,721,860 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 6,089,216 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 1,766,750 |
Dividends and interest on OTC swaps contracts | 405,808 |
Portfolio shares sold | 205,631 |
Other assets | 8,468 |
Total assets | 1,764,197,733 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 347,226 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 329,204 |
Investment securities purchased | 246,987 |
Shareholder communication | 94,419 |
Professional fees | 47,693 |
Custodian | 6,925 |
Trustees | 2,984 |
Accrued expenses | 13,080 |
Total liabilities | 1,088,518 |
Net assets | $1,763,109,215 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 130,864 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 1,386,385,208 |
| 1,386,516,072 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 376,593,143 |
Net assets | $1,763,109,215 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 108,059,410 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 7,933,289 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 13.62 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $1,655,049,805 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 122,931,079 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 13.46 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
43
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividend distributions from affiliated investment companies | $ 27,253,989 |
Other | 12 |
Total income | 27,254,001 |
Expenses | |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 4,247,106 |
Professional fees | 127,064 |
Shareholder communication | 112,690 |
Custodian | 43,912 |
Trustees | 38,983 |
Miscellaneous | 63,709 |
Total expenses | 4,633,464 |
Net investment income (loss) | 22,620,537 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Affiliated investment company transactions | 90,266,662 |
Realized capital gain distributions from affiliated investment companies | 114,218,070 |
Swap transactions | 1,678,905 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 206,163,637 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: Affiliated investments companies | 36,054,571 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 242,218,208 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $264,838,745 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
44 | MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 22,620,537 | $ 27,223,667 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 206,163,637 | 32,814,256 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 36,054,571 | 137,830,502 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 264,838,745 | 197,868,425 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (3,856,100) | (5,689,162) |
Service Class | (57,164,920) | (99,239,141) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (61,021,020) | (104,928,303) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 28,269,029 | 31,035,516 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 61,021,020 | 104,928,303 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (339,935,149) | (379,216,886) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (250,645,100) | (243,253,067) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (46,827,375) | (150,312,945) |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 1,809,936,590 | 1,960,249,535 |
End of year | $1,763,109,215 | $1,809,936,590 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
45
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 12.19 | | $ 11.51 | | $ 10.57 | | $ 12.61 | | $ 11.00 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.20 | | 0.21 | | 0.26 | | 0.21 | | 0.17 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.72 | | 1.21 | | 1.91 | | (1.47) | | 1.86 |
Total from investment operations | 1.92 | | 1.42 | | 2.17 | | (1.26) | | 2.03 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.33) | | (0.34) | | (0.39) | | (0.24) | | (0.18) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.16) | | (0.40) | | (0.84) | | (0.54) | | (0.24) |
Total distributions | (0.49) | | (0.74) | | (1.23) | | (0.78) | | (0.42) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 13.62 | | $ 12.19 | | $ 11.51 | | $ 10.57 | | $ 12.61 |
Total investment return (b) | 16.01% | | 12.94% | | 21.42% | | (10.73)% | | 18.62% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.53% | | 1.87% | | 2.22% | | 1.71% | | 1.43% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.02% | | 0.03% | | 0.02% | | 0.02% | | 0.02% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 24% | | 32% | | 41% | | 44% | | 31% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 108,059 | | $ 98,314 | | $ 91,615 | | $ 80,133 | | $ 90,089 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 12.05 | | $ 11.38 | | $ 10.47 | | $ 12.49 | | $ 10.90 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.16 | | 0.17 | | 0.22 | | 0.17 | | 0.14 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.71 | | 1.21 | | 1.88 | | (1.44) | | 1.84 |
Total from investment operations | 1.87 | | 1.38 | | 2.10 | | (1.27) | | 1.98 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.30) | | (0.31) | | (0.35) | | (0.21) | | (0.15) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.16) | | (0.40) | | (0.84) | | (0.54) | | (0.24) |
Total distributions | (0.46) | | (0.71) | | (1.19) | | (0.75) | | (0.39) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 13.46 | | $ 12.05 | | $ 11.38 | | $ 10.47 | | $ 12.49 |
Total investment return (b) | 15.72% | | 12.65% | | 21.12% | | (10.95)% | | 18.32% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.24% | | 1.55% | | 1.90% | | 1.42% | | 1.17% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.27% | | 0.28% | | 0.27% | | 0.27% | | 0.27% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 24% | | 32% | | 41% | | 44% | | 31% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 1,655,050 | | $ 1,711,623 | | $ 1,868,634 | | $ 1,849,974 | | $ 2,263,952 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
46 | MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/13/2006 | 20.16% | 13.00% | 11.77% | 0.74% |
Service Class Shares | 2/13/2006 | 19.86 | 12.72 | 11.49 | 0.99 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years |
S&P 500® Index1 | 28.71% | 18.47% | 16.55% |
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 | 11.26 | 9.55 | 8.03 |
Equity Allocation Composite Index3 | 24.19 | 16.24 | 14.46 |
Morningstar Allocation - 85%+ Equity Category Average4 | 18.06 | 12.58 | 11.45 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The S&P 500® Index is the Portfolio's primary benchmark. S&P 500® is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Portfolio's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
3. | The Portfolio has selected the Equity Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Equity Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index and the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) weighted 75% and 25%, respectively. Prior to February 28, 2014, the Equity Allocation Composite Index consisted of the S&P 500® Index and the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) weighted 80% and 20%, respectively. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
4. | The Morningstar Allocation—85%+ Equity Category Average is representative of funds that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These funds are dominated by domestic holdings and have equity exposures of over 85%. These funds typically allocate at least 10% to equities of foreign companies and do not exclusively allocate between cash and equities. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,055.80 | $0.10 | $1,025.10 | $0.10 | 0.02% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,054.50 | $1.40 | $1,023.84 | $1.38 | 0.27% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying Portfolios/Funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
48 | MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio |
Asset Diversification as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds | 96.7% |
Short-Term Investment | 3.0 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.3 |
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 52 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio’s holdings are subject to change.
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investment,1the Portfolio’s Manager.
How did MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio perform relative to its benchmarks and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio returned 20.16% for Initial Class shares and 19.86% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 28.71% return of the S&P 500® Index, which is the Portfolio’s primary benchmark, and outperformed the 11.26% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is a secondary benchmark of the Portfolio. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, both share classes underperformed the 24.19% return of the Equity Allocation Composite Index and outperformed the 18.06% return of Morningstar Allocation—85%+ Equity Category Average.2
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Portfolio is a “fund of funds,” meaning that it seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates (the “Underlying Portfolios/Funds”). The Underlying Portfolios/Funds may invest in a range of capitalizations and geographies, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. The Portfolio’s management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Portfolio. The most influential factor affecting relative performance for the Portfolio versus the performance of this weighted combination of indices is the net performance of the Underlying Portfolios/Funds relative to their respective benchmarks.
The Portfolio’s performance moderately trailed the performance of the internally maintained blend of indices, primarily due to the materially negative impact of asset class policy along the following dimensions:
• The most notable drag on performance arose from the Portfolio’s tilt toward small-cap stocks over larger-cap stocks during the latter part of the reporting period. We anticipated that robust economic performance in the wake of the pandemic would fuel a rally the would benefit most those firms that struggled particularly acutely during lockdowns. That did not happen – possibly due to softer restrictions that accompanied the Delta and Omicron waves of COVID-19. Large-cap growth stocks, particularly technology companies, led the market higher.
• An expected rebound in overseas markets relative to the U.S. market failed to materialize during the reporting period, disadvantaging the Portfolio��s tilt toward developed international markets.
• Finally, the Portfolio’s bias in favor of value stocks, as well as some specific industries and firms expected to benefit from the reopening and reacceleration of the economy, failed to perform as expected. This added another small impediment to expected performance.
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
Total return swaps were used to implement most of the Portfolio’s asset class policy decisions. Therefore, the swaps can be seen as detracting from the Portfolio’s relative performance over the course of the reporting period.
How did you allocate the Portfolio’s assets during the reporting period and why?
The Portfolio began the reporting period with the end of pandemic restrictions seemingly on the horizon. As such, we adjusted the Portfolio to favor cyclical sectors and businesses in industries likely to benefit most from the reopening of the economy. We also increased the Portfolio’s exposure to non-U.S. equities we believed were positioned to experience a recovery similar to that seen in the U.S., but on a lagged basis due to a slower vaccine rollout. Similarly, we moved down the capitalization spectrum, committing a larger allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to small- and mid-cap companies we judged likely to fare well in this environment. In addition, we reduced interest-rate sensitivity in the bond portion of the Portfolio, anticipating that mounting inflationary pressures would result in higher bond yields.
These adjustments provided a modest tailwind to the Portfolio’s performance through the late winter and early spring, however progress was reversed with the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant and a premature decline in vaccination rates. Positioning remained largely static during the second half of the reporting period as the economic reopening was partially postponed by the resurgence in case rates.
How did the Portfolio’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
We implemented the restructuring noted above largely through derivatives, specifically total return swaps. The Portfolio increased exposure to mid- and small-cap stocks, non-U.S. markets, and a basket of companies specifically leveraged to the reopening of the economy, while reducing exposure for large-cap U.S. stocks and a basket of companies identified as having been beneficiaries of lockdown conditions. The swaps on these reopening- and lockdown-sensitive baskets were removed late in the reporting period as the Omicron wave gathered momentum.
1. | “New York Life Investments” is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary New York Life Investment Management LLC. |
2. | See page 47 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
50 | MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio |
Other notable changes arose from fund restructurings, as Wellington Management Company was named the new subadvisor of several MainStay funds that concurrently underwent name changes. Several Underlying Funds were also subject to mergers. By way of example, MainStay MAP Equity Fund was renamed MainStay WMC Value Fund when Wellington took the helm in late April. At the same time, MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund was merged into MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity Funds had the highest total returns and which had the lowest total returns?
The Underlying Equity Funds held for the entire reporting period that generated the highest total returns included IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF, MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio (successor to the MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio) and MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio. The Underlying Equity Funds with the lowest returns were MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund.
Which Underlying Equity Funds were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio’s performance and which Underlying Equity Funds were particularly weak?
Allowing for the size of the allocation, the variation of that allocation across the reporting period and performance during that time, the positions that made the largest positive contributions to performance during the reporting period were MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio, IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF and MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The smallest positive contributions to performance came from MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio, MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund and MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Shares | Value |
Affiliated Investment Companies 96.7% |
Equity Funds 96.7% |
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF (a) | 999,889 | $ 25,047,219 |
IQ 500 International ETF (a) | 1,515,415 | 49,260,080 |
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF (a) | 1,390,331 | 41,674,894 |
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF (a) | 2,037,147 | 84,809,282 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF (a) | 1,645,397 | 59,579,332 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF (a) | 830,580 | 30,456,040 |
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund Class I (a) | 344,045 | 4,676,150 |
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund Class I (a) | 1,007,163 | 41,149,565 |
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 4,946,558 | 55,179,345 |
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 4,008,438 | 72,748,339 |
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,032,198 | 36,544,818 |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,166,944 | 104,750,134 |
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,545,245 | 44,619,164 |
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 4,808,014 | 66,969,386 |
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 1,735,769 | 69,584,734 |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,927,158 | 47,819,217 |
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,654,461 | 36,585,636 |
| Shares | | Value |
|
Equity Funds (continued) |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 981,956 | | $ 33,774,070 |
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 2,207,647 | | 83,711,765 |
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6 (a) | 751,138 | | 26,656,460 |
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund Class I (a) | 5,117,071 | | 40,547,671 |
MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6 (a) | 2,248,143 | | 71,682,249 |
Total Affiliated Investment Companies (Cost $953,589,615) | | | 1,127,825,550 |
Short-Term Investment 3.0% |
Affiliated Investment Company 3.0% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (b) | 34,922,127 | | 34,922,127 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Cost $34,922,127) | 3.0% | | 34,922,127 |
Total Investments (Cost $988,511,742) | 99.7% | | 1,162,747,677 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 0.3 | | 3,066,176 |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 1,165,813,853 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
(a) | As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio's ownership exceeds 5% of the outstanding shares of the Underlying Portfolio's/Fund's share class. |
(b) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
Swap Contracts
Open OTC total return equity swap contracts as of December 31, 2021 were as follows1:
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.45% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 17,258 | $ — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.60% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 11,534 | — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 1 day FEDF minus 0.35% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (22,672) | — |
Citibank NA | iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.55% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 44,643 | — |
Citibank NA | iShares Semiconductor ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.35% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 3,721 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 1000 Growth Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.08% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (35,019) | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 1000 Value Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.60% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 23,398 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell 2000 Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.40% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 20,864 | — |
Citibank NA | Russell Midcap Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.40% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 21,318 | — |
Citibank NA | S&P 500 Financials Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.25% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (20,695) | — |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
52 | MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio |
Swap Counterparty | Reference Obligation | Floating Rate2 | Termination Date(s) | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Notional Amount Long/ (Short) (000)3 | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)4 |
Citibank NA | S&P 500 Total Return Index | 1 day FEDF plus 0.30% | 12/2/22 | Daily | (54,355) | $ — |
Citibank NA | SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF | 1 day FEDF minus 0.30% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 7,362 | — |
Citibank NA | VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.55% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 5,945 | — |
Citibank NA | Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | 1 day FEDF plus 0.45% | 12/2/22 | Daily | 23,476 | — |
| | | | | | $ — |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount $2,230,721 was pledged to brokers for OTC swap contracts. |
2. | Portfolio pays the floating rate and receives the total return of the reference entity. |
3. | Notional amounts reflected as a positive value indicate a long position held by the Portfolio or Index and a negative value indicates a short position. |
4. | Reflects the value at reset date as of December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East |
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund |
FEDF—Federal Funds Rate |
FTSE—Financial Times Stock Exchange |
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International |
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt |
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Companies | | | | | | | |
Equity Funds | $ 1,127,825,550 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,127,825,550 |
Short-Term Investment | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 34,922,127 | | — | | — | | 34,922,127 |
Total Investments in Securities | $ 1,162,747,677 | | $ — | | $ — | | $ 1,162,747,677 |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
53
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $988,511,742) | $1,162,747,677 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 2,230,721 |
Receivables: | |
Dividends | 1,160,019 |
Dividends and interest on OTC swaps contracts | 278,897 |
Portfolio shares sold | 59,294 |
Other assets | 5,292 |
Total assets | 1,166,481,900 |
Liabilities |
Payables: | |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 341,022 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 221,293 |
Shareholder communication | 52,752 |
Professional fees | 37,336 |
Custodian | 6,211 |
Trustees | 1,705 |
Accrued expenses | 7,728 |
Total liabilities | 668,047 |
Net assets | $1,165,813,853 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 81,934 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 867,440,883 |
| 867,522,817 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | 298,291,036 |
Net assets | $1,165,813,853 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $ 107,062,341 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 7,439,230 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 14.39 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $1,058,751,512 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 74,494,562 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 14.21 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
54 | MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Dividend distributions from affiliated investment companies | $ 14,490,328 |
Interest | 1,644 |
Total income | 14,491,972 |
Expenses | |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 2,651,749 |
Professional fees | 89,454 |
Shareholder communication | 71,372 |
Custodian | 43,764 |
Trustees | 24,653 |
Miscellaneous | 39,565 |
Total expenses | 2,920,557 |
Net investment income (loss) | 11,571,415 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Affiliated investment company transactions | 68,302,886 |
Realized capital gain distributions from affiliated investment companies | 88,141,355 |
Swap transactions | (943,762) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 155,500,479 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: Affiliated investments companies | 42,945,671 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 198,446,150 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $210,017,565 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
55
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 11,571,415 | $ 13,999,807 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 155,500,479 | 41,630,464 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 42,945,671 | 97,042,610 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 210,017,565 | 152,672,881 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (5,190,094) | (5,868,206) |
Service Class | (51,434,070) | (66,857,357) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (56,624,164) | (72,725,563) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 14,094,934 | 46,065,158 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 56,624,164 | 72,725,563 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (192,763,382) | (181,229,820) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | (122,044,284) | (62,439,099) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 31,349,117 | 17,508,219 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 1,134,464,736 | 1,116,956,517 |
End of year | $1,165,813,853 | $1,134,464,736 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
56 | MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio |
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 12.62 | | $ 11.80 | | $ 10.50 | | $ 12.65 | | $ 10.60 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.18 | | 0.18 | | 0.21 | | 0.18 | | 0.12 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.33 | | 1.49 | | 2.25 | | (1.67) | | 2.26 |
Total from investment operations | 2.51 | | 1.67 | | 2.46 | | (1.49) | | 2.38 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.27) | | (0.27) | | (0.36) | | (0.19) | | (0.12) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.47) | | (0.58) | | (0.80) | | (0.47) | | (0.21) |
Total distributions | (0.74) | | (0.85) | | (1.16) | | (0.66) | | (0.33) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 14.39 | | $ 12.62 | | $ 11.80 | | $ 10.50 | | $ 12.65 |
Total investment return (b) | 20.16% | | 15.02% | | 24.58% | | (12.78)% | | 22.67% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 1.26% | | 1.64% | | 1.80% | | 1.42% | | 1.05% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.02% | | 0.03% | | 0.03% | | 0.02% | | 0.02% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 22% | | 26% | | 38% | | 28% | | 26% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 107,062 | | $ 92,647 | | $ 83,143 | | $ 66,326 | | $ 76,504 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 12.47 | | $ 11.67 | | $ 10.39 | | $ 12.53 | | $ 10.51 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.13 | | 0.15 | | 0.17 | | 0.14 | | 0.09 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2.32 | | 1.47 | | 2.24 | | (1.65) | | 2.24 |
Total from investment operations | 2.45 | | 1.62 | | 2.41 | | (1.51) | | 2.33 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.24) | | (0.24) | | (0.33) | | (0.16) | | (0.10) |
From net realized gain on investments | (0.47) | | (0.58) | | (0.80) | | (0.47) | | (0.21) |
Total distributions | (0.71) | | (0.82) | | (1.13) | | (0.63) | | (0.31) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 14.21 | | $ 12.47 | | $ 11.67 | | $ 10.39 | | $ 12.53 |
Total investment return (b) | 19.86% | | 14.74% | | 24.27% | | (12.99)% | | 22.36% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 0.97% | | 1.34% | | 1.49% | | 1.16% | | 0.81% |
Net expenses (c) | 0.27% | | 0.28% | | 0.28% | | 0.27% | | 0.27% |
Portfolio turnover rate | 22% | | 26% | | 38% | | 28% | | 26% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 1,058,752 | | $ 1,041,818 | | $ 1,033,813 | | $ 929,230 | | $ 1,074,280 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
57
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios” and each individually, referred to as a "Portfolio"). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio) (collectively referred to as the “Allocation Portfolios” and each individually referred to as an “Allocation Portfolio”). Each is a "diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
Shares of the Allocation Portfolios are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Allocation Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. The separate accounts are used to fund flexible premium deferred variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.
The following table lists each Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Fund | Share Classes Commenced Operations1 |
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio | Initial Class, Service Class |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio | Initial Class, Service Class |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio | Initial Class, Service Class |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio | Initial Class, Service Class |
1. | For each VP Allocation Portfolio, Initial Class and Service Class shares were registered for sale as of February 13, 2006. |
Shares of the Allocation Portfolios are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Allocation Portfolios' shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Allocation Portfolios pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the respective Allocation Portfolios to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The investment objective for each of the Allocation Portfolios is as follows:
The MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio seeks current income and, secondarily, long-term growth of capital.
The MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital and, secondarily, current income.
The MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital and, secondarily, current income.
The MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.
The Allocation Portfolios are "fund-of-funds" that seek to achieve their investment objectives by investing in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") managed by New York Life Investment Management LLC ("New York Life Investments" or "Manager") or its affiliates (the “Underlying Portfolios/Funds”).
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Allocation Portfolios are investment companies and accordingly follow the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Allocation Portfolios prepare their financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follow the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Allocation Portfolios are open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of each Allocation Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Allocation Portfolios' assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager or the Allocation Portfolios' third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The
58 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price an Allocation Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of each Allocation Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect each Allocation Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including each Allocation Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of each Allocation Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
Investments in Underlying Portfolios/Funds are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day, except for investment in ETFs.
Investments in ETFs are valued at the last quoted sales price as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Securities held by the Underlying Portfolios/Funds are valued using policies consistent with those used by the Underlying Portfolios/Funds. Equity securities, including shares of ETFs, are generally valued at the last quoted sales price as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date.
Total return swap contracts, which are arrangements to exchange a market-linked return for a periodic payment, are based on a notional principal amount. To the extent that the total return of the security, index or other financial measure underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Allocation Portfolios will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from market makers and these securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes. The Allocation Portfolios' policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of each Allocation Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates each Allocation Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Allocation Portfolios' tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Allocation Portfolios' financial statements. The Allocation Portfolios' federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Allocation Portfolios intend to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the respective Allocation Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Allocation Portfolios record security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividends and distributions received by the Allocation Portfolios from the Underlying Portfolios are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Allocation Portfolios are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Allocation Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Allocation Portfolios, including those of related parties to the Allocation Portfolios, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Allocation Portfolios may invest in ETFs and mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in ETFs and mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of ETFs and mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights. In addition, the Allocation
Portfolios bear a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the Underlying Portfolios/Funds in which they invest. Because the Underlying Portfolios/Funds have varied expense and fee levels and the Allocation Portfolios may own different pro-portions of the Underlying Portfolios/Funds at different times, the amount of fees and expenses incurred indirectly by each Allocation Portfolio may vary.
(F) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Swap Contracts. The Allocation Portfolios may enter into credit default, interest rate, equity, index and currency exchange rate swap contracts (“swaps”). In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the future returns (or differentials in rates of future returns) earned or realized at periodic intervals on a particular investment or instrument based on a notional principal amount. Generally, the Allocation Portfolios will enter into a swap on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams under the swap are netted, with the Allocation Portfolios receiving or paying (as the case may be) only the net amount of the two payment streams. Therefore, the Allocation Portfolios' current obligation under a swap generally will be equal to the net amount to be paid or received under the swap, based on the relative value of notional positions attributable to each counterparty to the swap. The payments may be adjusted for transaction costs, interest payments, the amount of interest paid on the investment or instrument or other factors. Collateral, in the form of cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the custodian bank or broker in accordance with the terms of the swap. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over the counter (“OTC”) market and may be executed in a multilateral or other trade facilities platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally cleared swaps”).
