N-CSRS 1 d943325dncsrs.htm HARDING, LOEVNER FUNDS, INC. Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.
Table of Contents

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            811-07739                                         

                                         Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.                                        

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

400 Crossing Boulevard

Fourth Floor

                    Bridgewater, NJ 08807                    

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Owen T. Meacham

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60603

With a copy to:

Stephen H. Bier, Esq.

Dechert LLP

1095 Avenue of the Americas

                    New York, NY 10036                    

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (877) 435-8105

Date of fiscal year end: 10/31

Date of reporting period: 04/30/2015


Table of Contents

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.


Table of Contents

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

About the Adviser

 

Harding Loevner Funds

Global equity investing for institutions is Harding Loevner’s exclusive focus. Through Harding Loevner Funds it offers five distinct global strategies based on its quality-and-growth investment philosophy. It seeks to purchase shares of growing, financially strong, well-managed companies at favorable prices. Harding Loevner manages each of the Funds’ Portfolios according to a disciplined, research-based investment process. It identifies companies with sustainable competitive advantages and assesses the durability of their earnings growth by conducting in-depth fundamental research into global industries. In constructing portfolios, Harding Loevner diversifies carefully to limit risk.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents

 

Global Equity Portfolio

     1   

International Equity Portfolio

     5   

International Small Companies Portfolio

     9   

Emerging Markets

     13   

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

     17   

 

 

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.
c/o Northern Trust
Attn: Funds Center C5S
801 South Canal Street
Chicago, IL 60607

 

Phone: (877) 435-8105   

Must be preceded or accompanied by a current Prospectus.

 

Quasar Distributors, LLC, Distributor

Fax: (312) 267-3657   
www.hardingloevnerfunds.com   

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Global Equity Portfolio

 

Portfolio Managers

 

LOGO

 

Peter Baughan, CFA

Co-Lead Portfolio Manager

 

Ferrill Roll, CFA

Co-Lead Portfolio Manager

 

Christopher Mack, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

 

  

 

Richard Schmidt, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

Alexander Walsh, CFA

Portfolio Manager

Performance Summary

The Global Equity Portfolio – Institutional Class rose 3.96% and the Advisor Class gained 3.83% (net of fees and expenses) in the six-month period ended April 30, 2015. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index, rose 4.97% (net of source taxes).

Market Review

Equity markets made gains in the six months ended April 30, 2015, spurred by the prospect of monetary stimulus in Europe and continued government prodding in Japan to foster a better equity culture. The US market lagged other developed markets in the period, as earnings estimates were revised lower to account for the translation effects of weaker currencies on earnings abroad. Employment gains continued, with hiring intentions by US companies remaining firm, and notable wage rises at the low-skilled end of the labor market—including for Wal-Mart and McDonalds employees—injected a measure of debate about labor cost effects on the record US corporate profit margins. Meanwhile, market pundits watched every twitch of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s public appearances for hints of how soon (or how tardily) the Fed would increase its benchmark interest rate, fomenting debate on how much any rate rise would impact stock market valuations.

Emerging Markets (EMs) provided lackluster returns overall, but masking, as is often true, widely divergent (and volatile) returns between individual markets. In India, the realities of regulatory reform and economic momentum haven’t narrowed the gap with the audacious hopes for Narendra Modi’s government. Brazilian stocks continued to flounder and the currency further weakened; President Dilma Rousseff’s administration was caught up still more deeply in scandal, while the export economy remains in the doldrums. Political factors also re-surfaced in Turkey with Erdo-gan’s government exerting undesirable influence on central bank policy. China, on the other hand, saw its stocks soar in response to some policy stimulus announcements—including several aimed at shoring up the banking system and local government borrowers —along with the opening of trading links between the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets.

That once-and-future king of hard currencies, the Swiss franc, was the source of some market fireworks in the period, when the Swiss National Bank (SNB), in a surprise announcement on January 15, abandoned its commitment to peg the franc to the euro at

the fixed exchange rate of 1.20. This caused the franc to soar as speculators had to unwind “carry” trades wherein they had borrowed low-interest Swiss francs in order to invest in the bonds of higher-yielding currencies. The resulting scramble sent the franc as much as 40% higher on “stop-loss” buying, before settling the day 21% higher against the euro, but not before bankrupting at least one hedge fund and seriously wounding many other levered speculators, not to mention rendering a number of Swiss exporters significantly less competitive against foreign rivals. That left the franc one of the few currencies to strengthen—about 3%—against the US dollar in the period.

Currencies played a key role in returns in

the period, especially in Europe and some

of the Emerging Markets.

Although eurozone shares rose 20% in euro terms, Japan led developed markets in US dollar terms, as the euro lost 11% against the dollar. Japanese stocks were sought by foreign investors, but also by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), which the Abe administration has prodded to move not only more into equities, but particularly into those of companies that have delivered higher-than-average returns on equity—whether Japanese or foreign. To do so, GPIF has mandated some of its asset managers to benchmark themselves against the new JPX-Nikkei 400 Index comprising high ROE companies with strong corporate governance records.

The best performing sectors were Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology, followed by Health Care, which was driven by a resurgence of biotech companies and further mergers & acquisitions (M&A) activity. Energy and Utilities performed the worst, with both sectors declining in the period.

Currencies, as mentioned, played a key role in returns in the period, especially in Europe and some of the Emerging Markets. Besides the euro’s 11% decline against the US dollar, the Swedish krona also fell 11%, and the British pound fell 4%. In EMs, the Brazilian real lost 18% and the Turkish lira lost 13%. Quality and growth style effects were modestly present, with stocks of higher quality or faster growing companies performing slightly better than the market.

Performance Attribution

The Portfolio trailed the Index in the period with negative stock selection partially mitigated by good sector selection. Consumer holdings, both in Discretionary and Staples, hurt performance most. Currency played a role, as a rising Swiss franc hurt the exporting watch maker Swatch Group and the depreciating Russian ruble hurt domestic grocery chain Magnit. We were in the right mind with our overweight to the Information Technology and Health Care sectors, but our stocks’ lagging performance more than offset the benefit of the sector’s strong returns: radiotherapy specialist Elekta and hearing aid maker Sonova Holding dragged down returns in Health Care, while IT returns suffered from the sluggish performance of internet search giants Google, Yandex, and Baidu. Stocks within Industrials—in particular, capital goods stocks MonotaRO and Fanuc—helped performance.

 

 

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Institutional Class HLMVX

Advisor Class HLMGX

 

Performance   
Total Returns (%)          
at March 31, 2015                                              at April 30, 2015  
     
      1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years      Since Inception*      1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years      Since Inception*  

Global Equity Portfolio – Institutional Class

     8.73         9.92         9.37                 10.45                 10.78         10.93         9.81                 10.69           
     

MSCI All Country World Index

     5.42         10.76         9.00         6.44         10.11                 7.46         12.25         9.59         6.98         10.52           
     

Global Equity Portfolio – Advisor Class

     8.46         9.64         9.11         8.32                 6.76         10.47         10.62         9.55         8.85                 6.85   

Returns are annualized for periods greater than 1 year. *Inception of the Institutional Class, 11/3/09. Inception of the Advisor Class, 12/1/96. Index performance prior to 1/1/01 cannot be shown since it relies on back-filled data.

Performance data quoted represent past performance; past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Portfolio may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (877) 435-8105 or visiting www.hardingloevnerfunds.com. The Portfolio imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares held 90 days or less. Performance data does not reflect the redemption fee. If reflected, total returns would be reduced.

 

Viewed by geography, EM holdings hurt performance most, especially internet search providers in Russia (Yandex) and China (Baidu). Russian grocery chain Magnit and South African energy producer Sasol also detracted from performance, the latter hurt by declining oil prices. Performance fared better in the US, buoyed by strong performance in online retailer Amazon.com, and across Financials (SVB Financial and First Republic Bank) and Information Technology (eBay, IPG Photonics, and Informatica). The Portfolio also had good stocks in the Eurozone, helped by Spanish fast fashion retailer Inditex, along with French cosmetics maker L’Oréal.

Perspectives

Having often talked about various aspects of company quality, we currently find our thoughts turning to the subject of growth, and in this letter will wrestle in public with the problem of assessing how much it is worth. First, a reminder that our portfolios have consistently been invested in companies that grow significantly faster than the market, as illustrated in the first chart at right. [Note we use trailing earnings results throughout, in order to keep our own and others’ biases about the future separated from the discussion.] The growth rate of our Portfolio companies has risen since the recession, and is higher than that of the Index. At economic cycle peaks, when growth opportunities are plentiful, the Index earnings growth has often rivaled that of our Portfolio, just as earnings

 

Fund Facts at April 30, 2015

Total Net Assets

      $881.5 M

 

Sales Charge

      None

 

Number of Holdings

      74

 

Turnover (5 Yr. Average)

      29%

 

Redemption Fee

      2% first 90 days

 

Dividend Policy

        Annual
     Institutional Class    Advisor Class

 

Ticker

   HLMVX    HLMGX

 

CUSIP

   412295602    412295206

 

Inception Date

   11/3/2009    12/1/1996

 

Minimum Investment*

   $100,000    $5,000

 

Expense Ratio

   0.92%    1.15%

*Lower minimums available through certain brokerage firms.

growth begins to peak. For now, the Portfolio companies’ growth rates have remained healthily above that of the market, and for both Portfolio and Index, the trailing earnings growth rate is well below the heady levels of 2006-07.

 

LOGO

The next chart shows the premium to the Index average P/E ratio that the market has been willing to pay for our companies over time, in percentage terms. As you can see, the P/E premium for our companies versus the Index P/E has averaged about 20% over the past decade, and is above that level now.

 

LOGO

 

 

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Global Equity Portfolio continued

 

The upshot is that although our portfolio currently is more expensive than the average, it is not quite as relatively expensive as it has been at its peaks in the last decade. Thus, we don’t yet see wholesale warning signs for us embedded in the price levels of our stocks.