Certain standardized swaps, including certain credit default and interest rate swaps, are subject to mandatory clearing and exchange-trading, and more types of standardized swaps are expected to be subject to mandatory clearing and exchange-trading in the future. The counterparty risk for exchange-traded and cleared derivatives is expected to be generally lower than for uncleared derivatives, but cleared contracts are not risk-free. In a cleared derivative transaction, the Allocation Portfolios typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Allocation Portfolios' exposure to the credit risk of its original counterparty. The Allocation Portfolios will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Allocation Portfolios would be required to post in an uncleared transaction. As of December 31, 2021, all swap positions outstanding are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Swaps are marked to market daily based upon quotations from pricing agents, brokers, or market makers and the change in value, if any, is
60 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Any payments made or received upon entering into a swap would be amortized or accreted over the life of the swap and recorded as a realized gain or loss. Early termination of a swap is recorded as a realized gain or loss. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for the change in value as appropriate on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Allocation Portfolios bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap in the event of the default or bankruptcy of the swap counterparty. The Allocation Portfolios may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap with the same party or a similar credit-worthy party. Swaps are not actively traded on financial markets. Entering into swaps involves elements of credit, market, and documentation risk in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibilities that there will be no liquid market for these swaps, that the counterparty to the swaps may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the swaps and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates, the price of the index or the security underlying these transactions.
Equity Swaps (Total Return Swaps). Total return swap contracts are agreements between counterparties to exchange cash flow, one based on a market-linked return of an individual asset or group of assets (such as an index), and the other on a fixed or floating rate. As a total return swap, an equity swap may be structured in different ways. For example, when the Allocation Portfolios enter into a “long” equity swap, the counterparty may agree to pay the Allocation Portfolios the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would have increased in value had it been invested in a particular referenced security or securities, plus the dividends that would have been received on those securities. In return, the Allocation Portfolios will generally agree to pay the counterparty interest on the notional amount of the equity swap plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such referenced security or securities, plus, in certain instances, commissions or trading spreads on the notional amounts. Therefore, the Allocation Portfolios' return on the equity swap generally should equal the gain or loss on the notional amount, plus dividends on the referenced security or securities less the interest paid by the Allocation Portfolios on the notional amount. Alternatively, when the Allocation Portfolios enter into a “short” equity swap, the counterparty will generally agree to pay the Allocation Portfolios the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would have decreased in value had the Allocation Portfolios sold a particular referenced security or securities short, less the dividend expense that the Allocation Portfolios would have incurred on the referenced security or securities, as adjusted for interest payments or other economic factors. In this situation, the Allocation Portfolios will generally be obligated to pay the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap would have increased in value had it been invested directly in the referenced security or securities.
Equity swaps generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other referenced assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that the Allocation Portfolios are contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, the Allocation Portfolios' risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Allocation Portfolios are contractually entitled to receive, if any. The Allocation Portfolios will segregate cash or liquid assets, enter into offsetting transactions or use other measures permitted by applicable law to “cover” the Allocation Portfolios' current obligations. The Allocation Portfolios and New York Life Investments, however, believe these transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Allocation Portfolios' borrowing restrictions.
Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can be very volatile. The Allocation Portfolios may engage in total return swaps to gain exposure to emerging markets securities, along with offsetting long total return swap positions to maintain appropriate currency balances and risk exposures across all swap positions. To the extent that the Manager does not accurately analyze and predict future market trends, the values or assets or economic factors, the Allocation Portfolios may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. As of December 31, 2021, open swap agreements are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Allocation Portfolios may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Allocation Portfolios' performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Allocation Portfolios' performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Allocation Portfolios' performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
(I) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Allocation Portfolios enter into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Allocation Portfolios' maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Allocation Portfolios that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Allocation Portfolios.
(J) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Allocation Portfolios' derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Allocation Portfolios' financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Allocation Portfolios entered into total return swap contracts to seek to enhance returns or reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of the Allocation Portfolios' holdings.
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Swap Contracts | $683,852 | $683,852 |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $683,852 | $683,852 |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Swap Contracts Long | $ 81,904,296 |
Swap Contracts Short | $(36,789,079) |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Swap Contracts | $2,039,182 | $2,039,182 |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $2,039,182 | $2,039,182 |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Swap Contracts Long | $136,182,902 |
Swap Contracts Short | $ (65,077,718) |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Swap Contracts | $1,678,905 | $1,678,905 |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $1,678,905 | $1,678,905 |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Swap Contracts Long | $ 219,173,589 |
Swap Contracts Short | $(106,243,874) |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Equity Contracts Risk | Total |
Swap Contracts | $(943,762) | $(943,762) |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $(943,762) | $(943,762) |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Swap Contracts Long | $123,736,820 |
Swap Contracts Short | $ (84,040,578) |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Allocation Portfolios' Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”) and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Allocation Portfolios. The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Allocation Portfolios. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility
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of the Allocation Portfolios, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Allocation Portfolios and certain operational expenses of the Allocation Portfolios. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Allocation Portfolios reimbursd New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Allocation Portfolios.
The Allocation Portfolios do not pay any fees to the Manager in return for the services performed under the Management Agreement. The Allocation Portfolios do, however, indirectly pay a proportionate share of the management fees paid to the managers of the Underlying Funds in which the Allocation Portfolios invest.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan") provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Allocation Portfolios pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Allocation Portfolios, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Allocation Portfolios' respective NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Allocation Portfolios' administrative operations. For providing these services to the Allocation Portfolios, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Allocation Portfolios. The Allocation Portfolios will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Allocation Portfolios.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Allocation Portfolios, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Allocation Portfolios have adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the respective Allocation Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF | $ 14,322 | $ 100 | $ (2,061) | $ 232 | $ 1,196 | $ 13,789 | $ 432 | $ — | 550 |
IQ 500 International ETF | 11,409 | 474 | (1,683) | 204 | 1,072 | 11,476 | 425 | — | 353 |
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF | 12,059 | — | (1,582) | 465 | 662 | 11,604 | 332 | — | 387 |
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF | 19,112 | 1,754 | (5,503) | 1,565 | 3,642 | 20,570 | 242 | — | 494 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF | 13,446 | 7 | (1,826) | 442 | 2,537 | 14,606 | 158 | — | 403 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF | 6,251 | 71 | (3,102) | 1,023 | 370 | 4,613 | 66 | — | 126 |
IQ S&P High Yield Low Volatility Bond ETF | 7,049 | 151 | (7,100) | 76 | (176) | — | 105 | — | — |
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund Class I | 2,548 | 630 | (623) | 60 | (61) | 2,554 | 3 | 583 | 188 |
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund Class I | 7,627 | 255 | (1,126) | 120 | 164 | 7,040 | 180 | — | 172 |
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund Class I | 53,201 | 12,160 | (24,374) | 128 | 424 | 41,539 | 1,911 | — | 4,237 |
MainStay Short Term Bond Fund Class I | — | 3,601 | (3,533) | (68) | — | — | 36 | 9 | — |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | 22,830 | 196,455 | (162,937) | — | — | 56,348 | 5 | — | 56,348 |
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio Initial Class | 49,624 | 2,670 | (12,150) | 1,153 | (3,652) | 37,645 | 686 | 1,174 | 2,609 |
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 11,057 | 1,337 | (1,991) | 530 | (703) | 10,230 | 110 | — | 917 |
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio Initial Class | 11,941 | 2,450 | (1,307) | 165 | 2,157 | 15,406 | 297 | — | 849 |
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio Initial Class | 21,199 | 32,716 | (2,115) | (61) | 115 | 51,854 | 1,272 | — | 5,855 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio (continued) |
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio Initial Class | $ 280,683 | $ 19,262 | $ (67,509) | $ 6,862 | $ (26,689) | $ 212,609 | $ 6,084 | $ 8,398 | 20,646 |
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio Initial Class | — | 29,343 | (609) | (11) | (982) | 27,741 | 1,337 | — | 2,790 |
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 8,073 | 2,413 | (3,676) | 765 | (705) | 6,870 | 6 | 649 | 382 |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio Initial Class | 37,381 | 379 | (33,766) | 12,488 | (5,862) | 10,620 | 204 | 174 | 118 |
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio Initial Class | 7,078 | 129 | (583) | 62 | 271 | 6,957 | 36 | — | 701 |
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 16,155 | 2,231 | (9,419) | 3,116 | (3,158) | 8,925 | — | 1,308 | 509 |
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio Initial Class | 10,147 | 3,932 | (1,651) | 127 | 1,890 | 14,445 | 284 | 173 | 1,037 |
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio Initial Class (b) | 5,992 | 14,473 | (758) | 221 | (334) | 19,594 | 43 | 1,901 | 489 |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio Initial Class (c) | 9,783 | 463 | (1,908) | 56 | 1,506 | 9,900 | 56 | 175 | 606 |
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio Initial Class (d) | 6,717 | 821 | (1,569) | 401 | 760 | 7,130 | 25 | — | 517 |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio Initial Class (e) | — | 9,862 | — | — | 535 | 10,397 | 39 | 215 | 302 |
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 22,519 | 2,527 | (8,036) | 2,464 | 1,003 | 20,477 | — | 1,734 | 540 |
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6 (f)(g) | 12,942 | 6,443 | (8,196) | (1,059) | (1,392) | 8,738 | 36 | 6,407 | 246 |
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund Class I (h) | 6,116 | 1,466 | (1,208) | (163) | 649 | 6,860 | 180 | — | 866 |
MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6 (i)(j) | 14,991 | 7,087 | (3,727) | 191 | (3,722) | 14,820 | 147 | 6,933 | 465 |
| $ 702,252 | $ 355,662 | $ (375,628) | $ 31,554 | $ (28,483) | $ 685,357 | $ 14,737 | $ 29,833 | |
(a) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class. |
(b) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Growth Portfolio Initial Class. |
(c) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Mid Cap Core Portfolio Initial Class. |
(d) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Small Cap Core Portfolio Initial Class. |
(e) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio Initial Class. |
(f) | As of April 26, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund Class R6 into the newly launched MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6. |
(g) | As of April 27, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class I into the newly launched MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6. |
(h) | Prior to March 5, 2021, known as MainStay MacKay International Opportunities Fund Class I. |
(i) | Prior to April 26, 2021, known as MainStay MAP Equity Fund Class I. |
(j) | As of April 27, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay WMC Value Fund Class I into the newly launched MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6. |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF | $ 24,322 | $ — | $ (5,129) | $ 669 | $ 1,752 | $ 21,614 | $ 693 | $ — | 863 |
IQ 500 International ETF | 30,000 | 253 | (5,510) | 710 | 2,610 | 28,063 | 1,016 | — | 863 |
64 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio (continued) |
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF | $ 19,430 | $ 6,383 | $ (620) | $ 199 | $ 1,751 | $ 27,143 | $ 717 | $ — | 906 |
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF | 36,733 | 8,846 | (1,830) | 730 | 11,449 | 55,928 | 592 | — | 1,343 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF | 35,922 | 22 | (6,862) | 1,607 | 5,988 | 36,677 | 396 | — | 1,013 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF | 10,445 | 7,926 | (8,662) | 2,222 | 750 | 12,681 | 201 | — | 346 |
IQ S&P High Yield Low Volatility Bond ETF | 10,834 | 374 | (11,052) | 114 | (270) | — | 162 | — | — |
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund Class I | 3,917 | 994 | (317) | 55 | (94) | 4,555 | 6 | 988 | 335 |
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund Class I | 25,145 | 508 | (6,545) | 980 | (1) | 20,087 | 508 | — | 492 |
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund Class I | 54,503 | 17,858 | (35,266) | 165 | 512 | 37,772 | 1,859 | — | 3,852 |
MainStay Short Term Bond Fund Class I | — | 5,694 | (5,587) | (107) | — | — | 55 | 14 | — |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | 35,517 | 308,717 | (257,639) | — | — | 86,595 | 8 | — | 86,595 |
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio Initial Class | 51,927 | 2,853 | (17,820) | 978 | (3,376) | 34,562 | 640 | 1,095 | 2,396 |
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 32,779 | 543 | (7,928) | 1,653 | (1,804) | 25,243 | 290 | — | 2,263 |
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio Initial Class | 36,333 | 825 | (8,247) | 123 | 6,076 | 35,110 | 786 | — | 1,935 |
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio Initial Class | 5,429 | 50,560 | (2,049) | (8) | (50) | 53,882 | 1,112 | — | 6,083 |
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio Initial Class | 293,707 | 19,631 | (99,037) | 9,642 | (28,751) | 195,192 | 5,673 | 7,831 | 18,955 |
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio Initial Class | — | 45,869 | (1,068) | (27) | (1,535) | 43,239 | 2,099 | — | 4,349 |
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 10,397 | 8,900 | (707) | 273 | (611) | 18,252 | 18 | 1,937 | 1,015 |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio Initial Class | 71,458 | 853 | (61,747) | 24,693 | (11,093) | 24,164 | 461 | 393 | 269 |
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio Initial Class | 10,893 | 260 | (826) | 87 | 430 | 10,844 | 57 | — | 1,093 |
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 33,784 | 9,650 | (16,803) | 5,633 | (6,389) | 25,875 | — | 3,887 | 1,476 |
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio Initial Class | 31,943 | 1,366 | (9,313) | (466) | 6,140 | 29,670 | 695 | 424 | 2,130 |
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio Initial Class (b) | 18,846 | 19,504 | (6,084) | 1,451 | (1,039) | 32,678 | 72 | 3,189 | 815 |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio Initial Class (c) | 31,932 | 670 | (10,015) | 2,127 | 2,707 | 27,421 | 159 | 501 | 1,679 |
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio Initial Class (d) | 15,554 | 1,920 | (416) | (52) | 2,773 | 19,779 | 78 | — | 1,435 |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio Initial Class (e) | — | 15,102 | — | — | 766 | 15,868 | 36 | 199 | 461 |
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 55,366 | 3,989 | (8,758) | 3,017 | 5,062 | 58,676 | — | 3,982 | 1,547 |
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6 (f)(g) | 35,599 | 16,444 | (16,953) | 1,037 | (6,417) | 29,710 | 123 | 16,321 | 837 |
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund Class I (h) | 21,815 | 552 | (4,943) | (977) | 2,660 | 19,107 | 507 | — | 2,411 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio (continued) |
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6 (i)(j) | $ 40,635 | $ 17,450 | $ (9,868) | $ 1,811 | $ (10,273) | $ 39,755 | $ 362 | $ 17,066 | 1,247 |
| $ 1,085,165 | $ 574,516 | $ (627,601) | $ 58,339 | $ (20,277) | $ 1,070,142 | $ 19,381 | $ 57,827 | |
(a) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class. |
(b) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Growth Portfolio Initial Class. |
(c) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Mid Cap Core Portfolio Initial Class. |
(d) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Small Cap Core Portfolio Initial Class. |
(e) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio Initial Class. |
(f) | As of April 26, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund Class R6 into the newly launched MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6. |
(g) | As of April 27, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class I into the newly launched MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6. |
(h) | Prior to March 5, 2021, known as MainStay MacKay International Opportunities Fund Class I. |
(i) | Prior to April 26, 2021, known as MainStay MAP Equity Fund Class I. |
(j) | As of April 27, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay WMC Value Fund Class I into the newly launched MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6. |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF | $ 41,263 | $ — | $ (3,898) | $ 474 | $ 3,807 | $ 41,646 | $ 1,318 | $ — | 1,662 |
IQ 500 International ETF | 70,393 | 104 | (12,295) | 2,469 | 5,494 | 66,165 | 2,420 | — | 2,035 |
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF | 24,894 | 14,864 | (256) | 84 | 2,588 | 42,174 | 1,051 | — | 1,407 |
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF | 71,473 | 22,534 | (7,947) | 2,274 | 23,108 | 111,442 | 1,233 | — | 2,677 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF | 74,711 | 20 | (5,222) | 1,328 | 16,101 | 86,938 | 932 | — | 2,401 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF | 17,245 | 4,666 | (126) | 27 | 4,625 | 26,437 | 301 | — | 721 |
IQ S&P High Yield Low Volatility Bond ETF | 18,024 | 766 | (18,527) | 181 | (444) | — | 273 | — | — |
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund Class I | 6,518 | 1,659 | (556) | 106 | (170) | 7,557 | 10 | 1,649 | 556 |
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund Class I | 63,234 | 1,343 | (14,079) | 4,172 | (1,633) | 53,037 | 1,343 | — | 1,298 |
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund Class I | 90,674 | 30,847 | (60,647) | 285 | 845 | 62,004 | 3,095 | — | 6,324 |
MainStay Short Term Bond Fund Class I | — | 9,569 | (9,392) | (177) | — | — | 92 | 22 | — |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | 49,196 | 555,867 | (470,773) | — | — | 134,290 | 12 | — | 134,290 |
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio Initial Class | 32,398 | 706 | (28,534) | 1,687 | (2,301) | 3,956 | 97 | 165 | 274 |
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 79,737 | 726 | (17,246) | 3,633 | (4,167) | 62,683 | 726 | — | 5,619 |
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio Initial Class | 82,128 | 2,002 | (12,537) | 268 | 14,655 | 86,516 | 1,932 | — | 4,767 |
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio Initial Class | 9,032 | 83,871 | (4,356) | (15) | (83) | 88,449 | 1,846 | — | 9,986 |
66 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (continued) |
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio Initial Class | $ 183,242 | $ 3,937 | $ (159,413) | $ (3,534) | $ (1,814) | $ 22,418 | $ 856 | $ 1,182 | 2,177 |
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio Initial Class | — | 76,556 | (2,981) | (60) | (2,536) | 70,979 | 3,482 | — | 7,140 |
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 29,531 | 4,487 | (257) | 69 | (674) | 33,156 | 39 | 4,176 | 1,844 |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio Initial Class | 148,274 | 2,187 | (110,201) | 42,874 | (12,602) | 70,532 | 1,181 | 1,007 | 786 |
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio Initial Class | 18,122 | 673 | (1,857) | 202 | 662 | 17,802 | 94 | — | 1,793 |
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 121,943 | 11,396 | (56,827) | 19,789 | (19,974) | 76,327 | — | 11,396 | 4,354 |
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio Initial Class | 71,125 | 3,001 | (15,273) | 459 | 12,828 | 72,140 | 1,696 | 1,034 | 5,179 |
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio Initial Class (b) | 38,429 | 23,618 | (8,267) | 1,871 | (1,023) | 54,628 | 138 | 6,130 | 1,363 |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio Initial Class (c) | 67,461 | 1,808 | (16,113) | 1,810 | 8,690 | 63,656 | 368 | 1,157 | 3,897 |
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio Initial Class (d) | 60,390 | 500 | (14,735) | 873 | 9,608 | 56,636 | 222 | — | 4,109 |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio Initial Class (e) | — | 15,049 | — | — | 662 | 15,711 | 15 | 85 | 457 |
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 122,219 | 8,415 | (30,230) | 10,920 | 7,822 | 119,146 | — | 8,415 | 3,142 |
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6 (f)(g) | 71,349 | 37,226 | (32,168) | (4,949) | (8,524) | 62,934 | 246 | 36,980 | 1,773 |
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund Class I (h) | 55,766 | 1,370 | (10,011) | (1,565) | 5,908 | 51,468 | 1,371 | — | 6,495 |
MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6 (i)(j) | 90,137 | 41,704 | (16,255) | 4,712 | (25,403) | 94,895 | 865 | 40,820 | 2,976 |
| $ 1,808,908 | $ 961,471 | $ (1,140,979) | $ 90,267 | $ 36,055 | $ 1,755,722 | $ 27,254 | $ 114,218 | |
(a) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class. |
(b) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Growth Portfolio Initial Class. |
(c) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Mid Cap Core Portfolio Initial Class. |
(d) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Small Cap Core Portfolio Initial Class. |
(e) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio Initial Class. |
(f) | As of April 26, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund Class R6 into the newly launched MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6. |
(g) | As of April 27, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class I into the newly launched MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6. |
(h) | Prior to March 5, 2021, known as MainStay MacKay International Opportunities Fund Class I. |
(i) | Prior to April 26, 2021, known as MainStay MAP Equity Fund Class I. |
(j) | As of April 27, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay WMC Value Fund Class I into the newly launched MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6. |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio |
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF | $ 23,239 | $ 49 | $ (658) | $ 95 | $ 2,322 | $ 25,047 | $ 778 | $ — | 1,000 |
IQ 500 International ETF | 50,814 | 256 | (7,509) | 1,284 | 4,415 | 49,260 | 1,795 | — | 1,515 |
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF | 17,844 | 21,814 | (142) | 47 | 2,112 | 41,675 | 963 | — | 1,390 |
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF | 69,281 | 11,740 | (18,027) | 7,112 | 14,703 | 84,809 | 1,031 | — | 2,037 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF | 46,551 | 1,833 | (222) | 45 | 11,372 | 59,579 | 620 | — | 1,645 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF | 8,540 | 35,428 | (16,711) | 2,660 | 539 | 30,456 | 273 | — | 831 |
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund Class I | 4,052 | 1,039 | (375) | 58 | (98) | 4,676 | 6 | 1,033 | 344 |
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund Class I | 46,636 | 1,044 | (8,363) | 2,531 | (698) | 41,150 | 1,043 | — | 1,007 |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | 28,141 | 231,883 | (225,102) | — | — | 34,922 | 3 | — | 34,922 |
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class (a) | 66,393 | 1,137 | (11,666) | 3,691 | (4,376) | 55,179 | 634 | — | 4,947 |
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio Initial Class | 67,585 | 1,732 | (9,092) | 298 | 12,225 | 72,748 | 1,625 | — | 4,008 |
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio Initial Class | 38,142 | 4,812 | (6,076) | 1,865 | (2,198) | 36,545 | 43 | 4,664 | 2,032 |
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio Initial Class | 146,224 | 2,925 | (76,644) | 25,618 | 6,627 | 104,750 | 1,417 | 1,208 | 1,167 |
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 69,758 | 5,657 | (31,425) | 8,926 | (8,297) | 44,619 | — | 5,590 | 2,545 |
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio Initial Class | 60,492 | 6,751 | (11,886) | (620) | 12,233 | 66,970 | 1,570 | 957 | 4,808 |
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio Initial Class (b) | 35,564 | 40,914 | (6,211) | 1,436 | (2,118) | 69,585 | 183 | 8,152 | 1,736 |
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio Initial Class (c) | 50,281 | 1,530 | (11,892) | 1,889 | 6,011 | 47,819 | 275 | 865 | 2,927 |
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio Initial Class (d) | 32,259 | 9,365 | (10,689) | 758 | 4,893 | 36,586 | 108 | — | 2,654 |
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio Initial Class (e) | — | 31,745 | — | — | 2,029 | 33,774 | 239 | 1,311 | 982 |
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio Initial Class | 102,494 | 6,646 | (40,050) | 13,851 | 771 | 83,712 | — | 6,646 | 2,208 |
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6 (f)(g) | 44,574 | 27,072 | (34,071) | (8,415) | (2,503) | 26,657 | 102 | 24,638 | 751 |
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund Class I (h) | 41,274 | 1,203 | (5,079) | (695) | 3,845 | 40,548 | 1,081 | — | 5,117 |
MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6 (i)(j) | 81,922 | 33,778 | (29,024) | 5,869 | (20,863) | 71,682 | 701 | 33,077 | 2,248 |
| $ 1,132,060 | $ 480,353 | $ (560,914) | $ 68,303 | $ 42,946 | $ 1,162,748 | $ 14,490 | $ 88,141 | |
(a) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Initial Class. |
(b) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Growth Portfolio Initial Class. |
(c) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Mid Cap Core Portfolio Initial Class. |
(d) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Small Cap Core Portfolio Initial Class. |
(e) | Prior to May 1, 2021, known as MainStay VP MacKay Common Stock Portfolio Initial Class. |
(f) | As of April 26, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund Class R6 into the newly launched MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6. |
(g) | As of April 27, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class I into the newly launched MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund Class R6. |
(h) | Prior to March 5, 2021, known as MainStay MacKay International Opportunities Fund Class I. |
(i) | Prior to April 26, 2021, known as MainStay MAP Equity Fund Class I. |
(j) | As of April 27, 2021, the Fund exchanged in a nontaxable transfer all shares of the MainStay WMC Value Fund Class I into the newly launched MainStay WMC Value Fund Class R6. |
68 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of each Allocation Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $646,265,023 | $41,640,781 | $(3,875,047) | $37,765,734 |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $985,934,748 | $101,358,193 | $(18,816,169) | $82,542,024 |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio |
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $1,551,820,717 | $216,728,309 | $(17,775,550) | $198,952,759 |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio |
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $996,450,257 | $173,337,393 | $(10,768,322) | $162,569,071 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Fund | Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio | $38,778,478 | $ 36,062,624 | $(22,582,133) | $ 39,092,404 | $ 91,351,373 |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio | 60,632,242 | 72,167,674 | (40,928,445) | 84,207,659 | 176,079,130 |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio | 90,433,495 | 136,707,575 | (54,449,070) | 203,901,143 | 376,593,143 |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio | 54,259,582 | 110,895,035 | (33,161,001) | 166,297,420 | 298,291,036 |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments, and straddle loss deferral. The other temporary differences are primarily due to loss deferrals from related party transactions.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | | 2020 |
| Ordinary Income | Long-Term Capital Gains | Total | | Ordinary Income | Long-Term Capital Gains | Total |
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio | $11,965,362 | $ 7,845,270 | $19,810,632 | | $12,422,569 | $10,643,895 | $ 23,066,464 |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio | 13,534,930 | 24,914,684 | 38,449,614 | | 24,336,060 | 27,395,134 | 51,731,194 |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio | 39,542,625 | 21,478,395 | 61,021,020 | | 46,464,860 | 58,463,443 | 104,928,303 |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio | 24,489,536 | 32,134,628 | 56,624,164 | | 21,490,445 | 51,235,118 | 72,725,563 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Allocation Portfolios. Custodial fees are charged to each Allocation Portfolio based on each Allocation Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by each Allocation Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by each Allocation Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Allocation Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $6,220, $6,229, $6,523, $6,200 for MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio, respectively, for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Allocation Portfolios and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Allocation Portfolios and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month LIBOR, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Allocation Portfolios, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Allocation Portfolios under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Allocation Portfolios, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Allocation Portfolios and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive
order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Allocation Portfolios.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were as follows:
Fund | Purchases | Sales |
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio | $159,225 | $212,690 |
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio | 265,815 | 369,962 |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio | 405,635 | 670,207 |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio | 248,475 | 335,812 |
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 69,728 | $ 893,700 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 41,966 | 531,222 |
Shares redeemed | (125,379) | (1,600,275) |
Net increase (decrease) | (13,685) | $ (175,353) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 165,444 | $ 1,939,398 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 47,741 | 565,783 |
Shares redeemed | (265,881) | (3,099,423) |
Net increase (decrease) | (52,696) | $ (594,242) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 4,557,876 | $ 57,791,405 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,539,656 | 19,279,410 |
Shares redeemed | (9,342,412) | (118,516,266) |
Net increase (decrease) | (3,244,880) | $ (41,445,451) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 6,002,972 | $ 69,142,660 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 1,918,707 | 22,500,681 |
Shares redeemed | (14,018,302) | (159,273,792) |
Net increase (decrease) | (6,096,623) | $ (67,630,451) |
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MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 260,832 | $ 3,313,474 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 160,287 | 1,998,108 |
Shares redeemed | (253,872) | (3,226,170) |
Net increase (decrease) | 167,247 | $ 2,085,412 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 204,811 | $ 2,316,758 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 206,627 | 2,317,718 |
Shares redeemed | (404,204) | (4,421,650) |
Net increase (decrease) | 7,234 | $ 212,826 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 3,678,709 | $ 46,219,794 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,950,942 | 36,451,506 |
Shares redeemed | (13,770,387) | (172,248,655) |
Net increase (decrease) | (7,140,736) | $ (89,577,355) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 3,821,150 | $ 42,231,522 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 4,444,138 | 49,413,476 |
Shares redeemed | (19,100,663) | (209,550,905) |
Net increase (decrease) | (10,835,375) | $(117,905,907) |
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 234,827 | $ 3,096,018 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 294,278 | 3,856,100 |
Shares redeemed | (662,806) | (8,743,863) |
Net increase (decrease) | (133,701) | $ (1,791,745) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 282,309 | $ 3,077,867 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 512,542 | 5,689,162 |
Shares redeemed | (688,585) | (7,661,011) |
Net increase (decrease) | 106,266 | $ 1,106,018 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 1,920,433 | $ 25,173,011 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 4,411,078 | 57,164,920 |
Shares redeemed | (25,432,281) | (331,191,286) |
Net increase (decrease) | (19,100,770) | $(248,853,355) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 2,702,839 | $ 27,957,649 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 9,036,445 | 99,239,141 |
Shares redeemed | (33,868,042) | (371,555,875) |
Net increase (decrease) | (22,128,758) | $(244,359,085) |
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 176,557 | $ 2,498,448 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 377,511 | 5,190,094 |
Shares redeemed | (456,837) | (6,287,813) |
Net increase (decrease) | 97,231 | $ 1,400,729 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 400,067 | $ 4,222,007 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 520,600 | 5,868,206 |
Shares redeemed | (626,769) | (7,005,903) |
Net increase (decrease) | 293,898 | $ 3,084,310 |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 835,871 | $ 11,596,486 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 3,786,093 | 51,434,070 |
Shares redeemed | (13,659,563) | (186,475,569) |
Net increase (decrease) | (9,037,599) | $(123,445,013) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 4,352,975 | $ 41,843,151 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 5,997,574 | 66,857,357 |
Shares redeemed | (15,422,860) | (174,223,917) |
Net increase (decrease) | (5,072,311) | $ (65,523,409) |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Allocation Portfolios' performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Allocation Portfolios as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio)
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, of MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (four of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the "Portfolios") as of December 31, 2021, the related statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of December 31, 2021, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and each of the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinions
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolios’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolios’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolios in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio and MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (“Portfolios”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of the Management Agreement for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on each Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on each Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments that follow investment strategies similar to those of each Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in a Portfolio’s management fee and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of the Management Agreement. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of the Management Agreement reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of each Portfolio and investment-related matters for each Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic
reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to each Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding each Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding each Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of each Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to each Portfolio by New York Life Investments; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of each Portfolio and the historical investment performance of each Portfolio and New York Life Investments; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments with respect to its relationship with each Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if each Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit each Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of each Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between each Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of each Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing each Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments. The Board’s decision with respect to the Management Agreement may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of the Management Agreement in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the
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MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which each Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that each Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below. The Board considered on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis the factors and information deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees to evaluate the continuation of the Management Agreement, and the Board’s decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to each Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of each Portfolio. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolios as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolios.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolios under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolios’ compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolios. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolios and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers.
The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolios and considered the terms of the Management Agreement. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and performance in serving as investment adviser to the Portfolios and advising other portfolios and New York Life Investments’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at New York Life Investments and New York Life Investments’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and acknowledged New York Life Investments’ commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolios. The Board reviewed New York Life Investments’ ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support each Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolios’ portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
Because the Portfolios invest substantially all their assets in other funds advised by New York Life Investments or its affiliates, the Board considered information from New York Life Investments regarding the investment rationale and process for the allocation among and selection of the underlying funds in which the Portfolios invest.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments regarding the operations of its business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolios would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating each Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of each Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, each Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on each Portfolio’s gross and net returns, each Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and each Portfolio’s benchmarks, each Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and each Portfolio’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of each Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning each Portfolio’s investment performance as well as discussions between each Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions. In considering the investment performance of the Portfolios, the Board noted that the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the one- and three-year periods ended July 31, 2021, and performed in line with its peer funds for the five- and ten-year periods ended July 31, 2021. The Board further noted that the MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio underperformed its peer funds for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended July 2021. The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments regarding each Portfolio’s investment performance.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of each Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under the Management Agreement. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolios.
The Board noted that the Portfolios do not pay a management fee for the allocation and other management services provided by New York Life Investments but that shareholders of the Portfolios indirectly pay their pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Portfolios invest. The Board considered that the Portfolios’ investments in underlying funds managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates indirectly benefit New York Life Investments or its affiliates. The Board noted that it considers the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the underlying MainStay Funds as part of the annual contract review process for those funds.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolios. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and acknowledged that New York Life Investments must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments to continue to provide high-quality services to the Portfolios. The Board recognized that the Portfolios benefit from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from their relationships with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolios and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolios, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolios, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolios, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolios. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolios’ securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolios serve as investment options primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolios, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolios in various other capacities, including as the Portfolios’ distributor. The Board considered information about these other
76 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolios to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolios to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolios on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolios were not excessive.
Management Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under the Management Agreement and each Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses.
In assessing the reasonableness of each Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. Because the Portfolios do not pay a management fee to New York Life Investments, the Board considered the reasonableness of fees and expenses the Portfolios indirectly pay by investing in underlying funds that charge a management fee. The Board considered New York Life Investments’ process for monitoring and addressing potential conflicts of interest in the selection of underlying funds. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of each Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolios and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolios, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of voluntary waivers on each Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for each Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that each Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether each Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with each Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how each Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how each Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels. The Board noted that the Portfolios do not pay a management fee and that the Board separately considers economies of scale as part of its review of the management agreements of underlying MainStay Funds in which the Portfolios invest and the benefit of any breakpoints in the management fee schedules for the underlying MainStay Funds would pass through to shareholders of the Portfolios at the specified levels of underlying MainStay Fund assets.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of each Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through each Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
Each VP Allocation Fund is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Fund is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
Each VP Allocation Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Allocation Portfolios' holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
78 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Funds are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Funds. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Funds (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
80 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
82 | MainStay VP Asset Allocation Funds |
MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI507
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Message from the President and Annual Report
December 31, 2021
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee | Not Insured by Any Government Agency |
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Message from the President
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation drove market performance during the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2021. Against all expectations, the pandemic remained a persistent force worldwide, with widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible variants disrupting life in many locations despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines. Supported by government stimulus and accommodative monetary policies, most global economies expanded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the pandemic continued to claim lives, and the recovery proved uneven, with some industries struggling in the face of labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks and sharply rising commodity prices.
Spurred by economic growth and rising inflationary pressures, positive investor sentiment buoyed stock markets while bond markets lagged. In the United States, the S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of market performance, produced strong gains led by energy and real estate, followed by information technology and financials. Materials and consumer staples lagged the Index by a small margin, while health care and industrials trailed further behind. The traditionally defensive utilities and consumer staples sectors underperformed by a greater margin, with both sectors challenged by rising commodity prices, with communication services as the only sector to generate negative returns. Small- and mid-cap stocks, which outperformed for much of the reporting period, lost ground to large-cap stocks in the closing months of 2021 as risk appetites diminished and trailed for the year as a whole. Similarly, value stocks outperformed growth-oriented shares during the first half of the year, then fell behind in November and December. In developed international equity markets, the U.K. and Eurozone led Asia, while, overall, the international market lagged its U.S. counterpart, particularly during the second half of the reporting period. Emerging market equities suffered broad losses, though returns varied widely from country to country with some, such as India, producing solidly positive returns while others, most notably China, experiencing punishing declines.
U.S. and international bond markets produced mixed performance, buffeted by rising interest rates while supported by accommodative monetary policies and strong corporate financial results. Expectations for a quick economic recovery in early 2021 drove rising yields and a steep selloff in traditional safe havens, such as government bonds. A partial recovery in the summer of 2021 was followed by another dip in the fall, prompted by signals from central banks of their intention to soon withdraw monetary accommodation as a first step toward raising rates in an effort to combat rising inflation. Increasingly hawkish rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve in November and December further pressured the fixed-income asset class. Corporate bonds fared relatively well given the positive corporate earnings environment and historically low default rates, with lower-rated issues significantly outperforming investment-grade credits. Emerging market corporate bonds came under pressure late in the reporting period due to slowing Chinese economic growth associated with a government regulatory crackdown and heightened concerns regarding a debt crisis in the Chinese real estate sector.
Today, the pandemic remains deeply felt in the economy and our personal lives. Yet, at the same time, post-pandemic trends are beginning to play an increasing role in the financial markets. As a MainStay VP investor, you can rely on us to manage our portfolios with a careful eye on the ever-changing investment landscape and provide you with disciplined investment tools to help you reach your financial goals. Thank you for your continued trust, which we strive to earn every day.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report
Investors should refer to the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Portfolio’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Portfolio. You may obtain copies of the Portfolio’s Summary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about MainStay VP Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019, by writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, Room 251, New York, New York 10010 or by sending an email to MainStayShareholdersServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available at newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp. Please read the Portfolio's Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing. MainStay VP Funds Trust portfolios are separate account options which are purchased through a variable insurance or variable annuity contract.
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance table and graph do not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. Please refer to the Performance Summary appropriate for your policy. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-598-2019 or visit www.newyorklife.com.
Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been different. For information on current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended December 31, 2021 |
Class | Inception Date | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception | Gross Expense Ratio1 |
Initial Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 5.38% | 5.28% | 2.77% | 0.83% |
Service Class Shares | 2/17/2012 | 5.12 | 5.01 | 2.53 | 1.08 |
1. | The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Portfolio’s “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report. |
Benchmark Performance* | One Year | Five Years | Since Inception |
Bloomberg U.S. TIPS Index1 | 5.96% | 5.34% | 2.98% |
Morningstar Inflation-Protected Bond Category Average2 | 5.46 | 4.81 | 2.45 |
* | Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. |
1. | The Bloomberg U.S. TIPS Index is the primary benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. TIPS Index includes all publicly issued U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) that have at least one year remaining to maturity and are rated investment grade. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. |
2. | The Morningstar Inflation-Protected Bond Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in debt securities that adjust their principal values in line with the rate of inflation. These bonds can be issued by any organization, but the U.S. Treasury is currently the largest issuer for these types of securities. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested. |
Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Portfolio you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Portfolio expenses (as applicable). This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Shares are only sold in connection with variable life and annuity contracts and the example does not reflect any contract level or transactional fees or expenses. If these costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
This example illustrates your Portfolio’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended
December 31, 2021. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are 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.
Share Class | Beginning Account Value 7/1/21 | Ending Account Value (Based on Actual Returns and Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Ending Account Value (Based on Hypothetical 5% Annualized Return and Actual Expenses) 12/31/21 | Expenses Paid During Period1 | Net Expense Ratio During Period2, 3 |
Initial Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,036.70 | $2.82 | $1,022.43 | $2.80 | 0.55% |
Service Class Shares | $1,000.00 | $1,035.40 | $4.10 | $1,021.17 | $4.08 | 0.80% |
1. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 184 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures. |
2. | Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period. |
3. | Expenses are inclusive of dividends and interest on investments sold short. |
6 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
Portfolio Composition as of December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Portfolio's holdings are subject to change.
Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of December 31, 2021 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. | U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Notes, 0.125%-0.875%, due 4/15/22–7/15/31 |
2. | U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Bonds, 0.125%-3.375%, due 1/15/25–2/15/51 |
3. | Italy Buoni Poliennali Del Tesoro, 0.40%-1.40%, due 5/26/25–5/15/30 |
4. | UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year, 3.50%-4.00%, due 2/25/52–3/25/52 |
5. | Nykredit Realkredit A/S, 0.50%-2.50%, due 10/1/43–10/1/53 |
6. | Japan Government CPI Linked Bond, 0.005%-0.10%, due 3/10/28–3/10/31 |
7. | United Kingdom Gilt Inflation Linked, 0.125%-1.875%, due 11/22/22–3/22/24 |
8. | Realkredit Danmark A/S, 1.00%-2.50%, due 4/1/47–10/1/53 |
9. | France Government Bond, 0.10%-0.25%, due 7/25/24–3/1/26 |
10. | Jyske Realkredit A/S, 0.50%-2.50%, due 10/1/43–10/1/53 |
Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Answers to the questions reflect the views of portfolio managers Stephen A. Rodosky and Daniel He of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, the Portfolio’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio perform relative to its benchmark and peers during the 12 months ended December 31, 2021?
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio returned 5.38% for Initial Class shares and 5.12% for Service Class shares. Over the same period, both share classes underperformed the 5.96% return of the Bloomberg U.S. TIPS Index (“the Index”), which is the Portfolio’s benchmark, and the 5.46% return of the Morningstar Inflation-Protected Bond Category Average.1
What factors affected the Portfolio’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The following strategies detracted from the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index during the reporting period:
• Short U.K. breakeven inflation positioning (the difference between nominal and real yields) as inflation expectations in the region rose,
• Yield curve2 positioning in U.S. interest rates, and
• Yield curve positioning in Eurozone interest rates.
The following strategies made positive contributions to the Portfolio’s relative performance during the same period (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.):
• Tactical Eurozone breakeven inflation positioning as inflation expectations in the region rose,
• Exposure to non-agency mortgage holdings,
• Overweight U.S. breakeven inflation positioning as inflation expectations rose in the United States, and
• Tactical Japanese breakeven inflation positioning as inflation expectations in the region rose.
During the reporting period, how was the Portfolio’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
Derivatives are used in the Portfolio to gain or decrease exposure to securities, markets or sectors; as a substitute for exposure that may not otherwise be accessible using cash bonds; for purposes of liquidity; or to take advantage of anticipated changes in market volatility.
U.S. and Eurozone breakeven inflation positioning—which were in part achieved using swaps, options, and futures—contributed positively to the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Index. Exposure to U.S. nominal duration,3 partially facilitated using futures and options, detracted from performance. Finally, currency
exposure, using currency forwards, added modestly to performance.
What was the Portfolio’s duration strategy during the reporting period?
The Portfolio reduced overall duration relative to the Index from an overweight position to an underweight position during the reporting period. More specifically, the Portfolio maintained overweight exposure to real duration (nominal interest rates minus the inflation rate) in the United States. The Portfolio also maintained overweight exposure to U.S. breakeven inflation during the reporting period; this was positive for relative performance as inflation expectations increased. The Portfolio maintained underweight exposure to U.K. breakeven inflation throughout the reporting period. The Portfolio’s overall duration was increased over the reporting period, standing at 7.32 years as of December 31, 2021.
What specific factors, risks or market forces prompted significant decisions for the Portfolio during the reporting period?
Overall, the Portfolio held underweight duration positioning relative to the Index, mainly sourced in front-end Eurozone and U.K. interest rates given their rich levels, and continued to be selective within yield curves and securities depending on prevailing valuations and market dislocations. The Portfolio held overweight U.S. breakeven inflation positioning given valuations below long-term fair value. The Portfolio also held modest overweight positions in Italian and Japanese inflation-linked bonds as they lagged global recovery and offered asymmetric payoffs.
During the reporting period, which market segments were the strongest positive contributors to the Portfolio's absolute performance and which market segments were particularly weak?
Within real duration, a long position in U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) added to performance as rates across the real yield curve declined at the front end of the curve. Overweight duration positions, specifically in the United States, detracted from performance amid rising global rates. Rising inflation expectations in the U.K. detracted from performance given the Portfolio's short exposure to U.K. breakeven inflation rates. Out-of-benchmark exposures to spread4 sectors such residential mortgage-backed securities added to
1. | See page 5 for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. |
2. | The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting. |
3. | Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity. |
4. | The terms “spread” and “yield spread” may refer to the difference in yield between a security or type of security and comparable U.S. Treasury issues. The terms may also refer to the difference in yield between two specific securities or types of securities at a given time. |
8 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
performance. Lastly, currency strategies, namely a long position to a basket of emerging-market currencies, added to performance.
Did the Portfolio make any significant purchases or sales during the reporting period?
The Portfolio reduced overall duration relative to the Index from an overweight position to an underweight position during the reporting period. More specifically, the Portfolio maintained overweight exposure to real duration (nominal interest rates minus the inflation rate) in the United States. The Portfolio maintained an overweight position relative to U.S. breakeven inflation exposure during the reporting period, which was positive for relative performance as inflation expectations increased. Conversely, the Portfolio maintained an underweight position relative to U.K. breakeven inflation throughout the reporting period.
How was the Portfolio positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio continued to hold overweight exposure to U.S. breakeven inflation. As of the same date, the Portfolio held an underweight duration position overall, and favored U.S. rates over other developed markets. The Portfolio continued to hold out-of-index exposure to mortgage-backed securities, corporate securities, bonds of non-U.S. developed nations and dollar-denominated emerging-market securities.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
Not all MainStay VP Portfolios and/or share classes are available under all policies.