If there is no clear guide from overall valuations, the question comes back around to just how scarce is growth, and how defensible is the current level of profitability that companies are achieving? The issue is getting more of our attention, because companies, especially the best-quality businesses, and the fastest-growing ones, have seen their stocks rise faster (in local currency, at least) than their earnings, starting with the US, then in Japan, and now in Europe. The better stock price performance of the high-quality growth companies is thanks in part to their rarity in a generally poor economic environment and in part to the decline in bond yields, which inform the discount rate used by some investors to value their streams of earnings and dividends.

We’ve always been willing to pay higher-than-average multiples of sales, earnings, or cash flow for stocks of better-than-average companies that we believe can grow faster than average. But the seeming perpetuation of unconventional monetary stimulus leads us to question that willingness: just how much more are we willing to pay? More of our analysts are sensing the prices of their stocks to be “high” relative to their rather stable estimates of fair value, with some concluding that prices are too high. Portfolio managers so far, for the most part, have been reluctant to act on these worries by reducing allocations to pricey stocks in general, implicitly adopting a stance of tolerance towards rich valuations.

Nowhere, of course, has this problem of valuing the rare growth stock in a sluggish growth environment facing aggressive central bank stimulus been more pronounced than in Japan, where those conditions have lasted for two years, so far. Yoko Sakai, our analyst for Japanese companies, found that our valuation model, using a semi-fixed discount rate to value expected future corporate cash flows, produced fair values for her companies that were quickly outstripped by the prices set in the soaring market gripped in the reflation fever of “Abenomics.” To remain invested in Japan, HL portfolio managers had to be tolerant of stretched valuations on our internal discounted cash flow models, recognizing two important corollary effects of the government’s policies on stocks: first, that

 

Geographical Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Advisor Classes   
Country/Region      Portfolio         Benchmark 1 

Canada

     0.0         3.4   
   

Emerging Markets

     11.8         10.9   
   

Europe EMU

     8.6         10.7   
   

Europe ex-EMU

     11.7         12.2   
   

Japan

     10.5         7.8   
   

Middle East

     0.0         0.2   
   

Pacific ex-Japan

     3.3         4.2   
   

United States

     51.9         50.6   
   

Frontier Markets2

     0.0           
   

Cash

     2.2           

1MSCI All Country World Index. 2Includes countries with less-developed markets outside the Index.

Sector Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Advisor Classes   
Sector      Portfolio         Benchmark 1 

Consumer Discretionary

     10.3         12.4   
   

Consumer Staples

     8.5         9.5   
   

Energy

     4.7         8.0   
   

Financials

     18.6         21.7   
   

Health Care

     15.7         11.8   
   

Industrials

     9.5         10.4   
   

Information Technology

     23.8         13.9   
   

Materials

     4.9         5.4   
   

Telecom Services

     1.8         3.7   
   

Utilities

     0.0         3.2   
   

Cash

     2.2           

1MSCI All Country World Index

most analysts would not be able to forecast accurately the full extent of the operating leverage the yen’s “maxi” devaluation would have on reported earnings, especially of exporters; and second, that alternative investments other than equities for domestic Japanese investors were being rendered unpalatable from the standpoint of preservation of value.

The operating leverage effect became clear as company earnings results came in a year later. Japan’s Topix Index rose 54% in calendar 2013, but the earnings of its constituent companies registered a 69% rise in trailing 12-month earnings for December 2013. So the startling rise in the market was well-supported—after the fact—by an even stronger rise in reported earnings: the higher price-to-earnings ratio, mirrored in the valuation models of most analysts, were evidence of justified investor confidence outstripping the ability of analysts to correctly forecast the earnings power of Japanese companies turbo-charged by devaluation and monetary stimulus. Growth simply turned out to be higher than forecast, as Japan’s stock market contained more winners from Abenomics than losers.

Portfolio Structure

In the first quarter of 2013, just after Abe was elected, we owned five companies in Japan, and held 9% of our portfolio in that market, slightly more than the Index weight. In the two years ended April 30, 2015, the Japanese market—measured in US dollars—has almost, but not quite, kept up with the MSCI All Country World Index. Our Japanese holdings, on the other hand, have delivered more than double the return of the Index in that period, and our holdings now are larger (nearly 11%) and more numerous (nine companies) than they were then. We are normally much more likely to respond to higher prices by selling than by holding or buying more. But a new factor gives us pause: the growing call within Japan to improve corporate profitability and, more generally, to recognize the interests of shareholders as the first priority of a company, instead of just as one among many stakeholders’ competing interests. Portfolio holding Fanuc is a poster child of that shift, increasing its dividend payout ratio substantially during the period.

We did make a significant number of portfolio changes outside Japan in the period, shifting the emphasis of the portfolio even more towards growth. Within Consumer Discretionary, we sold two

 

 

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Institutional Class HLMVX

Advisor Class HLMGX

 

apparel makers with retailing operations, Ralph Lauren and Inditex. We have grown concerned that these and similar consumer businesses are confronting competitive pressures from e-commerce, and are responding by making heavy investments in that channel in order to achieve “omni-channel” distribution. We view these defensive expenditures as the price to remain in the game; we fear returns are deteriorating for the industry.

We’d much rather own companies that are investing for growth rather than for defense, and added several new ones this period. We have again bought Amazon.com, the internet retailer we sold just over a year ago on fears that raising prices to “Prime” customers was a break in the unspoken compact with loyal customers, and possibly a sign of troubled cash flow generation relative to ambitious capital investment plans. Those fears have so far proven unfounded, and we have come to regard the company’s determined investment outside the US as playing sound offense, in contrast to the defensive investments of traditional retailers, trying to stay relevant to their existing customers. Outside the Consumer Discretionary sector but clearly consumer facing, we bought new holdings in China’s dominant search engine provider Baidu, and in Facebook, the global social media giant with 1.4 billion active users. Both companies have explicitly undertaken margin-damaging expense ramp-ups to adapt their businesses to mobile platforms and to invest in emerging growth avenues, moves that hurt their share price performance in the short run, but which should drive strong growth in the long run.

We have come to regard Amazon’s

determined investment outside the US as

playing sound offense, in contrast to the

defensive investments of traditional retailers.

We continue to be attracted to companies that either can benefit from, or enable others to potentially benefit from, the falling costs of collecting, storing, and analyzing data. During the period we purchased Verisk Analytics, the data and risk analytics service business, with origins in the insurance industry. We also bought IMS Health, whose staggering collection of medical data, including 85% of the world’s drug prescriptions along with other medical records and patient data, is increasingly valuable as the ability to analyze the data improves via “big data” technology, and opportunities to monetize the same industry-wide data proliferate in different directions. Another new holding in salesforce.com, the provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software, intrigues us with their drive to provide mobile data analytics in real time for its users of their customer information: “big data” in the palm of your hand.

These purchases were, in part, funded by the sale of Informatica, whose price rebounded with the arrival in its shareholder register of an activist investor that has precipitated a sale to private equity investors. We also sold our holding in Allergan, now fully acquired by Actavis, a company we do not wish to own. Additionally, we reduced our holding in Dassault Systèmes and Microsoft.

We sold our holding in Swatch Group, which has much of its cost base in Switzerland, but was already facing pricing pressure in its main product categories in markets abroad – implying a slow

 

Ten Largest Holdings at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Advisor Classes   
Company      Sector       Country      %   

Nike

     Cons Discretionary       United States      3.0   
   

Nestlé

     Consumer Staples       Switzerland      2.5   
   

Schlumberger

     Energy       United States      2.5   
   

Roper

     Industrials       United States      2.5   
   

eBay

     Info Technology       United States      2.5   
   

AIA Group

     Financials       Hong Kong      2.4   
   

MasterCard

     Info Technology       United States      2.3   
   

SVB Financial

     Financials       United States      2.1   
   

Google

     Info Technology       United States      2.0   
   

DaVita HealthCare

     Health Care       United States      2.0   

recovery of profit margins from the hit they will have taken in the Swiss Franc revaluation. With the proceeds, we bought a new holding in Makita, the Japanese producer of electric power tools. Makita earns more than 80% of its revenues outside of Japan, and should benefit as housing remodeling and construction recovers from the doldrums everywhere, in Europe and especially in Emerging Markets, where it has assiduously invested over decades.

We sold our holding in Standard Chartered, throwing in the towel after more than a dozen years as a shareholder, dismayed that our milepost of revenue growth exceeding expense growth has been missed, and worried that credit risks are rising due to so much of the growth it has achieved coming from Chinese borrowers through various channels. Even the announcement of new management, made after our sale, will be hard pressed to right the ship quickly if our worries about credit costs are substantiated. We invested the proceeds in BBVA, the Spanish bank with large EM operations, including the largest and most profitable bank in Mexico, and now a controlling minority stake in Turkey’s Garanti Bank. BBVA’s shares had retreated on euro weakness and Greece contagion fears, to trade below stated book value, which afforded us a chance to buy a high quality franchise at an attractive price, just as the bank’s Spanish operations are poised to exit the seven year slog of loan write-offs and restructuring since the Spanish housing market collapsed in the financial crisis, revealing substantial earnings power.

 

 

Please read the separate disclosure page for important information, including the risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

 

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International Equity Portfolio

 

Portfolio Managers

 

LOGO

 

Ferrill Roll, CFA

Co-Lead Portfolio Manager

 

Alexander Walsh, CFA

Co-Lead Portfolio Manager

 

Peter Baughan, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

 

  

 

Bryan Lloyd, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

Andrew West, CFA

Portfolio Manager

Performance Summary

The International Equity Portfolio – Institutional Class rose 6.15% and the Investor Class gained 5.96% (net of fees and expenses) in the six-month period ended April 30, 2015. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI All Country World ex-US Index, rose 5.54% (net of source taxes).

Market Review

Equity markets made gains in the six months ended April 30, 2015, spurred by the prospect of monetary stimulus in Europe and continued government prodding in Japan to foster a better equity culture.