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021†
| Principal Amount | Value |
Long-Term Bonds 131.9% |
Asset-Backed Securities 7.6% |
Home Equity Asset-Backed Securities 1.6% |
Argent Securities Trust | |
Series 2006-W4, Class A2C | | |
0.422% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.32%), due 5/25/36 (a) | $ 299,154 | $ 103,595 |
Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates | |
Series 2007-8, Class 1A1 | | |
0.292% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.19%), due 11/25/37 (a) | 1,597,495 | 1,545,241 |
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp. | |
Series 2001-HE17, Class A1 | | |
0.722% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.62%), due 1/25/32 (a) | 657,291 | 646,681 |
Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC | |
Series 2007-CB6, Class A3 | | |
0.322% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.22%), due 7/25/37 (a)(b) | 906,705 | 727,604 |
First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2006-FF17, Class A2 | | |
0.222% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.12%), due 12/25/36 (a) | 473,464 | 429,079 |
GSAA Home Equity Trust | |
Series 2006-17, Class A3A | | |
0.582% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.48%), due 11/25/36 (a) | 1,101,509 | 511,302 |
Home Equity Asset Trust | |
Series 2005-8, Class M2 | | |
0.542% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.675%), due 2/25/36 (a) | 295,110 | 294,888 |
Lehman XS Trust | |
Series 2007-20N, Class A1 | | |
1.252% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 12/25/37 (a) | 34,237 | 36,260 |
Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2006-7, Class 2A2 | | |
0.222% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.12%), due 8/25/36 (a) | 239,174 | 124,385 |
Mastr Asset-Backed Securities Trust | |
Series 2006-WMC4, Class A5 | | |
0.252% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.15%), due 10/25/36 (a) | 117,099 | 50,273 |
Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, Inc. Trust | |
Series 2005-WMC1, Class M3 | | |
0.882% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.78%), due 1/25/35 (a) | 159,576 | 159,285 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Home Equity Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
New Century Home Equity Loan Trust | |
Series 2004-4, Class M1 | | |
0.867% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.765%), due 2/25/35 (a) | $ 60,219 | $ 59,672 |
Option One Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2006-1, Class M1 | | |
0.642% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.54%), due 1/25/36 (a) | 1,200,000 | 1,183,564 |
Popular ABS Mortgage Pass-Through Trust | |
Series 2006-A, Class M2 | | |
0.972% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.87%), due 2/25/36 (a) | 1,238,000 | 1,222,971 |
RASC Trust (a) | |
Series 2006-KS6, Class A4 | | |
0.352% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.25%), due 8/25/36 | 91,893 | 91,715 |
Series 2006-EMX4, Class A4 | | |
0.562% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.23%), due 6/25/36 | 580,993 | 570,856 |
Series 2005-KS8, Class M4 | | |
0.987% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.59%), due 8/25/35 | 289,732 | 289,740 |
Series 2005-EMX1, Class M2 | | |
1.197% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.095%), due 3/25/35 | 631,322 | 628,122 |
Saxon Asset Securities Trust | |
Series 2007-3, Class 1A | | |
0.412% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.31%), due 9/25/37 (a) | 125,274 | 123,430 |
Securitized Asset-Backed Receivables LLC Trust (a) | |
Series 2006-HE2, Class A2C | | |
0.402% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.30%), due 7/25/36 | 357,059 | 198,754 |
Series 2006-HE1, Class A2C | | |
0.422% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.32%), due 7/25/36 | 580,114 | 273,925 |
Soundview Home Loan Trust (a) | |
Series 2007-OPT2, Class 2A3 | | |
0.283% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.18%), due 7/25/37 | 185,386 | 177,780 |
Series 2007-OPT1, Class 1A1 | | |
0.302% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.20%), due 6/25/37 | 295,135 | 256,179 |
| | 9,705,301 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities 6.0% |
Anchorage Capital CLO 11 Ltd. | |
Series 2019-11A, Class AR | | |
1.268% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.14%), due 7/22/32 (a)(b) | $ 300,000 | $ 300,067 |
Anchorage Capital CLO 6 Ltd. | |
Series 2015-6A, Class ARR | | |
1.174% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.05%), due 7/15/30 (a)(b) | 500,000 | 500,024 |
Apidos CLO XXVI | |
Series 2017-26A, Class A1AR | | |
1.022% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 7/18/29 (a)(b) | 800,000 | 799,998 |
Apidos CLO XXVII | |
Series 2017-27A, Class A1R | | |
1.052% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.93%), due 7/17/30 (a)(b) | 600,000 | 600,098 |
Arch Street CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2016-2A, Class AR2 | | |
1.132% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.00%), due 10/20/28 (a)(b) | 414,892 | 414,914 |
ARES European CLO X DAC | |
Series 10A, Class AR | | |
0.78% (3 Month EURIBOR + 0.78%), due 10/15/31 (a)(b) | EUR 1,100,000 | 1,251,376 |
ARES XL CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2016-40A, Class A1RR | | |
0.99% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.87%), due 1/15/29 (a)(b) | $ 1,300,000 | 1,300,012 |
Atlas Senior Loan Fund Ltd. | |
Series 2017-8A, Class A | | |
1.272% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.15%), due 1/16/30 (a)(b) | 1,200,000 | 1,197,106 |
Atrium XII | |
Series 12A, Class AR | | |
0.958% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.83%), due 4/22/27 (a)(b) | 268,876 | 269,119 |
Benefit Street Partners CLO XVI Ltd. | |
Series 2018-16A, Class A1R | | |
1.152% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.03%), due 1/17/32 (a)(b) | 300,000 | 300,049 |
Black Diamond CLO Designated Activity Co. | |
Series 2015-1A, Class A1R | | |
0.65% (3 Month EURIBOR + 0.65%), due 10/3/29 (a)(b) | EUR 78,932 | 89,865 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Black Diamond CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2017-2A, Class A1 | | |
0.86% (3 Month EURIBOR + 0.86%), due 1/20/32 (a)(b) | EUR 1,000,000 | $ 1,138,501 |
BlueMountain Fuji EUR CLO V DAC | |
Series 5A, Class A | | |
0.91% (3 Month EURIBOR + 0.91%), due 1/15/33 (a)(b) | 1,100,000 | 1,251,160 |
Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2013-1A, Class A1RR | | |
1.105% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.95%), due 8/14/30 (a)(b) | $ 600,000 | 599,999 |
Carlyle Global Market Strategies Euro CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2014-2A, Class AR1 | | |
0.75% (3 Month EURIBOR + 0.75%), due 11/15/31 (a)(b) | EUR 1,000,000 | 1,132,761 |
Carlyle US CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2017-1A, Class A1R | | |
1.132% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.00%), due 4/20/31 (a)(b) | $ 700,000 | 698,572 |
CIFC Funding 2017-IV Ltd. | |
Series 2017-4A, Class A1R | | |
1.074% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.95%), due 10/24/30 (a)(b) | 400,000 | 400,012 |
Crestline Denali CLO XV Ltd. | |
Series 2017-1A, Class AR | | |
1.162% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.03%), due 4/20/30 (a)(b) | 300,000 | 299,999 |
Dryden 52 Euro CLO DAC | |
Series 2017-52A, Class AR | | |
0.86% (3 Month EURIBOR + 0.86%), due 5/15/34 (a)(b) | EUR 500,000 | 566,457 |
Gallatin CLO VIII Ltd. | |
Series 2017-1A, Class A1R | | |
1.177% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.09%), due 7/15/31 (a)(b) | $ 400,000 | 399,680 |
Jubilee CLO DAC | |
Series 2015-16A, Class A1R | | |
0.197% (3 Month EURIBOR + 0.80%), due 12/15/29 (a)(b) | EUR 1,612,879 | 1,831,268 |
KVK CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2013-1A, Class AR | | |
1.027% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 1/14/28 (a)(b) | $ 312,927 | 312,930 |
LCM 30 Ltd. | |
Series 30A, Class AR | | |
1.212% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.08%), due 4/20/31 (a)(b) | 1,350,000 | 1,350,038 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
LCM XIII LP | |
Series 13A, Class AR3 | | |
1.086% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.87%), due 7/19/27 (a)(b) | $ 1,700,000 | $ 1,698,565 |
LCM XV LP | |
Series 15A, Class AR2 | | |
1.132% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.00%), due 7/20/30 (a)(b) | 400,000 | 400,004 |
Legacy Mortgage Asset Trust | |
Series 2019-GS3, Class A1 | | |
3.75%, due 4/25/59 (b)(c) | 131,828 | 132,272 |
MacKay Shields Euro DAC | |
Series 2A, Class A | | |
1.55% (3 Month EURIBOR + 1.55%), due 8/15/33 (a)(b) | EUR 242,948 | 276,840 |
Magnetite XVIII Ltd. | |
Series 2016-18A, Class AR2 | | |
1.023% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.88%), due 11/15/28 (a)(b) | $ 400,000 | 399,969 |
Man GLG Euro CLO II DAC | |
Series 2A, Class A1R | | |
0.87% (3 Month EURIBOR + 0.87%), due 1/15/30 (a)(b) | EUR 201,485 | 229,128 |
Marathon CLO V Ltd. | |
Series 2013-5A, Class A1R | | |
1.03% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.87%), due 11/21/27 (a)(b) | $ 295,859 | 295,889 |
MidOcean Credit CLO II | |
Series 2013-2A, Class ARR | | |
1.159% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.03%), due 1/29/30 (a)(b) | 300,000 | 299,999 |
MP CLO VII Ltd. | |
Series 2015-1A, Class AR3 | | |
1.012% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.89%), due 10/18/28 (a)(b) | 494,262 | 494,261 |
OCP CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2015-9A, Class A1R | | |
0.924% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.80%), due 7/15/27 (a)(b) | 2,652 | 2,652 |
OSD CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-23A, Class A | | |
0.877% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.87%), due 4/17/31 (a)(b) | 1,300,000 | 1,298,407 |
OZLM VIII Ltd. | |
Series 2014-8A, Class A1R3 | | |
1.20% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.98%), due 10/17/29 (a)(b) | 400,000 | 400,000 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
OZLM XXIV Ltd. | |
Series 2019-24A, Class A1AR | | |
1.292% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.16%), due 7/20/32 (a)(b) | $ 200,000 | $ 199,922 |
Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (a)(b) | |
Series 2021-4A, Class A1 | | |
0.928% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.80%), due 10/15/29 | 500,000 | 500,118 |
Series 2021-3A, Class A1 | | |
0.971% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.80%), due 7/20/29 | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000 |
Rad CLO 5 Ltd. | |
Series 2019-5A, Class AR | | |
1.331% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.12%), due 7/24/32 (a)(b) | 1,700,000 | 1,700,000 |
Romark CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2017-1A, Class A1R | | |
1.154% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.03%), due 10/23/30 (a)(b) | 400,000 | 399,802 |
Saranac CLO VI Ltd. | |
Series 2018-6A, Class A1R | | |
1.341% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.14%), due 8/13/31 (a)(b) | 300,000 | 299,595 |
SLM Student Loan Trust | |
Series 2004-3A, Class A6B | | |
0.674% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.55%), due 10/25/64 (a)(b) | 405,856 | 402,798 |
Sound Point CLO IX Ltd. | |
Series 2015-2A, Class ARRR | | |
1.342% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.21%), due 7/20/32 (a)(b) | 500,000 | 499,803 |
Sound Point CLO XIV Ltd. | |
Series 2016-3A, Class AR2 | | |
1.114% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.99%), due 1/23/29 (a)(b) | 1,014,529 | 1,014,028 |
Sound Point CLO XV Ltd. | |
Series 2017-1A, Class ARR | | |
1.024% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 1/23/29 (a)(b) | 1,100,000 | 1,100,013 |
Stratus CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2021-3A, Class A | | |
1.17% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.95%), due 12/29/29 (a)(b) | 400,000 | 400,000 |
Symphony CLO XIV Ltd. | |
Series 2014-14A, Class AR | | |
1.077% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.95%), due 7/14/26 (a)(b) | 101,767 | 101,769 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
Other Asset-Backed Securities (continued) |
THL Credit Wind River CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2019-3A, Class AR | | |
1.204% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.08%), due 4/15/31 (a)(b) | $ 300,000 | $ 299,890 |
Venture 36 CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2019-36A, Class A1AR | | |
1.262% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.13%), due 4/20/32 (a)(b) | 600,000 | 599,999 |
Venture XX CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2015-20A, Class AR | | |
0.944% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.82%), due 4/15/27 (a)(b) | 139,599 | 139,599 |
Venture XXI CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2015-21A, Class AR | | |
1.004% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.88%), due 7/15/27 (a)(b) | 450,558 | 450,563 |
Venture XXIV CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2016-24A, Class ARR | | |
1.032% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.90%), due 10/20/28 (a)(b) | 371,929 | 371,772 |
Vibrant CLO VI Ltd. | |
Series 2017-6A, Class AR | | |
1.164% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.95%), due 6/20/29 (a)(b) | 1,021,264 | 1,021,286 |
Vibrant CLO XI Ltd. | |
Series 2019-11A, Class A1R1 | | |
1.252% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.12%), due 7/20/32 (a)(b) | 400,000 | 399,538 |
Voya CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2017-1A, Class A1R | | |
1.072% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.95%), due 4/17/30 (a)(b) | 1,000,000 | 1,000,008 |
Z Capital Credit Partners CLO Ltd. | |
Series 2015-1A, Class A1R | | |
1.072% (3 Month LIBOR + 0.95%), due 7/16/27 (a)(b) | 28,536 | 28,535 |
| | 35,261,029 |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $45,143,109) | | 44,966,330 |
Corporate Bonds 5.8% |
Auto Manufacturers 0.0% ‡ |
Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC | | |
2.65%, due 7/13/22 (b) | 200,000 | 201,740 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Banks 2.7% |
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA | | |
Series Reg S | | |
5.875% (EUR 5 Year Interest Swap Rate + 5.66%), due 9/24/23 (a)(d) | EUR 400,000 | $ 483,293 |
Bank of America Corp. | | |
Series FF | | |
5.875%, due 3/15/28 (d)(e) | $ 190,000 | 211,375 |
Credit Suisse Group Funding Guernsey Ltd. | | |
3.80%, due 9/15/22 | 300,000 | 306,473 |
ING Bank NV | | |
2.625%, due 12/5/22 (b) | 400,000 | 407,267 |
Lloyds Banking Group plc | | |
Series Reg S | | |
4.947% (5 Month EURIBOR ICE Swap Rate + 5.29%), due 6/27/25 (a)(d) | EUR 200,000 | 247,692 |
NatWest Group plc | | |
1.77% (3 Month LIBOR + 1.55%), due 6/25/24 (a) | $ 300,000 | 304,726 |
4.519%, due 6/25/24 (e) | 200,000 | 209,225 |
Nykredit Realkredit A/S | | |
Series Reg S | | |
0.50%, due 10/1/43 | DKK 12,857,738 | 1,841,446 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/50 | 45,793,317 | 6,677,557 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/53 | 500,000 | 70,920 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/53 | 2,100,000 | 302,363 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 8,078,640 | 1,192,864 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 10,900,000 | 1,628,980 |
Series 01E | | |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 100,000 | 14,368 |
Series Reg S | | |
2.00%, due 10/1/53 | 300,000 | 45,158 |
Series Reg S | | |
2.00%, due 10/1/53 | 500,000 | 76,622 |
Series 01E | | |
2.50%, due 10/1/47 | 1,924 | 315 |
UniCredit SpA | | |
7.83%, due 12/4/23 (b) | $ 1,800,000 | 2,003,778 |
| | 16,024,422 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Corporate Bonds (continued) |
Beverages 0.0% ‡ |
Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. | | |
4.057%, due 5/25/23 | $ 52,000 | $ 54,215 |
Commercial Services 0.0% ‡ |
RELX Capital, Inc. | | |
3.50%, due 3/16/23 | 100,000 | 102,936 |
Distribution & Wholesale 0.1% |
Toyota Tsusho Corp. | | |
3.625%, due 9/13/23 | ��� 200,000 | 208,250 |
Diversified Financial Services 2.5% |
Ally Financial, Inc. | | |
4.125%, due 2/13/22 | 200,000 | 200,789 |
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd. | | |
2.528%, due 11/18/27 (b) | 66,000 | 64,113 |
Jyske Realkredit A/S | | |
Series CCE | | |
0.50%, due 10/1/43 | DKK 2,517,194 | 360,890 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/50 | 16,365,096 | 2,385,723 |
Series CCE | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/53 | 6,664,211 | 944,623 |
Series CCE | | |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 1,700,000 | 254,400 |
Series CCE | | |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 2,000,000 | 295,160 |
Series 111E | | |
2.50%, due 10/1/47 | 5,148 | 842 |
Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc. | | |
2.652%, due 9/19/22 (b) | $ 200,000 | 202,202 |
Nordea Kredit Realkreditaktieselskab | | |
0.50%, due 10/1/43 | DKK 966,392 | 138,705 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/50 | 11,375,613 | 1,661,833 |
1.00%, due 10/1/53 | 200,000 | 28,812 |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 10,599,989 | 1,567,186 |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 2,700,000 | 404,460 |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 500,000 | 71,953 |
2.00%, due 10/1/53 | 400,000 | 61,359 |
2.50%, due 10/1/47 | 2,197 | 359 |
Realkredit Danmark A/S | | |
Series Reg S | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/50 | 16,400,000 | 2,387,673 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/53 | 19,099,810 | 2,709,158 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Diversified Financial Services (continued) |
Realkredit Danmark A/S (continued) | | |
Series Reg S | | |
1.00%, due 10/1/53 | DKK 1,500,000 | $ 216,146 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 3,100,000 | 463,668 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.50%, due 10/1/53 | 1,500,000 | 221,313 |
Series 28S | | |
2.00%, due 10/1/53 | 1,700,000 | 255,896 |
Series 23S | | |
2.50%, due 4/1/47 | 10,175 | 1,662 |
| | 14,898,925 |
Food 0.1% |
Conagra Brands, Inc. | | |
3.25%, due 9/15/22 | $ 200,000 | 203,276 |
Danone SA | | |
3.00%, due 6/15/22 (b)(f) | 200,000 | 202,186 |
| | 405,462 |
Home Builders 0.0% ‡ |
DR Horton, Inc. | | |
5.75%, due 8/15/23 | 100,000 | 106,220 |
Home Furnishings 0.2% |
Panasonic Corp. | | |
2.536%, due 7/19/22 (b) | 800,000 | 806,346 |
Media 0.1% |
Charter Communications Operating LLC | | |
4.464%, due 7/23/22 | 600,000 | 608,856 |
Oil & Gas 0.1% |
Petrobras Global Finance BV | | |
5.093%, due 1/15/30 | 543,000 | 564,758 |
Pharmaceuticals 0.0% ‡ |
Cigna Corp. | | |
3.75%, due 7/15/23 | 73,000 | 75,913 |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $35,081,326) | | 34,058,043 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Foreign Government Bonds 9.9% |
Argentina 0.0% ‡ |
Argentine Republic Government Bond (h) | | |
34.162%, due 10/4/22 (g) | ARS 1,756 | $ 9 |
36.165% (BADLARPP + 2.00%), due 4/3/22 (a) | 2,854,000 | 27,625 |
| | 27,634 |
Australia 0.4% |
Australia Government Bond (i) | | |
Series Reg S | | |
1.25%, due 2/21/22 | AUD 1,174,432 | 858,930 |
Series Reg S | | |
3.00%, due 9/20/25 | 1,871,515 | 1,585,614 |
| | 2,444,544 |
Canada 0.1% |
Canadian Government Real Return Bond | | |
4.25%, due 12/1/26 (i) | CAD 983,082 | 980,789 |
France 1.0% |
France Government Bond (i) | | |
Series Reg S | | |
0.10%, due 3/1/26 (b) | EUR 3,213,832 | 4,018,696 |
Series Reg S | | |
0.25%, due 7/25/24 | 1,436,539 | 1,759,101 |
| | 5,777,797 |
Italy 4.3% |
Italy Buoni Poliennali Del Tesoro (b)(i) | | |
Series Reg S | | |
0.40%, due 5/15/30 | 8,948,715 | 11,068,365 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.40%, due 5/26/25 | 11,512,075 | 14,210,982 |
| | 25,279,347 |
Japan 1.9% |
Japan Government CPI Linked Bond (i) | | |
0.005%, due 3/10/31 | JPY 227,074,400 | 2,050,046 |
0.10%, due 3/10/28 | 424,965,480 | 3,819,997 |
0.10%, due 3/10/29 | 610,191,630 | 5,508,859 |
| | 11,378,902 |
New Zealand 0.5% |
New Zealand Government Inflation Linked Bond (i) | | |
Series Reg S | | |
2.00%, due 9/20/25 | NZD 2,078,820 | 1,553,864 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
New Zealand (continued) |
New Zealand Government Inflation Linked Bond (i) (continued) | | |
Series Reg S | | |
2.50%, due 9/20/35 | NZD 901,840 | $ 778,703 |
Series Reg S | | |
3.00%, due 9/20/30 | 572,450 | 485,465 |
| | 2,818,032 |
Peru 0.2% |
Peru Government Bond | | |
5.94%, due 2/12/29 | PEN 1,300,000 | 333,237 |
6.15%, due 8/12/32 | 2,600,000 | 653,346 |
| | 986,583 |
Qatar 0.0% ‡ |
Qatar Government Bond | | |
Series Reg S | | |
3.875%, due 4/23/23 | $ 300,000 | 311,895 |
United Kingdom 1.5% |
United Kingdom Gilt Inflation Linked (i) | | |
Series Reg S | | |
0.125%, due 3/22/24 | GBP 3,346,278 | 4,956,793 |
Series Reg S | | |
1.875%, due 11/22/22 | 2,579,036 | 3,721,877 |
| | 8,678,670 |
Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $58,552,497) | | 58,684,193 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities 4.3% |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 3.3% |
FHLMC | |
REMIC, Series 4779, Class WF | | |
0.436% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.35%), due 7/15/44 (a) | $ 212,122 | 212,660 |
FHLMC, STRIPS | |
Series 278, Class F1 | | |
0.56% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.45%), due 9/15/42 (a) | 219,912 | 219,811 |
GNMA (a) | |
REMIC, Series 2018-H15, Class FG | | |
0.382% (12 Month LIBOR + 0.15%), due 8/20/68 | 413,245 | 406,409 |
REMIC, Series 2017-H10, Class FB | | |
1.029% (12 Month LIBOR + 0.75%), due 4/20/67 | 257,530 | 259,379 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Agency (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
UMBS, Single Family, 30 Year (j) | |
3.50%, due 3/25/52 TBA | $ 11,800,000 | $ 12,387,115 |
4.00%, due 2/25/52 TBA | 5,480,000 | 5,825,696 |
| | 19,311,070 |
Commercial Mortgage Loans (Collateralized Mortgage Obligation) 0.0% ‡ |
AREIT Trust | |
Series 2020-CRE4, Class A | | |
2.782% (SOFR 30A + 2.734%), due 4/15/37 (a)(b) | 108,045 | 108,027 |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) 1.0% |
Alternative Loan Trust | |
Series 2005-29CB, Class A4 | | |
5.00%, due 7/25/35 | 30,970 | 23,152 |
Series 2007-1T1, Class 1A1 | | |
6.00%, due 3/25/37 | 568,016 | 313,528 |
CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust | |
Series 2007-1, Class A1 | | |
6.00%, due 3/25/37 | 28,911 | 20,544 |
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust | |
Series 2007-AR4, Class 1A1A | | |
3.173%, due 3/25/37 (k) | 222,454 | 223,120 |
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. | |
Series 2004-NCM2, Class 1CB1 | | |
5.50%, due 8/25/34 | 152,412 | 155,172 |
Eurosail-UK plc (a) | |
Series Reg S, Class A3A | | |
1.045% (3 Month Sterling LIBOR + 0.95%), due 6/13/45 | GBP 123,495 | 166,872 |
Series Reg S, Class A3C | | |
1.045% (3 Month Sterling LIBOR + 0.95%), due 6/13/45 | 32,928 | 44,429 |
Series 2007-3A, Class A3C | | |
1.045% (3 Month Sterling LIBOR + 0.95%), due 6/13/45 (b) | 32,928 | 44,429 |
GreenPoint Mortgage Funding Trust | |
Series 2006-AR4, Class A6A | | |
0.462% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.36%), due 9/25/46 (a) | $ 74,039 | 72,722 |
IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust (a) | |
Series 2005-AR12, Class 2A1A | | |
0.582% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.48%), due 7/25/35 | 108,648 | 106,013 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust (a) (continued) | |
Series 2005-AR14, Class 1A1A | | |
0.662% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.56%), due 7/25/35 | $ 807,818 | $ 653,436 |
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust | |
Series 2005-A4, Class 1A | | |
2.469%, due 7/25/35 (k) | 163,012 | 106,195 |
New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust (b)(g) | |
Series 2019-RPL3, Class A1 | | |
2.75%, due 7/25/59 | 263,506 | 268,327 |
Series 2018-3A, Class A1 | | |
4.50%, due 5/25/58 | 148,065 | 157,629 |
OBX Trust | |
Series 2018-1, Class A2 | | |
0.752% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.65%), due 6/25/57 (a)(b) | 36,043 | 36,069 |
Opteum Mortgage Acceptance Corp. Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates | |
Series 2005-2, Class M7 | | |
1.902% (1 Month LIBOR + 1.80%), due 4/25/35 (a) | 100,000 | 101,489 |
RALI Trust | |
Series 2006-QH1, Class A1 | | |
0.482% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.38%), due 12/25/36 (a) | 882,569 | 850,499 |
Residential Asset Securitization Trust | |
Series 2006-A10, Class A5 | | |
6.50%, due 9/25/36 | 224,234 | 120,745 |
Residential Mortgage Securities 32 plc | |
Series 32A, Class A | | |
1.412% (SONIA3M IR + 1.25%), due 6/20/70 (a)(b) | GBP 161,558 | 220,424 |
Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust | |
Series 2004-2, Class A1 | | |
0.723% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.62%), due 6/25/44 (a) | $ 619,622 | 605,500 |
Towd Point Mortgage Funding Granite 4 plc | |
Series 2019-GR4A, Class A1 | | |
1.236% (3 Month Sterling LIBOR + 1.025%), due 10/20/51 (a)(b) | GBP 790,517 | 1,076,910 |
Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates WMALT Trust | |
Series 2007-HY1, Class A2A | | |
0.262% (1 Month LIBOR + 0.16%), due 2/25/37 (a) | $ 467,224 | 421,956 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
| Principal Amount | Value |
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) |
Whole Loan (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations) (continued) |
Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates WMALT Trust (continued) | |
Series 2006-5, Class 2CB1 | | |
6.00%, due 7/25/36 | $ 36,946 | $ 32,903 |
| | 5,822,063 |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $25,384,420) | | 25,241,160 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies 104.3% |
Federal National Mortgage Association (Mortgage Pass-Through Securities) 0.1% |
FNMA (a) | | |
1.282% (12 Month Monthly Treasury Average Index + 1.199%), due 6/1/43 | 164,338 | 167,332 |
2.423% (1 Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.36%), due 11/1/34 | 190,486 | 201,648 |
4.026% (11th District Cost of Funds Index + 1.926%), due 12/1/36 | 114,020 | 121,744 |
| | 490,724 |
United States Treasury Bonds 0.3% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | |
1.625%, due 11/15/50 | 2,080,000 | 1,937,894 |
United States Treasury Inflation - Indexed Notes 103.9% |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Bonds (i) | | |
0.125%, due 2/15/51 | 5,216,237 | 6,173,457 |
0.25%, due 2/15/50 | 2,775,616 | 3,356,705 |
0.625%, due 2/15/43 | 2,141,393 | 2,660,658 |
0.75%, due 2/15/42 | 6,401,834 | 8,086,249 |
0.75%, due 2/15/45 | 6,976,946 | 8,975,832 |
0.875%, due 2/15/47 | 13,340,666 | 18,007,894 |
1.00%, due 2/15/46 | 7,692,639 | 10,506,670 |
1.00%, due 2/15/48 | 2,813,048 | 3,942,428 |
1.00%, due 2/15/49 | 3,352,468 | 4,755,998 |
1.375%, due 2/15/44 | 17,671,154 | 25,206,057 |
1.75%, due 1/15/28 | 15,346,702 | 18,409,238 |
2.00%, due 1/15/26 | 6,463,285 | 7,478,177 |
2.125%, due 2/15/40 | 4,427,693 | 6,774,193 |
2.125%, due 2/15/41 | 6,984,501 | 10,807,160 |
2.375%, due 1/15/25 | 13,338,121 | 15,188,583 |
2.375%, due 1/15/27 | 27,431 | 33,127 |
| Principal Amount | Value |
|
United States Treasury Inflation - Indexed Notes (continued) |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Bonds (i) (continued) | | |
2.50%, due 1/15/29 | $ 6,737,600 | $ 8,612,450 |
3.375%, due 4/15/32 | 509,548 | 757,797 |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Notes (i) | | |
0.125%, due 4/15/22 | 46,065,490 | 46,738,479 |
0.125%, due 7/15/22 (l) | 4,596,910 | 4,710,307 |
0.125%, due 1/15/23 | 14,059,419 | 14,519,646 |
0.125%, due 10/15/24 | 13,152,210 | 14,047,029 |
0.125%, due 4/15/25 | 8,352,240 | 8,933,923 |
0.125%, due 10/15/25 (l) | 852,784 | 919,276 |
0.125%, due 4/15/26 | 4,482,390 | 4,837,064 |
0.125%, due 7/15/26 | 9,934,993 | 10,785,729 |
0.125%, due 10/15/26 | 17,814,544 | 19,371,944 |
0.125%, due 1/15/30 | 18,555,190 | 20,593,089 |
0.125%, due 7/15/30 | 13,506,326 | 15,110,132 |
0.125%, due 1/15/31 | 15,130,142 | 16,939,127 |
0.125%, due 7/15/31 (m) | 45,922,665 | 51,615,737 |
0.25%, due 1/15/25 | 12,378,256 | 13,260,804 |
0.25%, due 7/15/29 | 18,425,352 | 20,643,774 |
0.375%, due 7/15/23 | 6,812,597 | 7,162,700 |
0.375%, due 1/15/27 | 16,007,380 | 17,605,668 |
0.375%, due 7/15/27 | 18,792,234 | 20,847,757 |
0.50%, due 4/15/24 | 23,271,337 | 24,805,205 |
0.50%, due 1/15/28 | 17,505,892 | 19,586,481 |
0.625%, due 4/15/23 | 23,762,517 | 24,840,184 |
0.625%, due 1/15/24 | 23,146,120 | 24,630,899 |
0.625%, due 1/15/26 | 10,744,089 | 11,799,150 |
0.75%, due 7/15/28 | 17,641,099 | 20,201,217 |
0.875%, due 1/15/29 | 17,843,884 | 20,633,273 |
| | 614,871,267 |
United States Treasury Notes 0.0% ‡ |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | |
1.75%, due 12/31/24 | 330,000 | 337,528 |
Total U.S. Government & Federal Agencies (Cost $571,484,226) | | 617,637,413 |
Total Long-Term Bonds (Cost $735,645,578) | | 780,587,139 |
|
| Shares | |
Short-Term Investments 0.2% |
Affiliated Investment Company 0.2% |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 0.01% (n) | 714,686 | 714,686 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investments (continued) |
Unaffiliated Investment Company 0.0% ‡ |
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund, 0.10% (n)(o) | 92,925 | | $ 92,925 |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $807,611) | | | 807,611 |
Total Investments, Before Investments Sold Short (Cost $736,453,189) | 132.1% | | 781,394,750 |
|
| Principal Amount | | |
Short-Term Investment Sold Short (8.7)% |
Reverse Repurchase Agreement (8.7)% |
U.S. Treasury 0.11%, dated 12/31/21 due 1/4/22 Proceeds at Maturity $(51,286,407) (Collateralized by United States Treasury Inflation Protected Bond with a rate of 0.125% and maturity date of 7/15/31, with a Principal Amount of $(44,500,000) and a Market Value of $(51,408,253)) | $ (51,286,250) | | (51,286,250) |
Total Short-Term Investment Sold Short (Proceeds $(51,286,250)) | | | (51,286,250) |
Total Investments Excluding Purchased Options (Cost $685,166,939) | 123.4% | | 730,108,500 |
Total Purchased Options (Cost $102,109) | 0.0%‡ | | 201,672 |
Total Investments, Net of Investments Sold Short (Cost $685,269,048) | 123.4% | | 730,310,172 |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | (23.4) | | (138,427,540) |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | $ 591,882,632 |
† | Percentages indicated are based on Portfolio net assets. |
‡ | Less than one-tenth of a percent. |
(a) | Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(b) | May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(c) | Step coupon—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(d) | Security is perpetual and, thus, does not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date. |
(e) | Fixed to floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(f) | All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2021, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $90,984. The Portfolio received cash collateral with a value of $92,925. (See Note 2(M)) |
(g) | Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(h) | Illiquid security—As of December 31, 2021, the total market value deemed illiquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees was $27,634, which represented less than one-tenth of a percent of the Portfolio’s net assets. (Unaudited) |
(i) | Treasury Inflation Protected Security—Pays a fixed rate of interest on a principal amount that is continuously adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index-Urban Consumers. |
(j) | TBA—Security purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and maturity date. The actual principal amount and maturity date will be determined upon settlement. As of December 31, 2021, the total net market value was $18,212,811, which represented 3.1% of the Portfolio’s net assets. All or a portion of this security is a part of a mortgage dollar roll agreement. |
(k) | Collateral strip rate—A bond whose interest was based on the weighted net interest rate of the collateral. The coupon rate adjusts periodically based on a predetermined schedule. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of December 31, 2021. |
(l) | Security, or a portion thereof, was maintained in a segregated account at the Portfolio’s custodian as collateral for Future and swap contracts. |
(m) | Security, or a portion thereof, was maintained in a segregated account at the Portfolio’s custodian as collateral for open reverse repurchase agreements. (See Note 2(P)) |
(n) | Current yield as of December 31, 2021. |
(o) | Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following foreign currency forward contracts1,2:
Currency Purchased | Currency Sold | Counterparty | Settlement Date | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
AUD | 4,069,000 | USD | 2,900,447 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 1/7/22 | $ 59,978 |
EUR | 35,179,000 | USD | 39,819,655 | Bank of America N.A. | 1/4/22 | 231,636 |
EUR | 372,000 | USD | 421,101 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 1/4/22 | 2,421 |
EUR | 327,000 | USD | 370,834 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 1/4/22 | 1,456 |
GBP | 462,000 | USD | 613,961 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 1/7/22 | 11,375 |
NOK | 26,320,000 | USD | 2,903,671 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 2/17/22 | 82,620 |
USD | 4,316,440 | DKK | 27,327,382 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | 124,972 |
USD | 378,176 | DKK | 2,425,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | 6,230 |
USD | 152,071 | DKK | 970,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | 3,293 |
USD | 238,521 | DKK | 1,520,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | 5,384 |
USD | 148,595 | DKK | 955,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | 2,117 |
USD | 446,978 | DKK | 2,865,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | 7,545 |
USD | 300,288 | DKK | 1,920,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | 5,798 |
USD | 514,981 | DKK | 3,335,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | 3,460 |
USD | 209,228 | DKK | 1,340,000 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 4/1/22 | 3,699 |
USD | 6,200,613 | DKK | 39,238,223 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | 182,262 |
USD | 6,681,248 | DKK | 42,378,956 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | 181,172 |
USD | 1,296,509 | DKK | 8,330,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | 18,855 |
USD | 288,686 | DKK | 1,850,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | 4,934 |
USD | 381,267 | DKK | 2,445,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | 6,253 |
USD | 153,281 | DKK | 980,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | 2,969 |
USD | 504,221 | DKK | 3,260,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | 4,203 |
USD | 713,437 | GBP | 527,000 | Credit Suisse First Boston Intl | 1/5/22 | 117 |
USD | 4,780,187 | JPY | 543,452,672 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 1/7/22 | 55,649 |
USD | 7,008,141 | JPY | 790,500,111 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 1/7/22 | 135,882 |
USD | 156,798 | JPY | 17,800,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 1/7/22 | 2,052 |
USD | 1,049,827 | PEN | 4,228,387 | Bank of America N.A.* | 7/25/22 | 5,064 |
Total Unrealized Appreciation | 1,151,396 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Currency Purchased | Currency Sold | Counterparty | Settlement Date | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
DKK | 3,415,000 | USD | 533,543 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | $ (9,751) |
DKK | 2,360,000 | USD | 369,975 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | (7,999) |
USD | 2,415,290 | AUD | 3,375,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 1/7/22 | (40,211) |
USD | 2,896,338 | CAD | 3,710,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 1/7/22 | (36,580) |
USD | 958,611 | CAD | 1,221,000 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 1/7/22 | (6,643) |
USD | 170,993 | DKK | 1,130,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | (2,326) |
USD | 507,733 | DKK | 3,335,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | (3,789) |
USD | 596,855 | DKK | 3,920,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | (4,394) |
USD | 972,846 | DKK | 6,345,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | (349) |
USD | 985,611 | DKK | 6,445,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | (2,922) |
USD | 336,842 | DKK | 2,210,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | (2,127) |
USD | 206,609 | DKK | 1,360,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 4/1/22 | (1,987) |
USD | 359,231 | DKK | 2,360,000 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 4/1/22 | (2,745) |
USD | 133,552 | DKK | 875,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | (655) |
USD | 338,441 | DKK | 2,235,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | (4,362) |
USD | 338,457 | DKK | 2,215,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | (1,279) |
USD | 350,126 | DKK | 2,295,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | (1,881) |
USD | 120,005 | DKK | 790,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 4/1/22 | (1,165) |
USD | 39,843,331 | EUR | 35,179,000 | Bank of America N.A. | 2/2/22 | (231,988) |
USD | 40,686,205 | EUR | 35,878,000 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 1/4/22 | (160,898) |
USD | 156,161 | GBP | 117,000 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 1/7/22 | (2,203) |
USD | 10,718,978 | GBP | 8,050,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 1/7/22 | (177,031) |
USD | 2,891,642 | NZD | 4,288,000 | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 1/7/22 | (45,117) |
USD | 2,756,731 | NZD | 4,039,000 | Morgan Stanley & Co. International | 1/7/22 | (9,494) |
Total Unrealized Depreciation | (757,896) |
Net Unrealized Appreciation | $ 393,500 |
* | Non-deliverable forward. |
1. | Foreign Currency Forward Contracts are subject to limitations such that they cannot be “sold or repurchased,” although the Portfolio would be able to exit the transaction through other means, such as through the execution of an offsetting transaction. |
2. | As of December 31, 2021, cash collateral of $340,000 was due to a broker for foreign currency forward contracts. |
Futures Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following futures contracts1:
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
Long Contracts | | | | | |
3 Month Euro Euribor | 205 | March 2023 | $ 58,507,003 | $ 58,450,234 | $ (56,769) |
Euro-Bund | 74 | March 2022 | 14,657,025 | 14,437,752 | (219,273) |
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Notes | 801 | March 2022 | 96,943,939 | 96,902,227 | (41,712) |
Total Long Contracts | | | | | (317,754) |
Short Contracts | | | | | |
Australia 3 Year Bonds | (13) | March 2022 | (1,078,245) | (1,079,649) | (1,404) |
Australia 10 Year Bonds | (7) | March 2022 | (708,940) | (708,759) | 181 |
Euro-Bobl | (117) | March 2022 | (17,886,676) | (17,748,168) | 138,508 |
Euro-BTP | (8) | March 2022 | (1,032,499) | (1,028,384) | 4,115 |
Euro-BTP | (47) | March 2022 | (8,051,255) | (7,866,431) | 184,824 |
Euro-Buxl 30 Year Bonds | (74) | March 2022 | (18,264,666) | (17,417,638) | 847,028 |
Euro-Schatz | (1,071) | March 2022 | (136,804,618) | (136,601,933) | 202,685 |
Japan 10 Year Bonds | (9) | March 2022 | (11,896,057) | (11,860,472) | 35,585 |
Long Gilt | (49) | March 2022 | (8,270,567) | (8,283,861) | (13,294) |
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Notes | (23) | March 2022 | (5,027,630) | (5,017,953) | 9,677 |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Notes | (146) | March 2022 | (18,950,154) | (19,048,437) | (98,283) |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Ultra Bonds | (100) | March 2022 | (14,433,455) | (14,643,750) | (210,295) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
Type | Number of Contracts | Expiration Date | Value at Trade Date | Current Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)2 |
U.S. Treasury Long Bonds | (66) | March 2022 | $ (10,518,655) | $ (10,588,875) | $ (70,220) |
U.S. Treasury Ultra Bonds | (91) | March 2022 | (17,908,183) | (17,938,375) | (30,192) |
Total Short Contracts | | | | | 998,915 |
Net Unrealized Appreciation | | | | | $ 681,161 |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $1,285,000 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions. |
2. | Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of December 31, 2021. |
Purchased Swaptions
Description | Counterparty | Strike Price | Expiration Date | Number of Contracts | Notional Amount | Premiums Paid (Received) | | Market Value |
Call-30-Year Interest Rate Swap | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC | $ 0.19 | 11/2/22 | 1,400,000 | EUR 1,400,000 | $ 102,109 | | $ 201,672 |
Written Inflation-Capped Options
Description | Counterparty | Initial Index | Floating Rate | Expiration Date | Number of Contracts | Notional Amount | Premiums Paid (Received) | | Market Value |
Call-Cap-OTC USA Non-Revised Consumer Price Index- Urban (CPI-U), American Style -Call | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | $ 238.643 | Maximum of [0, Final Index/Initial Index - (1 + 4.00%10)] | 5/16/24 | (300,000) | $ (300,000) | $ (494) | | $ (13,867) |
Written Options
Description | Counterparty | Strike Price | Expiration Date | Number of Contracts | Notional Amount | Premiums Paid (Received) | | Market Value |
Put-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | $ 104.06 | 1/6/22 | (300,000) | $ (300,000) | $ (516) | | $ (1,231) |
Put-Federal National Mortgage Association | Bank of America N.A. | 98.58 | 1/6/22 | (300,000) | (300,000) | (1,500) | | (86) |
Put-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 98.97 | 2/7/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (875) | | (508) |
Put-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 102.33 | 1/6/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (688) | | (566) |
| | | | | | $(3,579) | | $ (2,391) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Description | Counterparty | Strike Price | Expiration Date | Number of Contracts | Notional Amount | Premiums Paid (Received) | | Market Value |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | $ 100.73 | 1/6/22 | (200,000) | $ (200,000) | $ (531) | | $ (15) |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 100.08 | 1/6/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (891) | | (221) |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | Bank of America N.A. | 100.58 | 1/6/22 | (300,000) | (300,000) | (844) | | (48) |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 100.97 | 2/7/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (531) | | (219) |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 103.33 | 1/6/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (398) | | — |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 100.14 | 2/7/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (766) | | (542) |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 100.11 | 2/7/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (734) | | (560) |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 100.35 | 3/7/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (539) | | (448) |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 100.48 | 3/7/22 | (200,000) | (200,000) | (453) | | (383) |
Call-Federal National Mortgage Association | JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | 103.75 | 3/7/22 | (300,000) | (300,000) | (328) | | (161) |
| | | | | | $(6,015) | | $(2,597) |
Written Swaptions
Description | Counterparty | Strike Price | Expiration Date | Number of Contracts | Notional Amount | Premiums Paid (Received) | | Market Value |
Put-10-Year Interest Rate Swap | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC | $ 0.10 | 11/2/22 | (4,200,000) | EUR (4,200,000) | $ (101,882) | | $ (234,550) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Bank of America N.A. | 0.80 | 2/16/22 | (2,300,000) | $ (2,300,000) | (2,657) | | (456) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Bank of America N.A. | 90.00 | 3/16/22 | (1,400,000) | EUR (1,400,000) | (2,167) | | (490) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC | 1.00 | 3/16/22 | (3,000,000) | $ (3,000,000) | (3,750) | | (654) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC | 0.90 | 4/20/22 | (1,700,000) | (1,700,000) | (3,230) | | (959) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Bank of America N.A. | 0.90 | 4/20/22 | (3,100,000) | (3,100,000) | (4,030) | | (1,749) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC | 0.95 | 4/20/22 | (2,200,000) | (2,200,000) | (2,805) | | (1,069) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC | 85.00 | 4/20/22 | (2,300,000) | EUR (2,300,000) | (3,548) | | (1,977) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Bank of America N.A. | 85.00 | 4/20/22 | (900,000) | (900,000) | (1,215) | | (773) |
Put-Sold Protection on 5-Year Credit Default Swap | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC | 90.00 | 4/20/22 | (1,100,000) | (1,100,000) | (1,290) | | (845) |
| | | | | | $ (126,574) | | $ (243,522) |
Swap Contracts
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following centrally cleared interest swap agreements1:
Notional Amount | Currency | Expiration Date | Payments made by Portfolio | Payments Received by Portfolio | Payment Frequency Paid/Received | Upfront Premiums Paid/ (Received) | Value | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
$ 170,980,000 | JPY | 3/20/22 | Fixed 0.0% | 6 month LIBOR | At Maturity/At Maturity | $ (144) | $ (209) | $ (65) |
170,980,000 | JPY | 3/20/22 | 1 day TONAR + 5.89% | Fixed 0.0% | Semi-Annually/Semi-Annually | (61) | (77) | (16) |
51,800,000 | GBP | 3/21/23 | 1 day SONIA | Fixed 0.90% | At Maturity/At Maturity | (66,416) | (80,896) | (14,480) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
Notional Amount | Currency | Expiration Date | Payments made by Portfolio | Payments Received by Portfolio | Payment Frequency Paid/Received | Upfront Premiums Paid/ (Received) | | Value | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
$ 51,800,000 | GBP | 3/20/24 | Fixed 1.01% | 1 day SONIA | At Maturity/At Maturity | $ 43,431 | | $ 101,776 | | $ 58,345 |
14,000,000 | JPY | 9/20/27 | Fixed 0.30% | 1 day TONAR + 5.89% | Semi-Annually/Semi-Annually | (2,475) | | (1,710) | | 765 |
50,000,000 | JPY | 3/20/28 | Fixed 0.30% | 1 day TONAR + 5.89% | Semi-Annually/Semi-Annually | (9,388) | | (6,451) | | 2,937 |
1,600,000 | NZD | 3/21/28 | Fixed 3.25% | 3 month BBR | Semi-Annually/Quarterly | (108,500) | | (42,612) | | 65,888 |
106,980,000 | JPY | 3/20/29 | Fixed 0.45% | 1 day TONAR + 5.89% | Semi-Annually/Semi-Annually | (33,141) | | (25,051) | | 8,090 |
4,400,000 | GBP | 9/21/32 | Fixed 0.75% | 1 day SONIA | Annually/Annually | 139,188 | | 124,011 | | (15,177) |
| | | | | | $ (37,506) | | $ 68,781 | | $ 106,287 |
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following centrally cleared inflation swap agreements1:
Notional Amount | Currency | Expiration Date | Payments Made by Portfolio | Payments Received by Portfolio | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Upfront Premiums Paid/ (Received) | Value | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
$ 1,100,000 | USD | 1/19/22 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 2.155% | At Maturity | $ (3,288) | $ (48,483) | $ (45,195) |
4,100,000 | USD | 1/19/22 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 2.18% | At Maturity | (12,157) | (179,685) | (167,528) |
1,800,000 | USD | 1/21/22 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 2.2% | At Maturity | (5,827) | (79,208) | (73,381) |
900,000 | USD | 2/1/22 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 2.17% | At Maturity | (4,302) | (41,749) | (37,447) |
5,500,000 | USD | 2/4/22 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 2.155% | At Maturity | (28,392) | (257,316) | (228,924) |
1,200,000 | USD | 2/5/22 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 2.2% | At Maturity | (6,239) | (55,700) | (49,461) |
1,100,000 | GBP | 3/15/22 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.22% | At Maturity | (6,944) | (54,712) | (47,768) |
2,500,000 | EUR | 5/15/22 | Fixed 0.09% | 1-Month EUR-CPI | At Maturity | 36,346 | 156,333 | 119,987 |
1,100,000 | EUR | 7/15/22 | Fixed 0.33% | 1-Month EUR-CPI | At Maturity | 19,988 | 67,705 | 47,717 |
1,100,000 | USD | 4/27/23 | Fixed 2.263% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 11,961 | 49,955 | 37,994 |
510,000 | USD | 5/9/23 | Fixed 2.263% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 5,827 | 23,372 | 17,545 |
780,000 | USD | 5/10/23 | Fixed 2.281% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 8,376 | 34,996 | 26,620 |
2,800,000 | EUR | 3/15/24 | Fixed 1.03% | 1 month FRCPI | At Maturity | (14,489) | 68,957 | 83,446 |
2,200,000 | GBP | 9/15/24 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.85% | At Maturity | 98,046 | (46,904) | (144,950) |
6,800,000 | GBP | 1/15/25 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.33% | At Maturity | 7,388 | (489,890) | (497,278) |
3,100,000 | GBP | 8/15/25 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.473% | At Maturity | (49,166) | (292,584) | (243,418) |
5,400,000 | USD | 2/26/26 | Fixed 2.314% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 162,669 | 401,484 | 238,815 |