The US market lagged other developed markets in the period, as earnings estimates were revised lower to account for the translation effects of weaker currencies on earnings abroad. Employment gains continued, with hiring intentions by US companies remaining firm, and notable wage rises at the low-skilled end of the labor market—including for Wal-Mart and McDonalds employees—injected a measure of debate about labor cost effects on the record US corporate profit margins. Meanwhile, market pundits watched every twitch of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s public appearances for hints of how soon (or how tardily) the Fed would increase its benchmark interest rate, fomenting debate on how much any rate rise would impact stock market valuations.

Emerging Markets (EMs) provided lackluster returns overall, but masking, as is often true, widely divergent (and volatile) returns between individual markets. In India, the realities of regulatory reform and economic momentum haven’t narrowed the gap with the audacious hopes for Narendra Modi’s government. Brazilian stocks continued to flounder and the currency further weakened; President Dilma Rousseff’s administration was caught up still more deeply in scandal, while the export economy remains in the doldrums. Political factors also resurfaced in Turkey with Erdo-gan’s government exerting undesirable influence on central bank policy. China, on the other hand, saw its stocks soar in response to some policy stimulus announcements—including several aimed at shoring up the banking system and local government borrowers —along with the opening of trading links between the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets.

That once-and-future king of hard currencies, the Swiss franc, was the source of some market fireworks in the period, when the Swiss

National Bank (SNB), in a surprise announcement on January 15, abandoned its commitment to peg the franc to the euro at the fixed exchange rate of 1.20. This caused the franc to soar as speculators had to unwind “carry” trades wherein they had borrowed low-interest Swiss francs in order to invest in the bonds of higher-yielding currencies. The resulting scramble sent the franc as much as 40% higher on “stop-loss” buying, before settling the day 21% higher against the euro, but not before bankrupting at least one hedge fund and seriously wounding many other levered speculators, not to mention rendering a number of Swiss exporters significantly less competitive against foreign rivals. That left the franc one of the few currencies to strengthen—about 3%—against the US dollar in the period.

Although eurozone shares rose 20% in euro terms, Japan led developed markets in US dollar terms, as the euro lost 11% against the dollar. Japanese stocks were sought by foreign investors, but also by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), which the Abe administration has prodded to move not only more into equities, but particularly into those of companies that have delivered higher-than-average returns on equity—whether Japanese or foreign. To do so, GPIF has mandated some of its asset managers to benchmark themselves against the new JPX-Nikkei 400 Index comprising high return-on-equity companies with strong corporate governance records.

Japan led developed markets in US dollar terms, with Japanese stocks sought by both the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) and foreign investors.

The best performing sectors were Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, and Health Care, which was driven by a resurgence of biotech companies and further M&A activity. Energy and Utilities performed the worst, with both sectors declining in the period.

Currencies, as mentioned, played a key role in returns in the period, especially in Europe and some of the EMs. Besides the euro’s 11% decline against the US dollar, the Swedish krona also fell 11%, and the British pound fell 4%. In EMs, the Brazilian real lost 18% and the Turkish lira lost 13%. Quality and growth style effects were modestly present, with stocks of higher quality or faster growing companies performing slightly better than the market.

Performance Attribution

The Portfolio outperformed the Index in the half year mostly due to its hefty investments in the better-performing sectors—especially Information Technology and Health Care—and zero exposure in Utilities, one of the worst performing. Additionally, we enjoyed good stocks within capital goods (especially Japan’s Fanuc, Misumi Group, and MonotaRO), health care equipment & services (especially Japan’s Sysmex), and diversified financials (Hong Kong Exchanges), although poor stocks within consumer services (casino operator Sands China) and banks (Garanti Bank and Itau Unibanco) took away much of the benefits.

 

 

 

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Institutional Class HLMIX

Investor Class HLMNX

 

Performance   
Total Returns (%)                                                        
at March 31, 2015                                              at April 30, 2015  
     
      1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years      Since Inception*      1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years      Since Inception*  

Intl Equity Portfolio – Institutional Class

     4.35         8.29         7.73         7.75                 6.25         7.27         10.22         8.66         8.36                 6.43   
     

MSCI ACW ex-US Index

     -1.03         6.40         4.82         5.47         4.59                 2.61         8.74         6.05         6.26         5.09           
     

Intl Equity Portfolio – Investor Class

     4.11         7.97         7.39                 6.46                 6.90         9.86         8.32                 6.84           

Returns are annualized for periods greater than 1 year. *Inception of the Institutional Class, 5/11/94. Index performance prior to 1/1/01 cannot be shown since it relies on back-filled data. Inception of the Investor Class, 9/30/05.

Performance data quoted represent past performance; past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Portfolio may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (877) 435-8105 or visiting www.hardingloevnerfunds.com. The Portfolio imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares held 90 days or less. Performance data does not reflect the redemption fee. If reflected, total returns would be reduced.

 

Viewed geographically, it was good stock selection that drove relative performance, rather than regional weightings. Our holdings within Japan performed especially well in the period, led by Sysmex and Fanuc, although held back by engineering firm JGC Corp, whose shares declined again, echoing the weakness in the Energy sector, wherein its largest customers (LNG plants) reside. Within the eurozone, strong stock performance from multinationals including Dassault Systèmes, L’Oreal, and LVMH Moët Hennessy enhanced results. Within Europe but outside the eu-rozone, Novo Nordisk, Shire, and WPP overshadowed laggard performance from Swiss holdings Sonova Holding and Swatch Group (since sold). Disparate factors hurt the performance within EMs, including the declining oil price on Sasol, weak Nigerian demand for telecommunications provider MTN Group, and declining profit margins for Chinese search engine Baidu.

Perspectives

Having often talked about various aspects of company quality, we currently find our thoughts turning to the subject of growth, and in this letter will wrestle in public with the problem of assessing how much it is worth. First, a reminder that our Portfolio has consistently been invested in companies that grow significantly faster than the market, as illustrated in the first chart. [Note we use trailing earnings results throughout, in order to keep our own and others’ biases about the future separated from the discussion.] The growth rate of our Portfolio companies has risen since the recession, and is higher than that of the Index. At economic cycle peaks, when growth

 

Fund Facts at April 30, 2015

Total Net Assets

      $5,015.4 M

 

Sales Charge

      None

 

Number of Holdings

      51

 

Turnover (5 Yr. Average)

      16%

 

Redemption Fee

      2% first 90 days

 

Dividend Policy

        Annual
    

Institutional Class

   Investor Class

 

Ticker

   HLMIX    HLMNX

 

CUSIP

   412295107    412295503

 

Inception Date

   5/11/1994    9/30/2005

 

Minimum Investment*

   $100,000    $5,000

 

Expense Ratio

   0.86%    1.16%

*Lower minimums available through certain brokerage firms.

opportunities are plentiful, the Index earnings growth has often rivaled that of our Portfolio, just as earnings growth begins to peak. For now, the Portfolio companies’ growth rates have remained healthily above that of the market, and for both Portfolio and Index, the trailing earnings growth rate is well below the heady levels of 2006-07.

 

LOGO

The next chart shows the premium to the Index average price-to-earnings ratio that the market has been willing to pay for our companies over time, in percentage terms. As you can see, the P/E premium for our companies versus the Index P/E has averaged about 20% over the past decade, and is above that level now.

 

LOGO

 

 

6

 

 


Table of Contents

 

International Equity Portfolio continued

 

The upshot is that although our Portfolio currently is more expensive than the average, it is not quite as relatively expensive as it has been at its peaks in the last decade. Thus, we don’t yet see wholesale warning signs for us embedded in the price levels of our stocks.

If there is no clear guide from overall valuations, the question comes back around to just how scarce is growth, and how defensible is the current level of profitability that companies are achieving? The issue is getting more of our attention, because companies, especially the best-quality businesses, and the fastest-growing ones, have seen their stocks rise faster (in local currency, at least) than their earnings, starting with the US, then in Japan, and now in Europe. The better stock price performance of the high-quality growth companies is thanks in part to their rarity in a generally poor economic environment and in part to the decline in bond yields, which inform the discount rate used by some investors to value their streams of earnings and dividends.

The issue of valuation is getting more of our attention because high-quality, fast-growing companies have seen their stocks rise faster

than their earnings.

We’ve always been willing to pay higher-than-average multiples of sales, earnings, or cash flow for stocks of better-than-average companies that we believe can grow faster than average. But the seeming perpetuation of unconventional monetary stimulus leads us to question that willingness: just how much more are we willing to pay? More of our analysts are sensing the prices of their stocks to be “high” relative to their rather stable estimates of fair value, with some concluding that prices are too high. Portfolio managers so far, for the most part, have been reluctant to act on these worries by reducing allocations to pricey stocks in general, implicitly adopting a stance of tolerance towards rich valuations.

Nowhere, of course, has this problem of valuing the rare growth stock in a sluggish growth environment facing aggressive

 

Geographical Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Investor Classes   
Country/Region      Portfolio         Benchmark 1 

Canada

     3.9         6.9   
   

Emerging Markets

     13.6         22.0   
   

Europe EMU

     28.5         21.6   
   

Europe ex-EMU

     21.4         24.7   
   

Japan

     15.0         15.8   
   

Middle East

     0.0         0.4   
   

Pacific ex-Japan

     8.9         8.6   
   

Frontier Markets2

     0.0           
   

Other3

     3.9           
   

Cash

     4.8           

1MSCI All Country World ex-US Index. 2Includes countries with less-developed markets outside the Index. 3Includes countries with developed markets outside the Index where some holdings are incorporated.