2,700,000 | USD | 3/5/26 | Fixed 2.419% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 67,081 | 185,162 | 118,081 |
2,200,000 | USD | 5/13/26 | Fixed 2.768% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 10,559 | 102,557 | 91,998 |
1,000,000 | USD | 5/14/26 | Fixed 2.813% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 2,488 | 44,116 | 41,628 |
1,250,000 | USD | 5/25/26 | Fixed 2.703% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 8,696 | 61,369 | 52,673 |
500,000 | USD | 6/1/26 | Fixed 2.69% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | 3,508 | 24,619 | 21,111 |
900,000 | GBP | 12/15/26 | Fixed 4.735% | 1 Month UK RPI | At Maturity | (12,070) | (19,038) | (6,968) |
800,000 | EUR | 6/15/27 | 1-Month EUR-CPI | Fixed 1.36% | At Maturity | 3,204 | (44,582) | (47,786) |
1,000,000 | EUR | 3/15/28 | 1-Month EUR-CPI | Fixed 1.535% | At Maturity | 23,931 | (39,055) | (62,986) |
770,000 | USD | 5/9/28 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 2.36% | At Maturity | (8,537) | (47,807) | (39,270) |
510,000 | USD | 5/9/28 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 2.353% | At Maturity | (6,069) | (32,102) | (26,033) |
300,000 | USD | 8/26/28 | Fixed 2.573% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | — | 11,310 | 11,310 |
500,000 | USD | 9/10/28 | Fixed 2.645% | 1 Month USD-CPI | At Maturity | — | 14,709 | 14,709 |
2,600,000 | USD | 11/4/29 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 1.76% | At Maturity | (210,336) | (356,820) | (146,484) |
2,800,000 | GBP | 1/15/30 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.39% | At Maturity | (71,014) | (384,044) | (313,030) |
2,200,000 | USD | 5/19/30 | 1 Month USD-CPI | Fixed 1.28% | At Maturity | (288,728) | (420,402) | (131,674) |
3,460,000 | GBP | 6/15/30 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.4% | At Maturity | 106,513 | (334,868) | (441,381) |
4,500,000 | EUR | 3/15/31 | 1-Month EUR-CPI | Fixed 1.38% | At Maturity | (141,251) | (501,389) | (360,138) |
2,090,000 | GBP | 4/15/31 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.75% | At Maturity | (24,152) | (265,798) | (241,646) |
700,000 | GBP | 9/15/31 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 4.066% | At Maturity | — | (29,117) | (29,117) |
200,000 | EUR | 3/15/33 | Fixed 1.71% | 1-Month EUR-CPI | At Maturity | (11,292) | 7,911 | 19,203 |
800,000 | GBP | 3/15/36 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.58% | At Maturity | (23,267) | (131,335) | (108,068) |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
Notional Amount | Currency | Expiration Date | Payments Made by Portfolio | Payments Received by Portfolio | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Upfront Premiums Paid/ (Received) | | Value | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
$ 600,000 | GBP | 3/15/36 | 1 Month UK RPI | Fixed 3.566% | At Maturity | $ (19,921) | | $ (100,947) | | $ (81,026) |
| | | | | | $ (370,860) | | $ (2,998,980) | | $ (2,628,120) |
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio held the following centrally cleared credit default swap contracts1:
Reference Entity | Termination Date | Buy/Sell Protection2 | Notional Amount (000)3 | (Pay)/ Receive Fixed Rate4 | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Upfront Premiums Paid/ (Received) | | Value | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)5 |
General Electric Co. 2.70%, 10/09/22 | 12/20/2023 | Sell | $ 100 | 1.00% | Quarterly | $ 1,232 | | $ 1,374 | | $ 142 |
Barclays Bank plc 1.50% | 12/20/2022 | Sell | 200 | 1.00% | Quarterly | 1,264 | | 1,678 | | 414 |
| | | | | | $ 2,496 | | $ 3,052 | | $ 556 |
1. | As of December 31, 2021, cash in the amount of $371,000 was on deposit with a broker for centrally cleared swap agreements. |
2. | Sell—Portfolio receives premium and sells credit protection. If a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Portfolio will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index. |
3. | The maximum potential amount the Portfolio could be required to pay as a seller of credit protection or receive as a buyer of credit protection if a credit event occurs as defined under the terms of that particular swap contract. |
4. | The annual fixed rate represents the interest received by the Portfolio (as a seller of protection) or paid by the Portfolio (as a buyer of protection) annually on the notional amount of the credit default swap contract. |
5. | Represents the difference between the value of the credit default swap contracts at the time they were opened and the value at December 31, 2021. |
Abbreviation(s): |
ARS—Argentina Peso |
AUD—Australia Dollar |
BADLARPP—Average rate on 30-day deposits of at least 1 million Argentinian Pesos |
BBR—Bank of England Base Rate |
BTP—Buoni del Tesoro Poliennali (Eurex Exchange index) |
CAD—Canada Dollar |
DKK—Denmark Krone |
EUR—Euro |
EURIBOR—Euro Interbank Offered Rate |
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. |
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association |
GBP—British Pound Sterling |
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association |
JPY—Japanese Yen |
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
NOK—Norway Krone |
NZD—New Zealand Dollar |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
PEN—Peru Nuevo Sol |
REMIC—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit |
SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
SONIA—Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate |
TBA—To Be Announced |
TONAR—Tokyo Overnight Average Rate |
UMBS—Uniform Mortgage Backed Securities |
USD—United States Dollar |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25
Portfolio of Investments December 31, 2021† (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2021, for valuing the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities:
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | Total |
Asset Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities (a) | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Bonds | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | $ — | | $ 44,966,330 | | $ — | | $ 44,966,330 |
Corporate Bonds | — | | 34,058,043 | | — | | 34,058,043 |
Foreign Government Bonds | — | | 58,684,193 | | — | | 58,684,193 |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | — | | 25,241,160 | | — | | 25,241,160 |
U.S. Government & Federal Agencies | — | | 617,637,413 | | — | | 617,637,413 |
Total Long-Term Bonds | — | | 780,587,139 | | — | | 780,587,139 |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Investment Company | 714,686 | | — | | — | | 714,686 |
Unaffiliated Investment Company | 92,925 | | — | | — | | 92,925 |
Total Short-Term Investments | 807,611 | | — | | — | | 807,611 |
Total Investments in Securities | 807,611 | | 780,587,139 | | — | | 781,394,750 |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | |
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts (b) | — | | 1,151,396 | | — | | 1,151,396 |
Futures Contracts (b) | 1,422,603 | | — | | — | | 1,422,603 |
Purchased Options | — | | 201,672 | | — | | 201,672 |
Interest Rate Swaps (b) | — | | 136,025 | | — | | 136,025 |
Credit Default Swaps (b) | — | | 556 | | — | | 556 |
Inflation Swap Contracts (b) | — | | 942,837 | | — | | 942,837 |
Total Other Financial Instruments | 1,422,603 | | 2,432,486 | | — | | 3,855,089 |
Total Investments in Securities and Other Financial Instruments | $ 2,230,214 | | $ 783,019,625 | | $ — | | $ 785,249,839 |
Liability Valuation Inputs | | | | | | | |
Short-Term Investment Sold Short | $ — | | $ (51,286,250) | | $ — | | $ (51,286,250) |
Written Options | — | | (262,377) | | — | | (262,377) |
Other Financial Instruments (b) | | | | | | | |
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts | — | | (757,896) | | — | | (757,896) |
Futures Contracts | (741,442) | | — | | — | | (741,442) |
Interest Rate Swaps | — | | (29,738) | | — | | (29,738) |
Inflation Swap Contracts | — | | (3,570,957) | | — | | (3,570,957) |
Total Other Financial Instruments | (741,442) | | (4,358,591) | | — | | (5,100,033) |
Total Investments in Securities Sold Short and Other Financial Instruments | $ (741,442) | | $ (55,907,218) | | $ — | | $ (56,648,660) |
(a) | For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments. |
(b) | The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
Sale-Buyback Transactions:
Counterparty | Borrowing Rate (a) | Borrowing Date | Maturity Date | Amount Borrowed (a) | | Payable for Sale-Buyback Transcations (b) |
Barclays Capital, Inc. | 0.12% | 12/8/2021 | 1/12/2022 | $ 850,006 | | $ 851,748 |
Barclays Capital, Inc. | 0.08 | 12/13/2021 | 1/10/2022 | 2,236,348 | | 2,240,569 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.13 | 12/14/2021 | 1/5/2022 | 1,028,207 | | 1,028,386 |
Barclays Capital, Inc. | 0.03 | 12/16/2021 | 1/6/2022 | 1,416,010 | | 1,417,610 |
Barclays Capital, Inc. | 0.06 | 12/16/2021 | 1/6/2022 | 14,552,089 | | 14,567,947 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.15 | 12/16/2021 | 1/3/2022 | 943,501 | | 943,583 |
Barclays Capital, Inc. | 0.03 | 12/22/2021 | 1/6/2022 | 1,533,310 | | 1,534,938 |
BNP Paribas S.A. | 0.11 | 12/27/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 23,352,325 | | 23,356,241 |
BNP Paribas S.A. | 0.11 | 12/27/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 23,390,708 | | 23,394,341 |
Credit Suisse AG | 0.12 | 12/27/2021 | 1/3/2022 | 24,866,231 | | 24,878,053 |
Credit Suisse AG | 0.12 | 12/27/2021 | 1/3/2022 | 19,264,148 | | 19,273,058 |
Credit Suisse AG | 0.12 | 12/27/2021 | 1/3/2022 | 46,792,238 | | 46,813,888 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 15,316,787 | | 15,319,716 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 18,470,626 | | 18,473,761 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 24,390,767 | | 24,394,080 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 18,026,990 | | 18,029,355 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 20,793,109 | | 20,796,234 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 19,593,681 | | 19,596,520 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 20,662,228 | | 20,665,370 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 20,601,125 | | 20,604,088 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 24,718,788 | | 24,722,827 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 14,551,190 | | 14,553,424 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 17,561,710 | | 17,564,341 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 46,840,635 | | 46,847,942 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 20,217,580 | | 20,220,770 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 20,555,679 | | 20,558,615 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 15,063,795 | | 15,065,924 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.11 | 12/28/2021 | 1/4/2022 | 17,770,693 | | 17,773,289 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | 0.09 | 12/31/2021 | 1/3/2022 | 11,574,360 | | 11,578,506 |
| | | | $506,934,864 | | $507,065,124 |
(a) During the period ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio’s average amount of borrowing was $162,630,885 at a weighted average interest rate of 0.08%.
(b) Payable for sale-buyback transactions includes $130,260 of deferred price drop.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2021
Assets |
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value (identified cost $735,840,612) including securities on loan of $90,984 | $ 780,881,736 |
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value (identified cost $714,686) | 714,686 |
Cash | 659,192 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies (identified cost $2,448,904) | 2,518,916 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 1,285,000 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 371,000 |
Receivables: | |
Investment securities sold | 412,287,492 |
Interest | 1,484,129 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 214,186 |
Portfolio shares sold | 51,731 |
Securities lending | 24 |
Unrealized appreciation on foreign currency forward contracts | 1,151,396 |
Other assets | 2,379 |
Total assets | 1,201,621,867 |
Liabilities |
Reverse repurchase agreements, at value (amortized cost $51,286,250) | 51,286,250 |
Written options, at value (premiums received $136,662) | 262,377 |
Cash collateral due to broker for foreign currency forward contracts | 340,000 |
Cash Collateral for Reverse Repurchase Agreement | 317,000 |
Cash collateral received for securities on loan | 92,925 |
Payables: | |
Sale buyback transactions | 507,065,124 |
Investment securities purchased | 48,644,172 |
Variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts | 334,974 |
Manager (See Note 3) | 221,045 |
Portfolio shares redeemed | 180,448 |
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) | 94,988 |
Professional fees | 54,223 |
Custodian | 48,001 |
Shareholder communication | 30,081 |
Trustees | 199 |
Accrued expenses | 9,532 |
Unrealized depreciation on foreign currency forward contracts | 757,896 |
Total liabilities | 609,739,235 |
Net assets | $ 591,882,632 |
Composition of Net Assets |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized | $ 59,783 |
Additional paid-in-capital | 592,173,829 |
| 592,233,612 |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | (350,980) |
Net assets | $591,882,632 |
Initial Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $139,038,341 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 14,010,414 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 9.92 |
Service Class | |
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares | $452,844,291 |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 45,772,863 |
Net asset value per share outstanding | $ 9.89 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021
Investment Income (Loss) |
Income | |
Interest (net of foreign tax withholding of $4,195) | $28,981,100 |
Dividends-affiliated | 180 |
Securities lending | 165 |
Other | 2,392 |
Total income | 28,983,837 |
Expenses | |
Manager (See Note 3) | 2,660,106 |
Distribution/Service—Service Class (See Note 3) | 1,089,643 |
Custodian | 176,186 |
Interest expense | 127,793 |
Professional fees | 123,779 |
Shareholder communication | 39,179 |
Trustees | 10,525 |
Miscellaneous | 30,364 |
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement | 4,257,575 |
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) | (220,423) |
Net expenses | 4,037,152 |
Net investment income (loss) | 24,946,685 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Unaffiliated investment transactions | 2,934,931 |
Futures transactions | (158,329) |
Swap transactions | (620,576) |
Foreign currency transactions | (1,944,372) |
Foreign currency forward transactions | 5,567,282 |
Written option transactions | 323,534 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 6,102,470 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Unaffiliated investments | (2,741,772) |
Futures contracts | 634,872 |
Swap contracts | (2,712,050) |
Foreign currency forward contracts | 1,444,218 |
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 72,985 |
Written option contracts | (155,031) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (3,456,778) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 2,645,692 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $27,592,377 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
| 2021 | 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations: | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ 24,946,685 | $ 4,586,196 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 6,102,470 | 1,156,058 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (3,456,778) | 40,834,058 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 27,592,377 | 46,576,312 |
Distributions to shareholders: | | |
Initial Class | (649,528) | (998,898) |
Service Class | (1,422,855) | (7,260,665) |
Total distributions to shareholders | (2,072,383) | (8,259,563) |
Capital share transactions: | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | 161,478,620 | 116,839,503 |
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 2,072,383 | 8,259,563 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (79,334,973) | (73,308,369) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions | 84,216,030 | 51,790,697 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 109,736,024 | 90,107,446 |
Net Assets |
Beginning of year | 482,146,608 | 392,039,162 |
End of year | $591,882,632 | $482,146,608 |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
30 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended December 31, 2021
Cash Flows From (Used in) Operating Activities: |
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | $ 27,592,377 |
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash used in operating activities: | |
Long term investments purchased | (1,047,947,343) |
Long term investments sold | 847,910,013 |
Purchases to cover securities sold short | (128,314,550) |
Proceeds from securities sold short | 149,569,361 |
Sale of short term investments, net | 164,372,696 |
Sale of affiliated investments, net | 725,685 |
Amortization (accretion) of discount and premium, net | 4,976,372 |
Increase in investment securities sold receivable | (40,512,445) |
Increase in interest receivable | (88,460) |
Decrease in securities lending | 36 |
Increase in other assets | (2,379) |
Increase in unrealized appreciation for open forward foreign currency contracts | (1,125,790) |
Increase in premiums from written options | 13,287 |
Decrease in investment securities purchased payable | (117,195,527) |
Decrease in cash collateral due to broker for sale-buyback transactions | (1,580,000) |
Increase in cash collateral due to broker for foreign currency forward contracts | 340,000 |
Increase in cash collateral due to broker for reverse repurchase agreements | 317,000 |
Increase in cash collateral received for securities on loan | 92,925 |
Decrease in cash collateral due to broker for TBA | (270,000) |
Increase in due to NYLIFE Distributors | 4,265 |
Decrease in due to custodian | (267,566) |
Decrease in professional fees payable | (13,614) |
Increase in custodian payable | 16,615 |
Increase in shareholder communication payable | 6,600 |
Decrease in due to Trustees | (376) |
Increase in due to manager | 8,104 |
Increase in variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts | 459,225 |
Increase in variation margin on futures contracts | (146,642) |
Decrease in unrealized depreciation for open forward foreign currency contracts | (318,428) |
Increase in accrued expenses | 7,116 |
Net realized gain from investments | (2,934,931) |
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on unaffiliated investments | 2,741,772 |
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on written options | 155,031 |
Net cash used in operating activities | (141,409,571) |
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: |
Proceeds from shares sold | 161,640,122 |
Payment on shares redeemed | (79,339,547) |
Payments on reverse repurchase agreements | (52,540,000) |
Proceeds from reverse repurchase agreements | 1,253,750 |
Payments from sale-buyback transactions | (8,734,078,090) |
Proceeds on sale-buyback transactions | 8,844,980,124 |
Net cash from financing activities | 141,916,359 |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 97,322 |
Net increase in cash | 604,110 |
Cash, restricted cash and foreign currency at beginning of year | 4,229,998 |
Cash, restricted cash and foreign currency at end of year | $ 4,834,108 |
Non-cash financing activities not included herein consist of all reinvestment of dividends and distributions of $2,072,383. |
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
The following tables provide a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities that sums to the total of the such amounts shown on the Statement of Cash Flows: |
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year |
Cash | $ 507 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies | 1,566,491 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 1,333,000 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 1,330,000 |
Total cash and restricted cash shown in the Statement of Cash Flows | $4,229,998 |
Cash and restricted cash at end of year |
Cash | $ 659,192 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies | 2,518,916 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts | 1,285,000 |
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for swap contracts | 371,000 |
Total cash and restricted cash shown in the Statement of Cash Flows | $4,834,108 |
Restricted cash consists of cash that has been segregated to cover the Portfolio’s collateral or margin obligations under derivative contracts. It is separately reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash collateral on deposit at brokers. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
31
Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
| Year Ended December 31, |
Initial Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 9.47 | | $ 8.63 | | $ 8.20 | | $ 8.54 | | $ 8.40 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.50 | | 0.12 | | 0.20 | | 0.23 | | 0.23 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | — | | 0.91 | | 0.51 | | (0.43) | | 0.06 |
Total from investment operations | 0.50 | | 1.03 | | 0.71 | | (0.20) | | 0.29 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.05) | | (0.19) | | (0.28) | | (0.14) | | (0.15) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 9.92 | | $ 9.47 | | $ 8.63 | | $ 8.20 | | $ 8.54 |
Total investment return (b) | 5.36%(c) | | 11.93%(c) | | 8.56%(c) | | (2.38)%(c) | | 3.45% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 5.20% | | 1.27% | | 2.35% | | 2.78% | | 2.71% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.55% | | 0.78% | | 1.65% | | 1.43% | | 1.03% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (d) | 0.59% | | 0.83% | | 1.71% | | 1.43% | | 1.03% |
Interest expense and fees | 0.02% | | 0.25% | | 1.09% | | 0.81% | | 0.42% |
Portfolio turnover rate (e) | 125% | | 199% | | 187% | | 157% | | 121% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 139,038 | | $ 48,479 | | $ 48,707 | | $ 44,523 | | $ 45,563 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rates not including mortgage dollar rolls were 42%, 128%, 139%, 48% and 96% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
| Year Ended December 31, |
Service Class | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ 9.44 | | $ 8.61 | | $ 8.19 | | $ 8.53 | | $ 8.39 |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | 0.44 | | 0.09 | | 0.18 | | 0.21 | | 0.21 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.04 | | 0.91 | | 0.50 | | (0.44) | | 0.06 |
Total from investment operations | 0.48 | | 1.00 | | 0.68 | | (0.23) | | 0.27 |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | (0.03) | | (0.17) | | (0.26) | | (0.11) | | (0.13) |
Net asset value at end of year | $ 9.89 | | $ 9.44 | | $ 8.61 | | $ 8.19 | | $ 8.53 |
Total investment return (b) | 5.12% | | 11.61%(c) | | 8.30%(c) | | (2.63)%(c) | | 3.20% |
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | 4.58% | | 1.04% | | 2.14% | | 2.53% | | 2.46% |
Net expenses (d) | 0.80% | | 1.03% | | 1.89% | | 1.68% | | 1.28% |
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (d) | 0.84% | | 1.08% | | 1.96% | | 1.68% | | 1.28% |
Interest expense and fees | 0.02% | | 0.25% | | 1.09% | | 0.81% | | 0.42% |
Portfolio turnover rate (e) | 125% | | 199% | | 187% | | 157% | | 121% |
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) | $ 452,844 | | $ 433,668 | | $ 343,332 | | $ 282,052 | | $ 287,520 |
(a) | Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not reflect any deduction of sales charges, mortality and expense charges, contract charges or administrative charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized. |
(c) | Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. |
(d) | In addition to the fees and expenses which the Portfolio bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios. |
(e) | The portfolio turnover rates not including mortgage dollar rolls were 42%, 128%, 139%, 48% and 96% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
32 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1–Organization and Business
MainStay VP Funds Trust (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 1, 2011. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of thirty-one separate series (collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a "non-diversified” portfolio, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time. However, due to its principal investment strategies and investment processes, the Portfolio has historically operated as a "diversified" portfolio. Therefore, the Portfolio will not operate as "non-diversified" portfolio without first obtaining shareholder approval.
Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered to certain separate accounts to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) and may also be offered to fund variable annuity policies and variable universal life insurance policies issued by other insurance companies. NYLIAC allocates shares of the Portfolios to, among others, certain NYLIAC separate accounts. Shares of the Portfolio are also offered to the MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio, MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Moderate Growth Allocation Portfolio) and MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio (formerly known as MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio), which operate as “funds-of-funds," and other variable insurance funds.
The following table lists the Portfolio's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class | Commenced Operations |
Initial Class | February 17, 2012 |
Service Class | February 17, 2012 |
Shares of the Portfolio are offered and are redeemed at a price equal to their respective net asset value (“NAV”) per share. No sales or redemption charge is applicable to the purchase or redemption of the Portfolio's shares. Under the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan, adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the classes differ in that, among other things, Service Class shares of the Portfolio pay a combined distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Service Class shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor (as defined in Note 3(B)) pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Contract owners of variable annuity contracts purchased after June 2, 2003, are permitted to invest only in the Service Class shares.
The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek maximum real return, consistent with preservation of real capital and prudent investment management.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Portfolio is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Portfolio prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation. Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Portfolio is open for business ("valuation date").
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") adopted procedures establishing methodologies for the valuation of the Portfolio's securities and other assets and delegated the responsibility for valuation determinations under those procedures to the Valuation Committee of the Fund (the “Valuation Committee”). The procedures state that, subject to the oversight of the Board and unless otherwise noted, the responsibility for the day-to-day valuation of portfolio assets (including fair value measurements for the Portfolio's assets and liabilities) rests with New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager"), aided to whatever extent necessary by the Subadvisor (as defined in Note 3(A)). To assess the appropriateness of security valuations, the Manager, the Subadvisor or the Portfolio's third-party service provider, who is subject to oversight by the Manager, regularly compares prior day prices, prices on comparable securities and the sale prices to the prior and current day prices and challenges prices with changes exceeding certain tolerance levels with third-party pricing services or broker sources.
The Board authorized the Valuation Committee to appoint a Valuation Subcommittee (the “Subcommittee”) to establish the prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the prices of which are not otherwise readily determinable under the procedures. The Subcommittee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an as-needed basis. The Valuation Committee meets to ensure that actions taken by the Subcommittee were appropriate.
For those securities valued through either a standardized fair valuation methodology or a fair valuation measurement, the Subcommittee deals with such valuation and the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms, if appropriate, the reasonableness of the valuation based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. Any action taken by the Subcommittee with respect to the valuation of a portfolio security or other asset is submitted for review and ratification (if appropriate) to the Valuation Committee and the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
"Fair value" is defined as the price the Portfolio would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability) |
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Portfolio’s assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Portfolio may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields | • Reported trades |
• Broker/dealer quotes | • Issuer spreads |
• Two-sided markets | • Benchmark securities |
• Bids/offers | • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices) |
• Industry and economic events | • Comparable bonds |
• Equity and credit default swap curves | • Monthly payment information |
An asset or liability for which market values cannot be measured using the methodologies described above is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the procedures established by the Board, to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Portfolio generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The
Portfolio may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Portfolio's valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Portfolio's valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Portfolio may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Portfolio would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security for which the market price is not readily available from a third-party pricing source or, if so provided, does not, in the opinion of the Manager or the Subadvisor, reflect the security's market value; (vi) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vii) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, were fair valued in such a manner.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Options contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such options are primarily traded.
Swaps are marked to market daily based upon quotations from pricing agents, brokers or market makers. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Debt securities (other than convertible and municipal bonds) are valued at the evaluated bid prices (evaluated mean prices in the case of convertible and municipal bonds) supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are
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market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent’s good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants’ assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Manager, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and federal agency bonds, municipal bonds, foreign bonds, convertible bonds, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at their fair market values measured on the basis of the mean between the last current bid and ask prices based on dealer or exchange quotations and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The valuation procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
A portfolio investment may be classified as an illiquid investment under the Portfolio's written liquidity risk management program and related procedures (“Liquidity Program”). Illiquidity of an investment might prevent the sale of such investment at a time when the Manager or the Subadvisor might wish to sell, and these investments could have the effect of decreasing the overall level of the Portfolio's liquidity. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid investments, requiring the Portfolio to rely on judgments that
may be somewhat subjective in measuring value, which could vary materially from the amount that the Portfolio could realize upon disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to the Portfolio. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Manager or Subadvisor reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The liquidity classification of each investment will be made using information obtained after reasonable inquiry and taking into account, among other things, relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations in accordance with the Liquidity Program. Illiquid investments are often valued in accordance with methods deemed by the Board in good faith to be reasonable and appropriate to accurately reflect their fair value. The liquidity of the Portfolio's investments was determined as of December 31, 2021, and can change at any time. Illiquid investments as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(B) Income Taxes. The Portfolio's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Portfolio within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Portfolio’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
The Portfolio may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Portfolio will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Portfolio's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Portfolio. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income. The Portfolio records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased for the Portfolio are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Portfolio are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Portfolio may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(F) Expenses. Expenses of the Fund are allocated to the individual Portfolios in proportion to the net assets of the respective Portfolios when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than fees incurred under the distribution and service plans, further discussed in Note 3(B), which are charged directly to the Service Class shares) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Portfolio, including those of related parties to the Portfolio, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Portfolio may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying
securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates. In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Portfolio is subject to risks such as market price risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Portfolio is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Portfolio's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Portfolio would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Portfolio did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Portfolio's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Portfolio, potentially resulting in a loss. The Portfolio may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain
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of its holdings. The Portfolio's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Portfolio. Open futures contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(I) Swap Contracts. The Portfolio may enter into credit default, interest rate, equity, index and currency exchange rate swap contracts (“swaps”). In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the future returns (or differentials in rates of future returns) earned or realized at periodic intervals on a particular investment or instrument based on a notional principal amount. Generally, the Portfolio will enter into a swap on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams under the swap are netted, with the Portfolio receiving or paying (as the case may be) only the net amount of the two payment streams. Therefore, the Portfolio's current obligation under a swap generally will be equal to the net amount to be paid or received under the swap, based on the relative value of notional positions attributable to each counterparty to the swap. The payments may be adjusted for transaction costs, interest payments, the amount of interest paid on the investment or instrument or other factors. Collateral, in the form of cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the custodian bank or broker in accordance with the terms of the swap. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over the counter (“OTC”) market and may be executed in a multilateral or other trade facilities platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally cleared swaps”).
Certain standardized swaps, including certain credit default and interest rate swaps, are subject to mandatory clearing and exchange-trading, and more types of standardized swaps are expected to be subject to mandatory clearing and exchange-trading in the future. The counterparty risk for exchange-traded and cleared derivatives is expected to be generally lower than for uncleared derivatives, but cleared contracts are not risk-free. In a cleared derivative transaction, the Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio's exposure to the credit risk of its original counterparty. The Portfolio will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared transaction. As of December 31, 2021, all swap positions outstanding are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Swaps are marked to market daily based upon quotations from pricing agents, brokers, or market makers and the change in value, if any, is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Any payments made or received upon entering into a swap would be amortized or accreted over the life of the swap and recorded as a realized gain or loss. Early termination of a swap is recorded as a realized gain or loss. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for the change in value as appropriate on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap in the event of the default or bankruptcy of the swap counterparty. The Portfolio may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap with the same party or a similar credit-worthy party. Swaps are not actively traded on financial markets. Entering into swaps involves elements of credit, market, and documentation risk in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibilities that there will be no liquid market for these swaps, that the counterparty to the swaps may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the swaps and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates, the price of the index or the security underlying these transactions.
Inflation Swaps: Inflation swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to pay the cumulative percentage increase in a price index (the Consumer Price Index with respect to CPI swaps) over the term of the swap (with some lag on the inflation index), and the other pays a compounded fixed rate. Inflation swaps may be used to protect the net asset value, or NAV, of a Fund against an unexpected change in the rate of inflation measured by an inflation index since the value of these agreements is expected to increase if there are unexpected inflation increases.
Interest Rate Swaps : An interest rate swap is an agreement between two parties where one stream of future interest payments is exchanged for another based on a specified principal amount. Interest rate swaps often exchange a fixed payment for a floating payment that is linked to an interest rate (most often LIBOR). The Portfolio will typically use interest rate swaps to limit, or manage, its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, or to obtain a marginally lower interest rate than it would have been able to get without the swap.
Credit Default Swaps : The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps to simulate long and short bond positions or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a default or credit event by the issuer of the underlying reference obligation. The types of reference obligations underlying the swaps that may be entered into by the Portfolio include debt obligations of a single issuer of corporate or sovereign debt, a basket of obligations of different issuers or a credit index. A credit index is an equally-weighted credit default swap index that is designed to track a representative segment of the credit default swap market (e.g., investment grade, high volatility, below investment grade or emerging markets) and provides an investor with exposure to specific "baskets" of issuers of certain debt instruments. Index credit default swaps have standardized terms including a fixed spread and standard maturity dates. The composition of the obligations within a particular index changes periodically. Credit default swaps involve one party, the protection buyer, making a stream of payments to another party, the protection seller, in exchange for the right to receive a contingent payment if there is a credit event related to the underlying reference obligation. In the event that the reference obligation matures prior to the termination date of the contract, a similar security will be substituted for the duration of the contract term. Credit events are defined under individual swap agreements and
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
generally include bankruptcy, failure to pay, restructuring, repudiation/moratorium, obligation acceleration and obligation default. Selling protection effectively adds leverage to a portfolio up to the notional amount of the swap agreement. Potential liabilities under these contracts may be reduced by: the auction rates of the underlying reference obligations; upfront payments received at the inception of a swap; and net amounts received from credit default swaps purchased with the identical reference obligation. Open swap agreements as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(J) Foreign Currency Forward Contracts. The Portfolio may enter into foreign currency forward contracts, which are agreements to buy or sell foreign currencies on a specified future date at a specified rate. The Portfolio is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the normal course of investing in these transactions. During the period the forward contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. Cash movement occurs on the settlement date. When the forward contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract. The Portfolio may purchase and sell foreign currency forward contracts for purposes of seeking to enhance portfolio returns and manage portfolio risk more efficiently. Foreign currency forward contracts may also be used to gain exposure to a particular currency or to hedge against the risk of loss due to changing currency exchange rates. Foreign currency forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency may also be used in anticipation of future purchases or sales of securities denominated in foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected.
The use of foreign currency forward contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, including counterparty risk, market risk and illiquidity risk. Counterparty risk is heightened for these instruments because foreign currency forward contracts are not exchange-traded and therefore no clearinghouse or exchange stands ready to meet the obligations under such contracts. Thus, the Portfolio faces the risk that its counterparties under such contracts may not perform their obligations. Market risk is the risk that the value of a foreign currency forward contract will depreciate due to unfavorable changes in exchange rates. Illiquidity risk arises because the secondary market for foreign currency forward contracts may have less liquidity relative to markets for other securities and financial instruments. Risks also arise from the possible movements in the foreign exchange rates underlying these instruments. While the Portfolio may enter into forward contracts to reduce currency exchange risks, changes in currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance for the Portfolio than if it had not engaged in such transactions. Exchange rate movements can be large, depending on the currency, and can last for extended periods of time, affecting the value of the Portfolio's assets. Moreover, there may be an imperfect correlation between the Portfolio's holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into
by the Portfolio. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Portfolio from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward contracts also reflects the Portfolio's exposure at the valuation date to credit loss in the event of a counterparty’s failure to perform its obligations. Open foreign currency forward contracts as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(K) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Portfolio's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Portfolio's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(L) Securities Sold Short. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio engaged in sales of securities it did not own ("short sales") as part of its investment strategies. When the Portfolio enters into a short sale, it must segregate or maintain with a broker the cash proceeds from the security sold short or other securities as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. During the period a short position is open, depending on the nature and type of security, a short position is reflected as a liability and is marked to market in accordance with the valuation methodologies previously detailed (See Note 2(A)). Liabilities for securities sold short are closed out by purchasing the applicable securities for delivery to the counterparty broker. A gain, limited to the price at which the Portfolio sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited as to dollar amount, will be recognized upon termination of a short sale if the market price on the date the short position is closed out is less or greater, respectively, than the proceeds originally received. Any such gain or loss may be offset, completely or in part, by the change in the value of the hedged investments. Interest on short positions held is accrued daily, while dividends declared on short positions existing on the record date are recorded on the ex-dividend date as a dividend expense in the Statement of Operations. Broker fees and
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other expenses related to securities sold short are disclosed in the Statement of Operations. Short sales involve risk of loss in excess of the related amounts reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not enter into any securities sold short.
(M) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Portfolio may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Portfolio engages in securities lending, the Portfolio will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Portfolio. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Portfolio's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Portfolio and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Portfolio against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the Portfolio. The Portfolio bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Portfolio may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Portfolio bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Portfolio will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Portfolio will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Portfolio. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
(N) Dollar Rolls. The Portfolio may enter into dollar roll transactions in which it sells mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") from its portfolio to a counterparty from whom it simultaneously agrees to buy a similar security on a delayed delivery basis. The Portfolio generally transfers MBS where the MBS are "to be announced," therefore, the Portfolio accounts for these transactions as purchases and sales.
When accounted for as purchase and sales, the securities sold in connection with the dollar rolls are removed from the portfolio and a realized gain or loss is recognized. The securities the Portfolio has agreed to acquire are included at market value in the Portfolio of Investments and liabilities for such purchase commitments are included as payables for investments purchased. During the roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price
for the future as well as by the earnings on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls may be renewed without physical delivery of the securities subject to the contract. The Portfolio maintains liquid assets from its portfolio having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest. Dollar roll transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the securities returned to the Portfolio at the end of the roll period, while substantially similar, could be inferior to what was initially sold to the counterparty.
(O) Options Contracts. The Portfolio may write call and put options on securities and financial derivative instruments it owns or in which it may invest. Writing put options tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument. Writing call options tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument. When the Portfolio writes a call or put, an amount equal to the premium received is recorded as a liability and subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. These liabilities are reflected as written options outstanding on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Premiums received from writing options which expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options which are exercised or closed are added to the proceeds or offset against amounts paid on the underlying futures, swaps, security or currency transaction to determine the realized gain or loss. Certain options may be written with premiums to be determined on a future date. The Portfolio, as a writer of an option, has no control over whether the underlying instrument may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and as a result bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the instrument underlying the written option. There is the risk the Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid market. Writing call options involves risk of loss in excess of the related amounts reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Portfolio may also purchase put and call options. Purchasing call options tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument. Alternatively, purchasing put options tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument. The Portfolio pays a premium which is included on the Portfolio’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an investment and subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option. Premiums paid for purchasing options which expire are treated as realized losses. Certain options may be purchased with premiums to be determined on a future date. The premiums for these options are based upon implied volatility parameters at specified terms. The risk associated with purchasing put and call options is limited to the premium paid. Premiums paid for purchasing options which are exercised or closed are added to the amounts paid or offset against the proceeds on the underlying investment transaction to determine the realized gain or loss when the underlying transaction is sold.
The Portfolio may purchase or write foreign currency options. Purchasing a foreign currency option gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specified amount of the currency at a specified rate of exchange that may be exercised on or before the option’s
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
expiration date. Writing a foreign currency option obligates the Portfolio to buy or sell a specified amount of foreign currency at a specified rate of exchange, and such option may be exercised on or before the option’s expiration date in exchange for an option premium. These options may be used as a short or long hedge against possible variations in foreign exchange rates or to gain exposure to foreign currencies. The risks associated with writing a foreign currency put option include the risk that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the value of the referenced foreign currency decreases and the option is exercised. The risks associated with writing a foreign currency call option include the risk that if the value of the referenced foreign currency increases, and if the option is exercised, the Portfolio must either acquire the referenced foreign currency at the then higher price for delivery or, if the Portfolio already owns the referenced foreign currency, forego the opportunity for profit with respect to such foreign currency.
The Portfolio may purchase or write option on exchanged-traded futures contracts (“Futures Option”) to hedge an existing position or futures investment, for speculative purposes or to manage exposure to market movements. A Futures Option is an option contract in which the underlying instrument is a single futures contract.
The Portfolio may purchase or write inflation-capped options to enhance returns or for hedging opportunities. An inflation-capped option pays out if inflation exceeds a certain level over a specified period of time. The purpose of purchasing inflation-capped options is to protect the Portfolio from inflation erosion above a certain rate on a given notional exposure. When the Portfolio writes an inflation-capped option, an amount equal to the premium received is recorded as a liability and subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. Open options as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(P) Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Portfolio may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with banks or broker/dealers, which involve the sale of a security by a Portfolio and its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Portfolio continues to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. These agreements involve the sale of debt securities, or obligations, held by a Portfolio, with an agreement to repurchase the obligations at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. The proceeds will be used to purchase other debt securities either maturing, or under an agreement to resell, at a date simultaneous with or prior to the expiration of the reverse repurchase agreement. Reverse repurchase agreements will be utilized, when permitted by law, only when the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds from the transaction is greater than the interest expense of the reverse repurchase transaction.
The Portfolio will limit its investments in reverse repurchase agreements and other borrowing to no more than 33%, or as otherwise limited herein, of its total assets. While a reverse repurchase agreement is outstanding, the Portfolio will maintain liquid assets in an amount at least equal in value to the Portfolios’ commitments to cover their obligations under the
agreement. The use of reverse repurchase agreements by the Portfolio creates leverage that increases the Portfolio’s investment risk. If the income and gains on securities purchased with the proceeds of reverse repurchase agreements exceed the cost of the agreements, the Portfolio’s earnings or NAV will increase faster than otherwise would be the case; conversely, if the income and gains fail to exceed the costs, earnings or NAV would decline faster than otherwise would be the case. If the buyer of the obligation subject to the reverse repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt, realization upon the underlying securities may be delayed and there is a risk of loss due to any decline in their value. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio’s average amount of borrowings was $29,049,583 at a weighted average interest rate of 0.002%. Reverse Repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(Q) Sale-Buybacks. The Portfolio may enter into financing transactions referred to as ‘sale-buybacks’. A sale-buyback transaction consists of a sale of a security by the Portfolio to a financial institution, the counterparty, with a simultaneous agreement to repurchase the same or substantially the same security at an agreed-upon price and date. The Portfolio is not entitled to receive principal and interest payments, if any, made on the security sold to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. The agreed-upon proceeds for securities to be repurchased by the Portfolio are reflected as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Portfolio will recognize net income represented by the price differential between the price received for the transferred security and the agreed-upon repurchase price. This is commonly referred to as the “price drop”. A price drop consists of (i) the foregone interest and inflationary income adjustments, if any, the Portfolio would have otherwise received had the security not been sold and (ii) the negotiated financing terms between the Portfolio and counterparty. Foregone interest and inflationary income adjustments, if any, are recorded as components of interest income on the Statement of Operations. Interest payments based upon negotiated financing terms made by the Portfolio to counterparties are recorded as a component of interest expense on the Statement of Operations. In periods of increased demand for the security, the Portfolio may receive a fee for use of the security by the counterparty, which may result in interest income to the Portfolio. The Portfolio will segregate cash or liquid assets, enter into off-setting transactions or use other measures permitted by applicable laws to “cover” the Portfolio’s current obligations. Sale-buybacks as of December 31, 2021 are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(R) Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities. The Portfolio invests in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) which are specially structured bonds in which the principal amount is adjusted to keep pace with inflation. The inflation (deflation) adjustment is applied to the principal of each bond on a monthly basis and is accounted for as interest income on the Statement of Operations. TIPS are subject to interest rate risk. TIPS as of December 31, 2021, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
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(S) Debt Securities Risk. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region. Debt securities are also subject to the risks associated with changes in interest rates.
The Portfolio primarily invests in high yield debt securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”), which are considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher rated debt securities. These securities pay investors a premium—a higher interest rate or yield than investment grade debt securities—because of the increased risk of loss. These securities can also be subject to greater price volatility. In times of unusual or adverse market, economic or political conditions, these securities may experience higher than normal default rates.
Investments in the Portfolio are not guaranteed, even though some of the Portfolio’s underlying investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The principal risk of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities is that the underlying debt may be prepaid ahead of schedule, if interest rates fall, thereby reducing the value of the Portfolio’s investment. If interest rates rise, less of the debt may be prepaid and the Portfolio may lose money because the Portfolio may be unable to invest in higher yielding assets. The Portfolio is subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise. Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner.
The Portfolio may invest in foreign debt securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic debt securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Portfolio to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(T) Counterparty Credit Risk. In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Portfolio mitigate its counterparty risk, the Portfolio may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Portfolio and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains collateral posting terms and netting provisions. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/ or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may restrict or prohibit the right of offset in
bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. In addition, certain ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels or if the Portfolio fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreements. The result would cause the Portfolio to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.
For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(U) LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Portfolio may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that after 2021 it will cease its active encouragement of banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. However, certain LIBOR tenors will continue beyond 2021 and the most widely used LIBOR tenors may continue until mid-2023. As a result, it is anticipated that LIBOR will be discontinued or will no longer be sufficiently robust to be representative of its underlying market around that time. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), there are challenges to converting certain contracts and transactions to a new benchmark and neither the full effects of the transition process nor its ultimate outcome is known. New York Life Investments is currently working to assess exposure and will modify contracts as necessary.
The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the Portfolio's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Portfolio's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. While the transition away from LIBOR has already begun with no material adverse effect to the Portfolio's performance, the transition is expected to last through mid-2023 for some LIBOR tenors. The usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate anytime during this transition period.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(V) Indemnifications. Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Portfolio.
(W) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Portfolio's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are
accounted for and their effect on the Portfolio's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Portfolio wrote or purchased options to enhance returns or to hedge an existing position or future investment.
The Portfolio entered into futures contracts to manage its exposure to the securities markets or to movements in interest rates and currency values.
The Portfolio utilizes credit default, interest rate and inflation swap agreements to manage its exposure to credit, interest rate and inflation risk.