 

Sector Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Investor Classes   
Sector      Portfolio         Benchmark 1 

Consumer Discretionary

     7.4         11.6   
   

Consumer Staples

     13.6         9.7   
   

Energy

     7.2         7.5   
   

Financials

     16.9         27.6   
   

Health Care

     13.9         8.9   
   

Industrials

     12.8         11.0   
   

Information Technology

     15.9         7.5   
   

Materials

     5.9         7.6   
   

Telecom Services

     1.6         5.2   
   

Utilities

     0.0         3.4   
   

Cash

     4.8           

1MSCI All Country World ex-US Index

central bank stimulus been more pronounced than in Japan, where those conditions have lasted for two years, so far. Yoko Sakai, our analyst for Japanese companies, found that our valuation model, using a semi-fixed discount rate to value expected future corporate cash flows, produced fair values for her companies that were quickly outstripped by the prices set in the soaring market gripped in the reflation fever of “Abenomics.” To remain invested in Japan, HL portfolio managers had to be tolerant of stretched valuations on our internal discounted cash flow models, recognizing two important corollary effects of the government’s policies on stocks: first, that most analysts would not be able to forecast accurately the full extent of the operating leverage the yen’s “maxi” devaluation would have on reported earnings, especially of exporters; and second, that alternative investments other than equities for domestic Japanese investors were being rendered unpalatable from the standpoint of preservation of value.

The operating leverage effect became clear as company earnings results came in a year later. Japan’s Topix Index rose 54% in calendar 2013, but the earnings of its constituent companies registered a 69% rise in trailing 12-month earnings for December 2013. So the startling rise in the market was well-supported—after the fact—by an even stronger rise in reported earnings: the higher P/E ratio, mirrored in the valuation models of most analysts, were evidence of justified investor confidence outstripping the ability of analysts to correctly forecast the earnings power of Japanese companies turbo-charged by devaluation and monetary stimulus. Growth simply turned out to be higher than forecast, as Japan’s stock market contained more winners from Abenomics than losers.

Portfolio Structure

In the first quarter of 2013, just after Abe was elected, we owned seven companies in Japan, and held 12% of our Portfolio in that market, slightly less than the Index weight. In the two years ended April 30, 2015, the Japanese market—measured in US dollars—has kept up with the MSCI All Country World ex-US Index. Our Japanese holdings, on the other hand, have delivered more than double the return of the Index in that period, and our holdings now are larger (15%) and more numerous (nine companies) than they

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Institutional Class HLMIX

Investor Class HLMNX

 

were then. We are normally much more likely to respond to higher prices by selling than by holding or buying more. But a new factor gives us pause: the growing call within Japan to improve corporate profitability and, more generally, to recognize the interests of shareholders as the first priority of a company, instead of just as one among many stakeholders’ competing interests. Portfolio holding Fanuc is a poster child of that shift, increasing its dividend payout ratio substantially during the period.

Portfolio holding Fanuc is a poster child of Japan’s recent move to prioritize corporate profitability and shareholders’ interests.

We made relatively few Portfolio changes in the six-month period. We bought a new holding in Kone, the Finnish elevator manufacturer, whose business in Europe and in China has the potential to recover from its slow growth of the past few years, and whose two key competitors, Schindler and Otis, are losing competiveness due to their manufacturing base in Switzerland and the US, whose currencies have strengthened dramatically, while Finland’s euro has weakened.

We sold our holding in Swatch Group, which has much of its cost base in Switzerland, but was already facing pricing pressure in its main product categories in markets abroad. This implies a slow recovery of profit margins to the hit they will have taken in the Swiss franc revaluation.

We added to Baidu, China’s largest search engine, on price weakness. Baidu posted results which revealed continued impressive revenue growth (48% YoY), but delivered only 16% earnings growth. The diminished profit margins reflect heavy investment in acquiring new small- and medium-sized enterprise customers through its online-to-offline (“O2O”) offering. Baidu has sacrificed short-term results in the past, such as during the company’s shift from desktop to mobile search, and we believe the downward adjustment to margins from the shift to mobile has run its course. We expect revenue growth to remain robust, as Baidu stays focused on product innovation and continues to gain market share.

We sold our holding in Chinese auto glass maker Xinyi Glass. Xinyi has a well-run business, the dominant replacement auto glass manufacturer in China, still run by its entrepreneurial founder. Management has done a good job boosting margins in the auto glass segment. But the evidence has mounted that management is more committed to empire building via capital intensive investments than it is in shareholder returns, including the latest adventure into windmill farms, which we can neither understand nor overlook. Corporate governance is not improving everywhere, it seems. Finally, we sold our holding in Bank Pekao out of our concerns over rising competitive pressures in Polish banking, and the associated risks to future profit growth.

Ten Largest Holdings at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Investor Classes   
Company    Sector    Country      %   

Dassault Systèmes

   Info Technology    France      4.5   
   

AIA Group

   Financials    Hong Kong      3.9   
   

Nestlé

   Cons Staples    Switzerland      3.8   
   

WPP

   Cons Discretionary    United Kingdom      3.2   
   

Fanuc

   Industrials    Japan      2.9   
   

Air Liquide

   Materials    France      2.9   
   

Roche Holding

   Health Care    Switzerland      2.8   
   

ICICI Bank

   Financials    India      2.8   
   

Allianz

   Financials    Germany      2.8   
   

Unicharm

   Cons Staples    Japan      2.6   

 

 

Please read the separate disclosure page for important information, including the risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

International Small Companies Portfolio

 

Portfolio Managers

 

LOGO

 

Josephine Lewis

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

Jafar Rizvi, CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

      

Performance Summary

The International Small Companies Portfolio – Institutional Class gained 4.63% and the Investor Class gained 4.56% (both net of fees and expenses) in the six months ended April 30, 2015. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI All Country World ex-US Small Cap Index, rose 8.33% (net of source taxes) in this period.

Market Review

For dollar-based investors, returns for non-US small company stocks in the past six months were hurt by the strengthening of the dollar relative to nearly every currency in the Index. Eight major Index currencies have fallen 10% or more versus the dollar in this period, including the real, the euro, and the Australian dollar. In terms of local currencies, the Index is up over 15% over the past six months versus the 8% return in US dollar terms.

Despite the broad currency weakness, all seven regions in the Index had positive returns in US dollar terms with the exception of Canada, down 4% (hurt by the oil price decline). The European Monetary Union (EMU) was the best-performing region in the last 6 months, up 14% in US dollar terms and an astounding 27% in local currency. Markets surged in response to the announcement by the European Central Bank (ECB) that it was implementing a €1.1 trillion (US$1 trillion) quantitative-easing program to help combat deflation and lackluster growth. Japan, the second-best performing region returned 11% (again in dollars) amidst what appears to be a directed effort to increase returns for stockholders. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe encouraged the US$1.2 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund to reduce its allocation to Japanese government bonds in favor of foreign and domestic equities in an effort to enhance the returns of the fund.

Emerging Markets (EMs) rose 8% despite the 28% decline of Brazil. Investors have a number of reasons to be concerned about Brazil’s prospects. The extensive corruption scandal surrounding the state-owned oil company Petrobras has damaged both the reputation of President Dilma Rousseff and put into question Petro-bras-related projects, which account for 10% of investments in the country.1 Also the strengthening of the real, weakened global demand for the commodities Brazil produces, and years of excessive government spending have contributed to creating a budget deficit of 0.6% of GDP (down from a 2% surplus in 2012).2 Furthermore,

 

1Pearson, Samantha, “Brazil’s Economy Ekes out 0.3% Growth,” Financial Times (March 27, 2015).

2Pearson, Samantha, “Brazil Deficit Adds to Rousseff’s Woes,” Financial Times (January 30, 2015).

 

the economy is expected to contract in 2015 for the first time since 1990, the jobless rate has risen to a two-year high of 6%, and inflation is forecasted to reach nearly 8% next year.

Shares of small companies in frontier markets fell, down 7% in first half of the fiscal year after returning 23% in fiscal year 2014. While frontier markets are not part of our Index, our Portfolio has a 4% weight in these markets.

By sector there was a large dispersion in returns in this period; Energy was the worst performer (down 14%) and Utilities declined 3%. In contrast, Health Care (up 13%), Consumer Discretionary (11%), and Information Technology (12%) all outperformed.

Performance Attribution

The Portfolio underperformed in the first half of the fiscal year due mainly to poor stock selection in the Financials and Industrials sectors. In Financials, Bank of Georgia reported better than expected earnings in the fourth quarter of 2014 but its shares fell after management issued a negative outlook for the Georgian economy in 2015. In Industrials, Malaysian shipyard operator Coastal Contracts was the largest detractor. The stock faltered in the fourth quarter on suspicion that key new customers may defer some of their investments in the company’s products due to lower oil prices in the medium term. Stock selection in the Information Technology sector was most helpful to relative performance. Particularly notable was China’s Wasion, an electric meter company, whose shares performed well after the company won contract bids to supply Advanced Distribution Operations to the Jiangsu Electric Power company’s energy distribution business.

Viewed geographically, holdings in the eurozone detracted most from performance primarily due to our German stocks especially IT consultant Bechtle. The company has had solid growth in absolute terms—operating income grew 19% and revenues were up nearly 14% in 2014. But investors were not pleased with management guidance that 2015 will likely see weaker demand for IT services. Our underweight to the energy-heavy Canadian market and good stock picking in Japan were the largest contributors to returns relative to the Index. In Japan, MonotaRO, a distributor of maintenance and safety items reported higher gross margins first quarter 2015 despite foreign exchange headwinds. Sales improved due to upwards price revision in its new catalogs and lower costs associated with logistics.

Investment Perspectives

Japan in the Age of Three Arrows

From a top-down perspective, we believe Japan appears to be one of the least-promising major developed markets for equity investors. Economic growth in the world’s third-largest economy has been largely stagnant for the past two decades, averaging an annual real growth rate of just 0.9% (compared to 2.5% in the US). The country has suffered six recessions since 1997 and faces a huge debt burden, with a debt-to-GDP ratio that is the highest in the developed world. Japan’s unfavorable long-term demographics, with an aging and shrinking population, also poses a challenge to future growth.

 

 

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Institutional Class HLMRX

Investor Class HLMSX

 

Performance        
Total Returns (%)                  
at March 31, 2015                                       at April 30, 2015         
     
      1 year      3 years      5 years      Since Inception*      1 year      3 years      5 years      Since Inception*  

Intl Small Companies Portfolio – Institutional Class

     -3.71         10.17                 6.01                 -0.40         10.96                 6.81           
     

MSCI ACW ex-US Small Cap Index

     -3.61         7.37         6.51         3.45                 2.33         9.77         7.31         4.95           
     

Intl Small Companies Portfolio – Investor Class

     -3.93         9.89         9.74                 5.72         -0.62         10.69         10.01                 6.10   

Returns are annualized for periods greater than 1 year. *Inception of the Institutional Class, 6/30/11. Inception of the Investor Class, 3/26/07. Index performance prior to 6/1/07 cannot be shown since it relies on back-filled data.

Performance data quoted represent past performance; past performance does not predict future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Portfolio may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (877) 435-8105 or visiting www.hardingloevnerfunds.com. The Portfolio imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares held 90 days or less. Performance data does not reflect the redemption fee. If reflected, total returns would be reduced.

 

In 2013, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched his “Three Arrows” program of stimulus spending, monetary easing, and structural reforms to re-energize the economy. The program has not been very successful yet in terms of generating economic growth. In 2014, growth was flat and Japan even experienced a two-month recession in the middle of the year.

Amidst the weak GDP growth, however, Japan’s equity market has fared quite well in recent years supported by the stimulus policies linked to the first Two Arrows. Since the end of the 2012 fiscal year, the Tokyo Stock Price Index (Topix) has returned 50%, beating the 26% gain by the benchmark Index (in US dollar terms).

We have always had a strong investment interest in Japan, which we actually find to be a fertile ground for finding high-quality, growing companies. We do not ignore macro issues. However, such issues are not central to our bottom-up research process and they never dissuade us from searching for attractive investments in a particular country. We are underweight Japan relative to the Index (16% versus 20%), but we still currently hold 17 Japanese companies and the country represents the Portfolio’s largest absolute allocation to a single market. Recognizing that Japan offers the average company limited domestic growth opportunities, one type of business model we seek is the “disrupter” that is shaking

 

Fund Facts at April 30, 2015

Total Net Assets

      $102.4 M

 

Sales Charge

      None

 

Number of Holdings

      91

 

Turnover (5 Yr. Average)

      33%

 

Redemption Fee

      2% first 90 days

 

Dividend Policy

        Annual
     Institutional Class    Investor Class

 

Ticker

   HLMRX    HLMSX

 

CUSIP

   412295875    412295883

 

Inception Date

   6/30/2011    3/26/2007

 

Minimum Investment*

   $100,000    $5,000

 

Net Expense Ratio

   1.30%    1.55%

 

Gross Expense Ratio

   1.59%    1.88%

*Lower minimums available through certain brokerage firms. Shown net of Harding Loevner’s contractual agreement, through February 29, 2016, to waive its management fee to the extent necessary to cap the fund’s total operating expenses.

up moribund domestic industries in an attempt to generate above-market growth and higher profits.

One such disrupter is Infomart, a Japanese eCommerce business dedicated to the food industry that we recently purchased for the Portfolio. Infomart offers an online marketplace that connects food producers to wholesalers and wholesalers to restaurants, replacing the old-fashioned and cumbersome process of phone and fax ordering. The company’s online system has the added benefit of providing sellers and buyers of food a convenient way to track sales, inventories, account receivables, and payables. Infomart’s target customers are small chains, not large businesses like McDonalds that already have integrated supply chains. The annual cost of Infomart’s automated system is less than ten percent of the cost required to pay an employee to manually manage purchasing and selling.3 The company generates revenue by charging fees to both the buyers and sellers using its online marketplace.

We estimate that ¥7 trillion (US$60 billion) of food is purchased by restaurants every year in Japan; 12% of this commerce is conducted through Infomart and the company is targeting 20% market share in three years. Infomart is by far the largest company in this space—having grown from below 10,000 customers in 2004 to 36,000 today—and faces limited competition. Over the past decade, the company has increased revenues and earnings at about 14% and 16% per year, respectively. It now earns a return-on-equity of over 30%. We believe Infomart will evolve into the de facto ordering system for the food industry in Japan, extending the historical 14% annual sales growth rate over the long term. If the company indeed becomes the market standard, we expect it will be able to charge its customers higher prices.

Aerospace—a Niche Opportunity in an Improving Industry

We recently purchased a new holding in Senior, a UK-based manufacturer of airplane components. According to the Global Industry Classification Standards (GICS) Senior is classified as belonging under the “Aerospace & Defense” industry, which is a very broad category encompassing a variety of companies operating in many different businesses. We wanted to provide an overview of how we narrowed down the industry to identify this new investment opportunity.

 

 

3Credit Suisse, Equity Research (Computer Services & IT Consulting (Internet (Japan)), January 15, 2014.

 

 

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International Small Companies Portfolio continued

 

In our research of the aerospace industry, we have focused broadly on the supply chain associated with the manufacture of airplanes and began by looking at the end of the supply chain: the commercial airlines. The airlines have historically been plagued by large capital needs and intense competition. US airlines, for example, lost US$59 billion on domestic operations between 1979 and 2009.4 Globally, airlines have also earned low returns, as shown in the chart below indicating their annual Cash Flow Returns on Investment (CFROI), an approximation of the economic returns that a firm earns from investing in its business.

In recent years, however, the outlook for the airlines has improved. In 2014, the industry enjoyed its fifth year in a row of overall profitability and its CFROI has more than doubled from its 2008 low, putting airlines in a strong financial position for the future.5 One reason for this improved profitability is consolidation. There were 10 major airlines in the United States in 2001, for example. Thanks to a series of bankruptcies and mergers, the country now has only four.6 A recovering global economy, falling oil prices, and

 

LOGO

 

Geographical Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Investor Classes   
Country/Region      Portfolio         Benchmark 1 

Canada

     0.0         7.8   
   

Emerging Markets

     23.6         22.9   
   

Europe EMU

     24.2         15.8   
   

Europe ex-EMU

     20.6         24.0   
   

Japan

     15.7         20.3   
   

Middle East

     0.0         0.7   
   

Pacific ex-Japan

     7.8         8.5   
   

Frontier Markets2

     3.2           
   

Other3

     1.3           
   

Cash

     3.6           

1MSCI All Country World ex-US Small Cap Index. 2Includes countries with less-developed markets outside the Index. 3Includes countries with developed markets outside the Index where some holdings are incorporated.

Sector Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Investor Classes   
Sector      Portfolio         Benchmark 1 
   

Consumer Discretionary

     13.8         17.5   
   

Consumer Staples

     12.3         6.1   
   

Energy

     1.0         4.2   
   

Financials

     11.1         21.5   
   

Health Care

     10.5         6.5   
   

Industrials

     24.1         19.6   
   

Information Technology

     16.0         10.6   
   

Materials

     3.3         10.6   
   

Telecom Services

     2.5         1.2   
   

Utilities

     1.8         2.2   
   

Cash

     3.6           

1MSCI All Country World ex-US Small Cap Index

rapid passenger growth (especially in emerging markets) have also helped improve demand as well as profitability.

The improving health of the commercial airlines has been important for companies in the rest of the supply chain, namely airplane and component manufacturers. The demand for new airplanes has been growing as the airlines look to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and to invest in more fuel-efficient airplanes, accelerating the replacement cycle. Boeing and Airbus, the two dominant airplane manufactures, have benefited from this demand as evidenced by their improving CFROIs since 2010. At the close of 2014, Airbus’ order book included about 6,400 aircraft to-be-delivered, with a value of over US$900 billion dollars.7 Boeing has reported having a backlog over roughly 5,800 jets, worth over US$500 billion.8 At current production rates these figures represent roughly 7–8 years of orders. By comparison, in 2001 these two manufacturers had a backlog of just 3–4 years of orders.9

Excluding Boeing and Airbus, the rest of the Aerospace & Defense industry exhibits the strongest CFROIs as indicated in the chart. We think the most interesting businesses within this group are the diverse companies positioned at the beginning of the supply chain that produce various airplane components such as engines, fan blades, and fasteners. These companies produce highly engineered products that generate high operating margins. We believe the historically strong operating performance of airplane-parts manufacturers will continue to improve due to the positive trends favoring airlines and airplane manufacturers.

 

 

4Lester Picker, “The Persistent Financial Losses of U.S. Airlines,” The National Bureau of Economic Research (July 2011).

5International Air Transport Association, “Industry Economic Performance Tables,” IATA (December 2014).

6“US Airways-American Airlines to merge,” CNNMoney (February 14, 2013).

7Robert Wall, “Airbus Racks Up More 2014 Jet Orders Than Boeing,” Wall Street Journal (January 13, 2015).

8Boeing, “Boeing Reports Record 2014 Revenue, Core EPS and Backlog and Provides 2015 Guidance,” Press Release, January 28, 2015.

9Bernstein Research, “Commercial Aircraft Cycle: 2018? Could That Be the End?,” October 8, 2013.

 

 

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Institutional Class HLMRX

Investor Class HLMSX

 

Senior specializes in producing parts of an airplane’s skeleton: wing ribs, the struts in front of the wings, landing-gear housing, fluid control systems, and air ducting systems. Its products are sold primarily to the airplane manufacturers (including Boeing and Air-bus) as well as to other suppliers and must meet rigorous safety and quality requirements. Senior is benefiting from the current business tailwinds enjoyed by the aerospace industry, but it has also been a high-quality, growing company for some time. Over the past seven years, the company has compounded its top and bottom lines each year at 10% and 25%, respectively. Senior also scores in the top decile of our investable universe based on our proprietary measures for quality and growth, which include factors such as returns on investment, degree of leverage, and margins. Senior’s long-standing relationships with key aerospace companies provide a crucial competitive advantage that we believe will support the company’s continued strong growth in the future.

Portfolio Highlights

A most unusual event transpired in our Portfolio in the first half of the year: Australia’s TPG Telecom, a Portfolio holding, announced on March 13th its intention to buy rival iiNet, another holding. Under the terms of the most recently proposed deal, TPG Telecom is offering shareholders a choice of all cash for AUD$9.55/share for total of AUD$1.56 billion (US$1.23 billion) or a mix of shares and cash; this offer is at a significant premium above the share price of iiNet in early March. The deal is far from finalized; the fourth-largest broadband company in Australia—M2—has also offered a mix of shares and cash. iiNet’s board has unanimously recommended TPG’s offer to shareholders provided no better offers are received.