The Portfolio entered into foreign currency forward contracts to to hedge the currency exposure associated with some or all of the Portfolio's securities or as a part of an investment strategy.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021:
Asset Derivatives | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Credit Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Purchased Options - Investments in securities, at value | $ — | $ — | $ 201,672 | $ 201,672 |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts (a) | — | — | 1,422,603 | 1,422,603 |
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized appreciation on swap contracts (b) | — | 556 | 1,078,862 | 1,079,418 |
Forward Contracts - Unrealized appreciation on foreign currency forward contracts | 1,151,396 | — | — | 1,151,396 |
Total Fair Value | $1,151,396 | $556 | $2,703,137 | $3,855,089 |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
(b) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of centrally cleared swap agreements as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Liability Derivatives | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Credit Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Written Options - Investments in written options, at value | $ — | $(8,972) | $ (253,405) | $ (262,377) |
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (a) | — | — | (741,442) | (741,442) |
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on swap contracts (b) | — | — | (3,600,695) | (3,600,695) |
Forward Contracts - Unrealized depreciation on foreign currency forward contracts | (757,896) | — | — | (757,896) |
Total Fair Value | $(757,896) | $(8,972) | $(4,595,542) | $(5,362,410) |
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
(b) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of centrally cleared swap agreements as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
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The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Credit Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Purchased Options | $ (103,428) | $ — | $ (47,662) | $ (151,090) |
Written Options | — | 38,261 | 285,273 | 323,534 |
Futures Contracts | — | — | (158,329) | (158,329) |
Swap Contracts | — | (127,621) | (492,955) | (620,576) |
Forward Contracts | 5,567,282 | — | — | 5,567,282 |
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $5,463,854 | $ (89,360) | $(413,673) | $4,960,821 |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Foreign Exchange Contracts Risk | Credit Contracts Risk | Interest Rate Contracts Risk | Total |
Purchased Options | $ — | $ — | $ 191,674 | $ 191,674 |
Written Options | — | 15,720 | (170,751) | (155,031) |
Futures Contracts | — | — | 634,872 | 634,872 |
Swap Contracts | — | 123,201 | (2,835,251) | (2,712,050) |
Forward Contracts | 1,444,218 | — | — | 1,444,218 |
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | $1,444,218 | $138,921 | $(2,179,456) | $ (596,317) |
Average Notional Amount | Total |
Purchased Options (a) | $ 675,000 |
Written Options | $ (5,236,727) |
Purchased Swaptions | $ 10,988,915 |
Written Swaptions | $ (38,343,180) |
Written Inflation—Capped Options | $ (300,000) |
Futures Contracts Long | $ 129,667,641 |
Futures Contracts Short | $(247,846,157) |
Swap Contracts Long | $ 81,636,106 |
Forward Contracts Long (b) | $ 20,405,275 |
Forward Contracts Short | $(110,812,533) |
(a) | Positions were open four months during the reporting period. |
(b) | Positions were open eleven months during the reporting period. |
(X) Borrowings and other financing transactions summary
The following is a summary by counterparty of the market value of Borrowings and Other Financing Transactions and collateral (received)/pledged as of December 31, 2021:
Counterparty | Payable for Sale-Buyback Transactions and Reverse Repurchase Agreement | Total Borrowings and Other Financing Transactions | Collateral (Received)/ Pledged | Net Exposure (a) |
Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreement | | | | |
Barclays Capital, Inc. | $ (20,612,812) | $ (20,612,812) | $ 20,587,763 | $ (25,049) |
BNP Paribas S.A. | (46,750,582) | (46,750,582) | 46,743,033 | (7,549) |
Credit Suisse AG | (90,964,999) | (90,964,999) | 90,922,617 | (42,382) |
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | (51,286,250) | (51,286,250) | 51,286,250 | — |
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. | (348,736,731) | (348,736,731) | 348,681,451 | (55,280) |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Counterparty | Payable for Sale-Buyback Transactions and Reverse Repurchase Agreement | Total Borrowings and Other Financing Transactions | Collateral (Received)/ Pledged | Net Exposure (a) |
Total Borrowings and Other Financing Transactions | $(558,351,374) | (507,065,124) | 506,934,864 | (130,260) |
(a) | Net Exposure represents the net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default. Exposure from borrowings and other financing transactions can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same legal entity. |
Certain Transfers Accounted for as Secured Borrowings
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
| Overnight and Continuous | Up to 30 days | 31-90 days | Greater than 90 days | Total |
Sale-Buyback Transactions | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | $— | $507,065,124 | $— | $— | $507,065,124 |
Reverse Repurchase Agreements | — | 51,286,250 | — | — | 51,286,250 |
Total Borrowings | $— | $558,351,374 | $— | $— | $558,351,374 |
Payable for reverse repurchase agreements and sale-buyback financing transactions | | | | | $558,351,374 |
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Portfolio’s Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Portfolio. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Portfolio, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Portfolio and certain operational expenses of the Portfolio. During a portion of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Portfolio reimbursed New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Portfolio. Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“ PIMCO” or the “Subadvisor”), a registered investment adviser, serves as Subadvisor to the Portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement (“Subadvisory Agreement”) between New York Life Investments and PIMCO, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager, on behalf of the Portfolio, a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets of 0.50% on all assets. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the effective management fee rate (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements) was 0.50%.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
(excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments, and acquired (underlying) portfolio/fund fees and expenses) of Initial Class shares and Service Class shares do not exceed 0.53% and 0.78%, respectively, of the Portfolio's average daily net assets. This agreement will remain in effect until May 1, 2022, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Portfolio in the amount of $2,660,106 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $220,423 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $1,330,009.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Portfolio pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Portfolio, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Portfolio's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Portfolio's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Portfolio, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Portfolio.
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(B) Distribution and Service Fees. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Distributor has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or
independent third parties, various distribution-related, shareholder and administrative support services to the Service Class shareholders. For its services, the Distributor is entitled to a combined distribution and service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Service Class shares of the Portfolio.
(C) Investments in Affiliates (in 000’s). During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales transactions, income earned from investments and shares held of investment companies managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies | Value, Beginning of Year | Purchases at Cost | Proceeds from Sales | Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sales | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | Value, End of Year | Dividend Income | Other Distributions | Shares End of Year |
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund | $ 1,440 | $ 214,523 | $ (215,248) | $ — | $ — | $ 715 | $ —(a) | $ — | 715 |
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of December 31, 2021, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| Federal Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Investments in Securities | $695,106,120 | $30,053,699 | $(1,547,268) | $28,506,431 |
As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary income | Accumulated Capital and Other Gain (Loss) | Other Temporary Differences | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Total Accumulated Gain (Loss) |
$29,258,738 | $(62,730,764) | $(17,516) | $33,138,562 | $(350,980) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments, cumulative bond amortization, mark to market of forwards contract and straddle loss deferral.
As of December 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $58,059,670, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Portfolio. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss Available Through | Short-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) | Long-Term Capital Loss Amounts (000’s) |
Unlimited | $13,105 | $44,955 |
The Portfolio utilized $16,599,808 of capital loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions paid from: | | |
Ordinary Income | $2,072,383 | $8,259,563 |
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Portfolio. Custodial fees are charged to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Portfolio and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Portfolio.
Prior to February 22, 2021, these services were provided by State Street. The services provided by State Street were a direct expense of the Portfolio and are included in the Statement of Operations as Custodian fees which totaled $17,058 for the period January 1, 2021 through February 21, 2021.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 27, 2021, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 26, 2022, although the Portfolio, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 27, 2021, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Portfolio, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Portfolio and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Portfolio.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, purchases and sales of U.S. government securities were $563,589 and $371,263, respectively. Purchases and sales of securities, other than U.S. government securities and short-term securities, were $484,358 and $476,647, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Initial Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 9,407,567 | $ 90,548,340 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 66,579 | 649,528 |
Shares redeemed | (585,627) | (5,698,986) |
Net increase (decrease) | 8,888,519 | $ 85,498,882 |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 362,350 | $ 3,332,081 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 107,581 | 998,898 |
Shares redeemed | (993,417) | (9,122,960) |
Net increase (decrease) | (523,486) | $ (4,791,981) |
|
Service Class | Shares | Amount |
Year ended December 31, 2021: | | |
Shares sold | 7,393,521 | $ 70,930,280 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 146,207 | 1,422,855 |
Shares redeemed | (7,696,114) | (73,635,987) |
Net increase (decrease) | (156,386) | $ (1,282,852) |
Year ended December 31, 2020: | | |
Shares sold | 12,408,077 | $113,507,422 |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | 783,454 | 7,260,665 |
Shares redeemed | (7,132,197) | (64,185,409) |
Net increase (decrease) | 6,059,334 | $ 56,582,678 |
Note 10–Other Matters
An outbreak of COVID-19, first detected in December 2019, has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in travel restrictions, closure of international borders, certain businesses and securities markets, restrictions on securities trading activities, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain and could further adversely affect the global economy, national economies, individual issuers and capital markets in unforeseeable ways and result in a substantial and extended economic downturn. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, may magnify factors that affect the Portfolio's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Portfolio as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust and Shareholders of
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio (one of the portfolios constituting MainStay VP Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Portfolio”) as of December 31, 2021, the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Portfolio’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Portfolio’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Portfolio in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 24, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the MainStay group of funds since 1984.
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio (“Portfolio”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”) with respect to the Portfolio (together, “Advisory Agreements”), following an initial term of up to two years, is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay VP Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 8–9, 2021 meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”) voting separately, unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and PIMCO in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during September 2021 through December 2021, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and PIMCO in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Portfolio and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Portfolio’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or PIMCO that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Portfolio and investment-related matters for the Portfolio as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and PIMCO personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information received from New
York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2021 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Independent Trustees, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Portfolio’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Portfolio’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or other fees by the applicable share classes of the Portfolio, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors considered by the Board are described in greater detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Portfolio by New York Life Investments and PIMCO; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Portfolio and the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, New York Life Investments and PIMCO; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and PIMCO with respect to their relationships with the Portfolio; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Portfolio grows and the extent to which economies of scale have benefited or may benefit the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Portfolio’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Portfolio.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and PIMCO. The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and PIMCO resulting from, among other things, the Board’s
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consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace, notably under variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the Portfolio serves as an investment option, there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Portfolio’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Portfolio.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 8–9, 2021 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and PIMCO
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Portfolio and considered that the Portfolio operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including evaluating the performance of PIMCO, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Portfolio as well as New York Life Investments’ reputation and financial condition. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and non-advisory services to the Portfolio, including New York Life Investments’ supervision and due diligence reviews of PIMCO and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, PIMCO with respect to, among other things, the Portfolio’s investment performance and risks as well as PIMCO’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Portfolio.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Portfolio under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Portfolio’s compliance program;
(iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. The Board noted that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Portfolio and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments.
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that PIMCO provides to the Portfolio and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated PIMCO’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Portfolio and advising other portfolios and PIMCO’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services, the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at PIMCO and New York Life Investments’ and PIMCO’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and PIMCO and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Portfolio. The Board reviewed PIMCO’s ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel to service and support the Portfolio. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Portfolio’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and PIMCO regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the remote working environment.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Portfolio would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Portfolio’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Portfolio’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Portfolio’s gross and net returns, the Portfolio’s investment performance compared to relevant investment categories and the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Portfolio’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Portfolio’s investment
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement (Unaudited) (continued)
performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to peer funds.
The Board also gave weight to its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Portfolio’s investment performance attributable to PIMCO as well as discussions between the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or PIMCO had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Portfolio investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that its review of the Portfolio’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits Realized, by New York Life Investments and PIMCO
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and PIMCO due to their relationships with the Portfolio. The Board considered that PIMCO’s subadvisory fee had been negotiated at arm’s-length by New York Life Investments and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio, and the relevance of PIMCO’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and PIMCO and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and PIMCO, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and PIMCO’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Portfolio, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and PIMCO and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and PIMCO must be in a position to attract and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and PIMCO to continue to provide
high-quality services to the Portfolio. The Board recognized that the Portfolio benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Portfolio and noted that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between PIMCO and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered its review of a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Portfolio, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Portfolio, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. In addition, the Board requested and reviewed information regarding the Portfolio’s securities lending activity and the corresponding potential dividend received tax deduction for insurance company affiliates of New York Life Investments.
The Board noted that the Portfolio serves as an investment option primarily under variable contracts issued by affiliates of New York Life Investments that would receive fees under those contracts. The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments for managing the Portfolio, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Portfolio in various other capacities, including as the Portfolio’s distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the Portfolio to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New
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York Life Investments’ relationship with the Portfolio on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Portfolio were not excessive. With respect to PIMCO, the Board considered that any profits realized by PIMCO due to its relationship with the Portfolio are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and PIMCO, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to PIMCO by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Portfolio’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Portfolio to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to PIMCO is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Portfolio. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Portfolio’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and PIMCO on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Portfolio, if any. The Board considered the similarities and differences in the contractual management fee schedules of the Portfolio and those of the similarly-managed accounts and/or funds, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account explanations provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Portfolio, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Portfolio’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Portfolio, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Based on the factors outlined above, the Board concluded that the Portfolio’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses were within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether the Portfolio’s expense structure permits economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Portfolio in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance services. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Portfolio’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately reflected for the benefit of the Portfolio’s beneficial shareholders through the Portfolio’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Portfolio is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Portfolio is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019; visiting https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/investment-products/vp; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Portfolio is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Portfolio's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-598-2019 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Portfolios who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal. Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a
Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Mr. Nolan reached the age of 75 during the calendar year 2021. Accordingly, Mr. Nolan retired at the end of calendar year 2021, at which time, Ms. Hammond became a Trustee of the Portfolio. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Portfolio (“Independent Trustees”).
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Yie-Hsin Hung* 1962 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 | Senior Vice President of New York Life since joining in 2010, Member of the Executive Management Committee since 2017, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC & New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2015. Senior Managing Director and Co-President of New York Life Investment Management LLC from January 2014 to May 2015. Previously held positions of increasing responsibility, including head of NYLIM International, Alternative Growth Businesses, and Institutional investments since joining New York Life in 2010 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2017 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2017 (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2017; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since March 2021; and Turtle Beach Corporation: Director since April 2021 |
* | This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of her affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam Belgium S.A., Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A., IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” |
| |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| David H. Chow 1957 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC since 1999 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021;VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2008 and Trustee since 2006 (56 portfolios); and Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Committee since 2018 |
| Susan B. Kerley 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007*** | President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC since 1990 | 78 | MainStay Funds: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 1990 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since 2017 and Trustee since 2011; MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios) |
| Alan R. Latshaw 1951 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2006 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
| Richard H. Nolan, Jr.**** 1946 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2006*** | Managing Director, ICC Capital Management since 2004; President—Shields/Alliance, Alliance Capital Management (1994 to 2004) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2007 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021 |
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| Name and Year of Birth | Term of Office, Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
| | | | | |
| Karen Hammond 1956 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) | Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021); Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Trustee since 2018, Chair of the Special Committee since 2019; and Rhode Island School of Design: Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2015 |
| Jacques P. Perold 1958 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC since 2018; President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (33 Funds); MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015); MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; Partners in Health:Trustee since 2019 and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017 |
| Richard S. Trutanic 1952 | MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007*** | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) since 2004; Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) | 78 | MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994 (12 Funds); MainStay Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (33 Funds)**; MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund; Trustee since June 2021 |
** | Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust. |
*** | Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
**** | Pursuant to the Board's retirement policy, Mr. Nolan retired from the Board effective December 31, 2021. |
Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held and Length of Service | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | |
| | | | |
| Kirk C. Lehneis 1974 | President, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2017 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director since 2016, New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC since 2017; Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust since January 2018; President, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2017** and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015 to 2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC | |
| Jack R. Benintende 1964 | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2007** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2007; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009, MainStay Funds since 2007 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012) | |
| Kevin M. Bopp 1969 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2021, and 2014 to 2020 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, New York Life Investments Alternatives LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2018) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ Holdings Inc., IndexIQ LLC and IndexIQ Trust (since 2017); Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2021 and 2014 to 2020); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014)**, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014) | |
| J. Kevin Gao 1967 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2010** | Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2010; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust since 2010 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
| Scott T. Harrington 1959 | Vice President— Administration, MainStay VP Funds Trust since 2005** | Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) since 2000; Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company since 2009; Vice President—Administration, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund since 2011, MainStay Funds Trust since 2009 and MainStay Funds since 2005 and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund since 2021 | |
* | The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board. |
** | Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust. |
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
56 | MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio |
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MainStay VP Portfolios
MainStay VP offers a wide range of Portfolios. The full array of MainStay VP offerings is listed here, with information about the manager, subadvisors, legal counsel, and independent registered public accounting firm.
Equity
MainStay VP Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio
MainStay VP Fidelity Institutional AM® Utilities Portfolio†
MainStay VP MacKay International Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay S&P 500 Index Portfolio
MainStay VP Natural Resources Portfolio
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio1
MainStay VP Wellington Growth Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Mid Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington Small Cap Portfolio
MainStay VP Wellington U.S. Equity Portfolio
MainStay VP Winslow Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Mixed Asset
MainStay VP Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio
MainStay VP Janus Henderson Balanced Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Convertible Portfolio
Income
MainStay VP Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP Floating Rate Portfolio
MainStay VP Indexed Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Government Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP MacKay Strategic Bond Portfolio
MainStay VP PIMCO Real Return Portfolio
Money Market
MainStay VP U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Alternative
MainStay VP CBRE Global Infrastructure Portfolio
MainStay VP IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Portfolio
Asset Allocation
MainStay VP Conservative Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Equity Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Growth Allocation Portfolio
MainStay VP Moderate Allocation Portfolio
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Brown Advisory LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
Candriam Belgium S.A.*
Brussels, Belgium
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
FIAM LLC
Smithfield, Rhode Island
IndexIQ Advisors LLC*
New York, New York
Janus Capital Management LLC
Denver, Colorado
MacKay Shields LLC*
New York, New York
Newton Investment Management North America, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
NYL Investors LLC*
New York, New York
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Newport Beach, California
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC*
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
1.
Effective on or about May 1, 2022, the MainStay VP T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio will be renamed the MainStay VP American Century Sustainable Equity Portfolio.
Some Portfolios may not be available in all products.
† Fidelity Institutional AM is a registered trade mark of FMR LLC. Used with permission.
* An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC
Not part of the Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
This report is for the general information of New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products policyowners. It must be preceded or accompanied by the appropriate product(s) and funds prospectuses if it is given to anyone who is not an owner of a New York Life variable annuity policy or a NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Product. This report does not offer for sale or solicit orders to purchase securities.
The performance data quoted in this report represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Due to market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. The most recent month-end performance summary for your variable annuity or variable life policy is available by calling 800-598-2019 and is updated periodically on newyorklife.com.
The New York Life Variable Annuities and NYLIAC Variable Universal Life Insurance Products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC).
New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance and Annuity
Corporation (NYLIAC) (A Delaware Corporation)
51 Madison Avenue, Room 551
New York, NY 10010
newyorklife.com
newyorklifeinvestments.com
NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
New York Life Investment Management LLC is the investment manager to the MainStay VP Funds Trust
©2022 by NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
You may obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-598-2019 or writing to New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value |
(NYLIAC) NI528
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the “Code”) that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer (“PEO”) and principal financial officer (“PFO”). During the period covered by this report, no amendments were made to the provisions. A copy of the Code is filed herewith. The Registrant did not grant any waivers, including implicit waivers, from any provisions of the Code to the PEO or PFO during the period covered by this report. A copy of the Code is filed herewith.
Item 3. | Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
The Board of Trustees has determined that the Registrant has three audit committee financial experts serving on its Audit Committee. The Audit Committee financial experts are Alan R. Latshaw, David H. Chow and Susan B. Kerley. Mr. Latshaw, Mr. Chow and Ms. Kerley are “independent” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
(a) Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 for professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by PwC in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for that fiscal year were $1,793,970.
The aggregate fees billed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for professional services rendered by PwC for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by PwC in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for that fiscal year were $1,773,200.
(b) Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by PwC that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were: (i) $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and (ii) $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
(c) Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by PwC for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were: (i) $0 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021; and (ii) $0 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. These services primarily included preparation of federal, state and local income tax returns and excise tax returns, as well as services relating to excise tax distribution requirements.
(d) All Other Fees
The aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by PwC, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were: (i) $0 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021; and (ii) $0 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
(e) Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
| (1) | The Registrant’s Audit Committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures (the “Procedures”) to govern the Committee’s pre-approval of (i) all audit services and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Registrant by its independent accountant, and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by such independent accountant to the Registrant’s investment adviser and to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant (collectively, the “Service Affiliates”) if the services directly relate to the Registrant’s operations and financial reporting. In accordance with the Procedures, the Audit Committee is responsible for the engagement of the independent accountant to certify the Registrant’s financial statements for each fiscal year. With respect to the pre-approval of non-audit services provided to the Registrant and its Service Affiliates, the Procedures provide that the Audit Committee may annually pre-approve a list of the types of services that may be provided to the Registrant or its Service Affiliates, or the Audit Committee may pre-approve such services on a project-by-project basis as they arise. Unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee if it is to be provided by the independent accountant. The Procedures also permit the Audit Committee to delegate authority to one or more of its members to pre-approve any proposed non-audit services that have not been previously pre-approved by the Audit Committee, subject to the ratification by the full Audit Committee no later than its next scheduled meeting. To date, the Audit Committee has not delegated such authority. |
| (2) | With respect to the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item 4, no amount was approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. |
(f) There were no hours expended on PwC’s engagement to audit the Registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year was attributable to work performed by persons other than PwC’s full-time, permanent employees.
(g) All non-audit fees billed by PwC for services rendered to the Registrant for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are disclosed in 4(b)-(d) above.
The aggregate non-audit fees billed by PwC for services rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant were approximately: (i) $3,300,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021; and (ii) $2,435,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
(h) The Registrant’s Audit Committee has determined that the non-audit services rendered by PwC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 to the Registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant that were not required to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee because they did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant were compatible with maintaining the respective independence of PwC during the relevant time period.
Item 5. | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants |
Not applicable.
The Schedule of Investments is included as part of Item 1 of this report.
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. |
Since the Registrant’s last response to this Item, there have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees.
Item 11. | Controls and Procedures. |
(a) Based on an evaluation of the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) (the “Disclosure Controls”), as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date (the “Filing Date”) of this Form N-CSR (the “Report”), the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Disclosure Controls are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the Report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by the Filing Date, including ensuring that information required to be disclosed in the Report is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(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 that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. | Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
MAINSTAY VP FUNDS TRUST
| | |
By: | | /s/ Kirk C. Lehneis |
| | Kirk C. Lehneis |
| | President and Principal Executive Officer |
| |
Date: | | March 7, 2022 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | | | |
| | |
By: | | /s/ Kirk C. Lehneis | | |
| | Kirk C. Lehneis | | |
| | President and Principal Executive Officer |
| | |
Date: | | March 7, 2022 | | |
| | |
By: | | /s/ Jack R. Benintende | | |
| | Jack R. Benintende | | |
| | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | | |
| | |
Date: | | March 7, 2022 | | |