We agree with iiNet’s board and think TPG’s offer makes the most sense in the medium- to long-term. It would improve the industry’s competitive dynamics by bringing together two previous competitors and provide the combined company a significant increase in scale. The two companies focus on different segments of the tele-com industry that complement one another well. For retail customers, TPG provides a value-based offering while iiNet has more of a premium offering. TPG also serves corporate and government clients while iiNet is more focused on small and medium enterprises. TPG has a high market share in Sydney/Melbourne while iiNet is strong in the states of Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. The merged company would have 1.7 million broadband subscribers, giving it a market share of about 27%, and putting it in the number-two position behind Telstra, which has 46% share, and ahead of Optus, which has 13% share, and the M2 Group, which has 7% share. Finally, we think there is scope for significant cost cutting as the two companies integrate their networks and staff.

As with all mergers, joining TPG Telecom and iiNET would involve risks: customer churn may increase especially if there are delays in integration and two separate brands may have to be created, creating scope for confusion or need for additional spending on sales and marketing.

A year ago we wrote about the shifting regulatory dynamic across the globe in the Telecom Services sector and how it was creating opportunities for new and smaller telecom companies to grow at the expense of the incumbent telecom monopolies. We also highlighted the efforts of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to encourage this dynamic. The movement towards

Ten Largest Holdings at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Investor Classes   
Company    Sector    Country      %   

Wasion Group Holdings

   Info
Technology
   China      2.6   
   

Grafton Group

   Industrials    UK      2.2   
   

Synergy Health

   Health Care    UK      2.2   
   

Industrial & Financial Systems

   Info
Technology
   Sweden      2.1   
   

Hiday Hidaka

   Cons
Discretionary
   Japan      2.0   
   

Bechtle

   Info
Technology
   Germany      2.0   
   

Equity Bank

   Financials    Kenya      1.8   
   

Rubis

   Utilities    France      1.8   
   

Rathbone Brothers

   Financials    UK      1.7   
   

Max India

   Financials    India      1.6   

greater consolidation in Australia’s telecommunications industry comes just when the government is rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN). The NBN makes extensive use of advanced fiber-based technology and represents a significant upgrade to Aus-tralia’s current internet and communications infrastructure. Companies such as TPG Telecom and iiNet can pay wholesale rates to access the NBN as they provision services for their retail and corporate customers. As a result, the NBN not only represents a technological upgrade but also encourages competition against the market-leader Telstra. It will be interesting to watch future developments in the Telecom Services sector in other parts of the world; we suspect that this trend towards consolidation may continue as smaller telecom companies try to build scale.

 

 

Please read the separate disclosure page for important information, including the risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

 

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Emerging Markets

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

G. Rusty Johnson, CFA

Co-Lead Portfolio Manager

 

Craig Shaw, CFA

Co-Lead Portfolio Manager

 

Pradipta Chakrabortty

Portfolio Manager

 

 

 

 

Scott Crawshaw

Portfolio Manager

 

Richard Schmidt, CFA

Portfolio Manalger

The Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio (Class I and Class II) and the Emerging Markets Portfolio – Advisor Class (collectively, the “Portfolios”) are both managed in strict accordance with the Emerging Markets Equity Strategy model portfolio. The Portfolios, therefore, have highly similar holdings and characteristics. We have provided a single commentary to cover both Portfolios. The specific performance and characteristics of each are presented separately in the tables that follow.

Performance Summary

The Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio – Class I rose 0.02%, the Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio – Class II rose 0.20%, and the Emerging Markets Portfolio – Advisor Class gained 0.17% (net of fees and expenses) in the six months ended April 30, 2015. The Portfolios’ benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the “Index”), rose 3.92% (net of source taxes) in this period.

Market Review

Fortunes diverged across Emerging Markets (EMs) in the trailing six months through April 30, 2015. The ongoing shift in China’s development model from fixed-investment-led to consumer-led growth buoyed its stock market and those of its natural resource-poor Asian neighbors, but weighed on commodity-exporting countries broadly. Euro weakness, precipitated by the European Central Bank’s actual initiation of long-promised quantitative easing, was another discriminating factor, its impact on dollar-based market returns depending on the extent of each EM’s trade and currency linkage with Europe. EMs rose in dollars (+4.0%) over the six-month period but lagged developed markets (EAFE +7.2%).

Brazil and Turkey, whose currencies plummeted, were two of the weakest major markets. The Brazilian economic and political picture has deteriorated apace. Growth has slowed (to zero) as policy makers combat stubbornly high inflation and public account deficits. President Dilma Rousseff’s administration is under mounting attack by a public angry about the web of corruption revealed by the Petro-bras scandal, which is so wide that it directly threatens the country’s growth prospects. Yet, later in this report we will discuss signs of positive change, in policy and in market prospects, that we saw when we visited Brazil in March. The costly consequences to confidence and growth of political meddling also resurfaced in Turkey, where President Erdoğan has been heavy-handed in exerting influence on central bank policy at a time when the capital markets have low tolerance for such interference.

Signs of an economic slowdown in China intensified, creating broad concern across many EMs about the implications for global

growth—and, more specifically, Chinese demand for their commodities. Multiple reports during the first calendar quarter—of investment, retail sales, and industrial output, together with leading indicators— were suggestive of a rapid slowing of its GDP growth rate to well below the consensus 7% forecast. The Chinese government remains steady in its commitment to reduce capital intensity in its economy, but has also demonstrated its intent to reignite the economy through a concentrated burst of monetary easing, reducing interest rates, and lowering banks’ reserve requirements. This monetary action and further moves to open China’s capital markets have led to a strong rally in Chinese equities, most dramatically in the local “A-share” market, but also in Hong Kong with the MSCI China Index returning 29.6% over the reported period. Industrials (+53.2) and Financials (+43.9%) were the largest beneficiaries by sector within the MSCI China Index.

Regional performance largely reflected the disparity in relative currency moves during the six-month period. Commodity-heavy Latin America trailed, with severe weakness in the Brazilian real and Colombian peso hurting dollar returns; only Peru (+3.6%) and Chile (+0.4%) registered modest positive returns in dollars. By contrast, Asia continued to exhibit relative strength, led by China, with steady currency and robust equity market performance. The Chinese renminbi recovered from weakness in early 2015, spurred on by further moves by the government to open up the country’s capital account and the China Securities Regulatory Commission’s announcement at the end of March that it would allow mainland mutual funds to invest in Hong Kong (H) shares (as access to H shares was previously restricted to individuals), providing further momentum to the China market rally.

Sector performance was also highly divergent across EMs, with Information Technology (IT) and Industrials two of the top performers and Energy and Utilities the weakest performers. IT was led by heavyweight Tencent, a Chinese internet gaming and social media company, whose 2014 earnings report showed a 30% increase in revenues, ahead of market expectations, and, importantly, strong margins that drove the bottom line. Industrials was buoyed by Chinese transportation stocks, which we believe are set to benefit from China’s expansive “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which will include substantial investment into China’s rail infrastructure.

Performance and Attribution

The Portfolios underperformed in the period primarily through weak stock selection in Financials. The dominant influence was our zero-weight in Chinese Financials, which were particularly strong. Our financial holdings in Russia, Sberbank and Moscow Exchange, were also negative, as were other banks domiciled in oil-producing countries, like Zenith Bank of Nigeria and Bancolombia of Colombia. Positive contribution from Axis Bank in India, a net beneficiary of falling oil prices, helped to partially offset these poorly-performing stocks. Stock selection contributed most positively in Industrials, where China rail locomotive and rolling stock manufacturer CSR Corporation soared on news of a merger with lead domestic competitor CNR in late 2014 and subsequent announcements of targeted investment towards rail infrastructure.

Despite our holding in CSR Corporation, China was the primary geographic source of underperformance, due to our underweight exposure and selection effects dominated by our zero-weight in Financials. Our overweight in Turkey and poor stock selection in South Korea also hurt performance. Our Latin American holdings helped performance most, particularly Brazilian beer company

 

 

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Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio – Class I HLMEX and

Class II HLEEX

Emerging Markets Portfolio – Advisor Class HLEMX

 

Performance   
Total Returns (%)                                                          
at March 31, 2015             at April 30, 2015                       
   
      1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years      Since Inception*      1 year      3 years      5 years      10 years      Since Inception*  

Inst. Emerging Markets Portfolio – Class I

     -1.23         3.14         4.22                         7.63                 2.73         5.27         4.99                         8.08           
     

Inst. Emerging Markets Portfolio – Class II

     -1.02                                 2.09                         3.09                                 6.22                   
     

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     0.43         0.30         1.73         8.47         4.00         7.33                 7.80         3.23         3.01         9.57         10.59         8.10           
     

Emerging Markets Portfolio – Advisor Class

     -0.97         3.24         4.19         9.17                         12.52         3.02         5.36         4.96         9.84                         12.78   

Returns are annualized for periods greater than 1 year. *Inception of Class I, 10/17/05. Inception of Class II, 3/5/14. Inception of the Advisor Class, 11/9/98. Index performance prior to 1/1/01 cannot be shown since it relies on back-filled data.

Performance data quoted represent past performance; past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of each Portfolio may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (877) 435-8105 or visiting www.hardingloevnerfunds.com. Each Portfolio imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares held 90 days or less. Performance data does not reflect the redemption fee. If reflected, total returns would be reduced.

 

Ambev, Brazilian payment processor Cielo, and Mexican airport operator ASUR.

Investment Perspectives

Commodity weakness promotes Asian dominance

The prolonged commodity weakness that stretches back to spring 2011 has affected EMs profoundly. Lower selling prices have eroded the profits of Materials and Energy companies and the export revenues of commodities-exporting countries, leading to currency adjustments, some severe, especially against the strong US dollar. Most recently, the collapse in energy prices has exacerbated the polarization between those countries that are net producers of commodities versus those that are net consumers.

From a regional perspective, Northern Asia has reaped a windfall from this dynamic. Not only is the region a net importer of most commodities—China the largest bar-none—but the equity markets of Asia are less loaded with the commodities-producing sectors than those of Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Since

 

Portfolio Facts at April 30, 2015

Sales Charge

         None

 

Number of Holdings

         78

 

Redemption Fee

      2% first 90 days

 

Dividend Policy

             Annual
     Institutional    Advisor

 

Portfolio Assets

   $2,130.2 M    $2,698.7 M

 

Turnover
(5 Yr. Average)

   30%    30%

 

Class

   Class I    Class II    Advisor

 

Ticker

   HLMEX    HLEEX    HLEMX

 

CUSIP

   412295701    412295842    412295305

 

Inception Date

   10/17/2005    3/5/2014    11/9/1998

 

Minimum Investment*

   $500,000    $25,000,000    $5,000

 

Net Expense Ratio

   1.29%    1.14%    1.45%

 

Gross Expense Ratio

   1.31%    1.30%    1.45%

*Lower minimums available through certain brokerage firms. The Net Expense Ratio is as of March 31, 2015 as the Portfolio is operating below the contractual agreement, which is in effect until February 29, 2016. The Gross Expense Ratio is as of the Prospectus dated February 28, 2015. Shown net of Harding Loevner’s contractual agreement, through February 29, 2016, to waive its management fee to the extent necessary to cap the fund’s total operating expenses.

 

LOGO

June 2008, the combined weight of Energy and Materials stocks in the EM Index has fallen from 37.6% to 15.9%, due to lagging dollar-based returns. In tandem the combined weight of Latin America and Europe in the Index has fallen from 41.1% to 22.6%.

 

LOGO

Significant policy reform, especially in the three most populous countries of China, India, and Indonesia, have complemented the boon Asian economies have received from the commodity bust. Rapid advance of high-value-added industries in Asia such as generic drugs, industrial automation, and IT (especially Chinese inter-

 

 

14

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Emerging Markets continued

 

net companies) have created a broader set of opportunities for global investors seeking growth than in other EM regions that remain commodity-dependent, like Russia.

Asia’s weight in the Index has risen markedly since mid-2008 from below 50% to almost 70% as of today. China contributed approximately half of this growth, its weight increasing from 14% to 25%, but in fact the weight of every Asian country has increased (apart from Pakistan, which was relegated to Frontier Markets status), primarily at the expense of Brazil and Russia.

This trend of increasing Asian dominance of the EM Index may now be poised to accelerate, not due to continued market outperformance, but to changes in Index construction, specifically the potential inclusion of China A-Shares (which trade on mainland exchanges and were previously inaccessible to foreign investors) and some giant Chinese technology stocks, notably Baidu and Alibaba, which have thus far been excluded from the Index as their shares are listed on US exchanges. The further that China opens up its capital markets, allowing greater foreign access to its locally-listed shares, the stronger this possibility. Thus EMs, which as an asset class has been favored for its breadth and diversity, are increasingly concentrated geographically. At what stage do investors begin to question the risk consequences for their portfolios of such concentration?

Our Portfolios’ exposure to Asia has grown, most recently through two new investments in China, which we discuss below. However, its regional exposure relative to the Index continues to be negative, chiefly because we are underweight South Korea, where we find few companies that meet our investment criteria of high-quality, durable growth, and long-term value. The increasing regional concentration of its benchmark may result in higher tracking error for our Portfolios, but this prospect has only marginal influence on our investment decisions.

Brazil: Good news in the post from the Amazon!

In March, we traveled to Brazil, where the current reality is colored by economic recession, collapsing investment, rising taxes, revealed

 

Geographical Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Country/Region     
 
Institutional
HLMEX / HLEEX
  
  
    
 
Advisor
HLEMX
  
  
     Benchmark 1 

Brazil

     7.5         7.5         7.9   
   

China + Hong Kong2

     21.5         21.5         25.2   
   

India

     10.2         10.1         6.5   
   

Mexico

     4.0         4.0         4.4   
   

Russia

     4.5         4.5         4.0   
   

South Africa

     7.7         7.7         7.8   
   

South Korea

     6.1         6.1         14.6   
   

Taiwan

     10.8         10.8         12.5   
   

Small Emerging Markets3

     16.1         16.0         17.1   
   

Frontier Markets4

     3.0         2.9           
   

Developed Market Listed5

     6.7         6.7           
   

Cash

     1.9         2.2           

1MSCI Emerging Markets Index. 2The Harding Loevner Funds Emerging Markets Portfolios’ end weight in China is 16.8% and Hong Kong is 4.7% . The Benchmark does not include Hong Kong. 3Includes the remaining emerging markets which, individually, comprise less than 5% of the Index. 4Includes countries with less-developed markets outside the Index. 5Includes emerging markets or frontier markets companies listed in developed markets.

Sector Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Sector     

 

Institutional

HLMEX / HLEEX

  

  

    
 
Advisor
HLEMX
  
  
     Benchmark 1 

Consumer Discretionary

     12.1         12.0         9.1   
   

Consumer Staples

     10.2         10.2         7.5   
   

Energy

     6.7         6.7         8.7   
   

Financials

     27.9         27.8         29.3   
   

Health Care

     7.0         6.9         2.2   
   

Industrials

     6.5         6.5         7.0   
   

Information Technology

     20.0         20.0         18.3   
   

Materials

     2.7         2.7         7.2   
   

Telecom Services

     3.9         3.9         7.3   
   

Utilities

     1.1         1.1         3.4   
   

Cash

     1.9         2.2           

1MSCI Emerging Markets Index

corruption, and depreciating currency. We met with a wide range of listed companies and knowledgeable observers. Though it is certainly not a pretty picture, we concluded that the seeds of reform and economic rebalancing have already been sown. Brazil’s harsh economic headwinds are mostly the result of poor policies and decisions made years ago, during the good times when commodities and the real were both stronger. We have long been underweight in Brazil, as it was difficult to find companies which could overcome the poor policy tilts championed by the Rousseff administration. Little optimism is priced into the market today.

During our trip, we identified some potential pivot points on which change for the better could turn. Rousseff’s approval ratings are at record lows. She is fighting to keep her job. Her Workers’ Party (PT), in power for more than a decade, is fighting to stay there. The judiciary system, which appears to be relatively unencumbered by politics, has arrested and prosecuted numerous corrupt officials. The press is another positive influence, intrepid in its willingness to humiliate corrupt offenders publicly. This turmoil has been toxic for Brazilian stocks and the currency in the short run, but the political engagement it engenders is therapeutic in the long run, creating conditions for administrative and electoral change. The uber-liberal populist policies, which the country could never afford, even in the good times, helped the PT gain popularity but may well be finished. The new Finance Minister, Joaquim Levy, has already administered some bitter medicine in the form of across-the-board budget cuts and tax hikes, extending even to the politically-sensitive sectors of education and fuels.

We met with Banco do Brasil, which is 51%-owned by the government and often seen as another tool in the administration’s policy kit. Management is now articulating its focus on increasing returns and intention to take a less aggressive approach in the market, reversing policies that pressured private sector banks’ returns. The reality is that the private sector banks, including Banco Bradesco, which we own, disengaged from the riskier end of the lending spectrum two years ago. Now well-equipped with ample capital and strong balance sheets, we believe they are set to benefit from the new, less-aggressive lending and pricing policies from state-controlled banks. Returns on capital could rise for private sector banks even without a general economic revival.

A final positive takeaway from our trip to Brazil is that the six companies we own in the Portfolio are financially strong. They are still

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio – Class I HLMEX and

Class II HLEEX

Emerging Markets Portfolio – Advisor Class HLEMX

 

growing, albeit at reduced rates, and some, like Banco Bradesco, could be facing a better future as the competitive landscape normalizes. It seems to us that the clouds will eventually part. Today’s problems are likely to prove more transitory than they seem.

 

Portfolio Activity

 

We took action over the six-month period to take advantage of sizeable price moves related to the lower oil price, sharp depreciation followed by recovery in the ruble, and continued momentum in the Indian market.

     Top Ten Holdings at April 30, 2015   
     Company    Sector    Country     
 
Institutional
HLMEX / HLEEX
  
  
    
 
Advisor
HLEMX
  
  
    

Samsung Electronics

   Info Technology    South Korea      4.3         4.3   
    

Taiwan Semiconductor

   Info Technology    Taiwan      3.7         3.6   
    

AIA Group

   Financials    Hong Kong      2.8         2.8   
    

Tencent

   Info Technology    China      2.3         2.3   
    

China Mobile

   Telecom Services    China      2.2         2.2   
    

Naspers

   Cons Discretionary    South Africa      2.0         2.0   
    

SABMiller

   Cons Staples    UK      1.9         1.9   
    

Aspen Pharmacare

   Health Care    South Africa      1.9         1.9   
    

Axis Bank

   Financials    India      1.9         1.9   
    

Jarir Marketing

   Cons Discretionary    Saudi Arabia      1.9         1.8   
                

 

In the Energy sector, we reduced our notable underweight position by adding to a selection of existing holdings. In Russia, following a strong rebound in the currency and stock prices, we reduced our exposure to neutral through the sale of Moscow Exchange, having increased our weight in late 2014 and early January through modest additions to select stocks (Magnit, Sberbank, and Lukoil). We continue to hold an overweight position in India, though we decreased our weight early in 2015 by reducing Axis Bank and auto manufacturer Maruti Suzuki.

Perhaps most importantly from a portfolio positioning perspective: we added exposure to China and Hong Kong, lifting our absolute weight to 21.5% from 15.6%, and reducing our underweight to 3.7%. We established new positions in the leading cellular giant China Mobile and Tingyi Holding, a food and beverage company.

We have owned China Mobile in the past. It remains the dominant cellular carrier in the country with over 800 million subscribers. Though that colossal figure may not grow much, the mix is improving as its 4G customer base grows from 90 million to 250 million by the end of 2015, corresponding to a notably higher per-customer billing figure. Data, currently 25% of the company’s revenues, is growing at very high rates as new smartphones offer improved data applications over older 3G phones. The company is cash-rich, and, as a state-owned enterprise, apt to increase its focus on capital allocation, with ample room to increase its payouts to investors.

Tingyi’s instant noodle business is impressive, with a market share of nearly 50% by volume and almost 60% by value. Its competitive environment is improving, and we see opportunity for margin expansion and increasing profit growth.

Another notable change in portfolio structure over the period was the reduction in Frontier Markets exposure, which fell from 9.9% to 6.9% (these figures include Developed Market listed companies, such as Bank of Georgia, with significant or exclusive Frontier exposure). In late 2014, we sold our positions in Copa Holdings and Etihad Etisalat, the former due to concerns about margin pressure with the loss of its most profitable market, Venezuela, and the latter due to financial pressures related to aggressive moves into cable assets in Saudi.

In early March we sold Vale, the Brazilian iron ore miner. The iron ore price has been under considerable pressure for a prolonged period and is now at 10-year lows with minimal chance for an imminent rebound: demand is not expected to pick up meaningfully, while new supply continues to come online, a lagged response from the high prices of 2010-11. With little opportunity for this company to grow, we have chosen to watch from the sidelines.

The Long View

We recognize growing evidence of what may be long-lasting changes afoot in China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico. Even Brazil may now be moving to correct some ill-advised policy choices. The dividends from such changes are deferred, but we see the majority of large and economically important EMs taking steps in the right direction again. Meanwhile, the capital markets are still punishing most EMs for past sins, such as fading current account surpluses, which in some cases were more cyclical rather than structural. Part of the headwind to dollar-based EM returns is from currency, which is clearly not just an EM problem, but a non-US one more generally. Dollar strength, too, will abate one day—we think probably sooner than the new dollar bulls predict. That would likely be a brisk tail-wind for EM returns.

We have heard the reports of a massive buildup within EM corporates of external (i.e., hard-currency) debt since the financial crisis that some think could prove to be an anchor around the necks of many EM countries. We have not seen, through our lens of company analysis, persuasive evidence. In the context of widespread trouble from financial imbalances, banks are the canaries in the coal mine. We own a few EM banks and meet with many others. They are still singing, and their song does not suggest distress among their borrowers from insupportable mountains of debt or mortal poisoning by local currency depreciation. Non-performing loan ratios are steady or even falling in many countries, including Brazil, India, Turkey, Indonesia, and Mexico. That the currency depreciation experienced by most EM countries has taken place over several years in an orderly way means there has been ample time by this point for material mismatches, where they exist, to have been made manifest.

China may be the outlier here: its currency has generally strengthened against the dollar, creating a unique opportunity for Chinese companies to engage in speculative interest-rate arbitrage. We have observed this carry trade being taken on, and acknowledge its potential for systemic harm, but at this point do not believe it warrants Portfolio response beyond the general caution toward China already reflected in our underweight position.

 

 

Please read the separate disclosure page for important information, including the risks of investing in each Portfolio.

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

 

Portfolio Managers

      

LOGO

 

Pradipta Chakrabortty

Lead Portfolio Manager

 

G. Rusty Johnson, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

 

  

 

Babatunde Ojo, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

Richard Schmidt, CFA

Portfolio Manager

Performance Summary

The Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio – Institutional Class fell 4.42% and the Investor Class fell 4.73% (net of fees and expenses) in the six months ending April 30, 2015. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI Frontier Emerging Markets Index (“FEM Index”), fell 6.18% (net of source taxes).

Market Review

Persistently low oil prices, political events, and weakening currencies were among the factors that influenced many frontier and emerging markets (FEMs) in the first half of the fiscal year. In our broad investment universe, 26 out of 39 local currencies depreciated against the US dollar by more than 1%. The currency effect overshadowed the positive news of good earnings growth that various FEM companies reported during this period.

Markets in frontier Europe suffered some of the steepest declines in US-dollar terms—including Bulgaria (-25%), Kazakhstan (-27%), Serbia (-28%) and Ukraine (-34%). Ukraine was one of the stronger markets in local currency (up 9%), but this return was overcome by the 39% fall of the hryvnia relative to the US dollar, reflecting concern over the continued escalation of the conflict between Ukraine and separatist rebels supported by Russia. Kazakhstan has kept the value of the tenge fairly stable against the dollar since the 19% devaluation that occurred in February 2014; meanwhile the currencies of its main European trading partners have weakened overall in the past year. The tenge is thus widely regarded as overvalued and investors have continued to sell off the country’s equities in part due to expectations of another devaluation.1

Latin America performed poorly due to the 25% market decline in Colombia. About half of this negative performance in US dollar terms was due to weakening currencies—the Colombian peso depreciated by 14%. Though the sharp rise in the price of oil in April helped Colombia register gains for that month, the country suffered through much of the past six months due to the plummeting oil price as over half of its exports are connected to oil and oil derivatives. Argentina, by contrast, rose 10% in this period

 

 

1International Monetary Fund, The Republic of Kazakhstan, IMF Country Report No. 14/258 (Washington D.C.: IMF Publishing Services, July, 2014). http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2014/cr14258.pdf; “Official (Market) Exchange Rates.” Official Internet Resource of the National Bank of Kazakh-stan (February 28, 2015).

as investors expressed approval that Mauricio Macri— the current Chief of Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and a market-friendly candidate—was surging in popularity ahead of the October 2015 presidential elections. Positive earnings reports from some Argentine companies during this period also fueled the market’s strong returns.

Africa as a region also returned less than the overall FEM Index, due mostly to Nigeria where investors were concerned about the falling oil price and political developments. The market fell in February after the government announced that Nigeria would postpone its presidential elections by six weeks (from February 14 to March 28) to give the army more time to counter the terrorist group Boko Haram and provide better security at the polls. The suspicion was that President Goodluck Jonathan was taking advantage of the security issue to remain in power. However, the presidential election did take place on March 28 and was relatively peaceful. The opposition party—the All Progressive Congress—won the election and President Jonathan has promised to ensure a smooth transition of power on May 29 to the new president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari. Elsewhere in Africa, Kenya posted an 11% return (in dollars) amid reports of strong corporate earnings growth in 2014. Kenya is a net oil importer and cheaper oil has resulted in reduced electricity prices, inflation, and interest rates—all of which are expected to boost consumption.

Asia was a bright spot in the Index even though most markets in the region declined during the last six months. The good overall performance was the tale of a single country: the Philippines, which rose 8%. The Philippines accounts for over three-quarters of the Asian portion of the FEM Index, so the performance of this market has an outsized impact on the region. The country’s macroeconomic conditions have been supportive of its capital markets, as we discuss in greater detail later in this commentary. By contrast, Sri Lanka’s equity market fell 13% (in dollars) in this period in the wake of the country’s recent transition of power. In the election held on January 8, the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa (who had ruled since 2005) suffered a surprise defeat by the opposition party, the New Democratic Front (NDF) led by the now-current President Maithripala Sirisena. Investors, at first enthused by the NDF’s victory, were displeased with the new government’s debut decision-making: during a budget presentation to parliament on January 29, the administration announced policies unfriendly towards business, including a plan (already being implemented) to re-evaluate all infrastructure project contracts and gaming licenses awarded by the previous administration.2 The government has also imposed a variety of new taxes in a bid to redistribute wealth, such as a 25% additional one-off tax on company profits earned in the tax year ending March 31, 2014 that is being applied to companies with profits exceeding 2 billion rupees.

The wide dispersion of returns among the markets in the Index during the last six months demonstrates how, even in a period marked by broad trends (such as the lower oil price), local country events continue to influence individual market performance, especially among the frontier markets in the Index.

 

 

2Gordon Fairclough, “Sri Lanka Halts Chinese-Backed Construction Project,” Wall Street Journal, March 5, 2015.

 

 

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Institutional Class HLFMX

Investor Class HLMOX

 

Performance   
Total Returns (%)  
at March 31, 2015      at April 30, 2015                
     
      1 year      3 years      5 years      Since Inception*      1 year      3 years      5 years      Since Inception*  

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio – Institutional Class

     -5.16         8.61         4.47                 -1.63         -5.01         10.43         5.31                 -0.84   
     

MSCI Frontier Emerging Markets Index

     -2.50         5.60         5.00         1.99                 -3.74         6.42         5.48         2.83           
     

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio – Investor Class

     -5.47         8.26                 2.30                 -5.44         9.95                 3.50           

Returns are annualized for periods greater than 1 year. *Inception of the Institutional Class, 5/27/08. Index performance prior to 12/2/08 cannot be shown since it relies on back-filled data. Inception of the Investor Class, 12/31/10.

Performance data quoted represent past performance; past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Portfolio may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (877) 435-8105 or visiting www.hardingloevnerfunds.com. The Portfolio imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares held 90 days or less. Performance data does not reflect the redemption fee. If reflected, total returns would be reduced.

 

Performance Attribution

The Portfolio outperformed the Index in the half year primarily through strong stock selection in the Consumer Staples and Consumer Discretionary sectors. In Staples, Bangladesh-based packaged food company Olympic Industries benefited from rising margins for its biscuit and confectionery businesses due to lower commodity costs. In Discretionary, we benefited from strong performance from automobile and motorcycle maker Kolao Holdings, which released strong fourth-quarter 2014 results with strong volume growth as it increases its exposure to the pickup truck market through the launch of its “Extreme”-brand trucks. Going forward, we believe the company will leverage its wide distribution network to further expand into the pickup truck segment, which accounts for 54% of the Laos auto market. Weak stock selection in the Industrials sector hurt most, with Nigerian consumer company UAC of Nigeria the main culprit. The company’s shares fell sharply in US dollar terms because of the weakening naira and fears of slowing growth prospects for the Nigerian economy.

Viewed by geography, our outperformance shows up as a mix of positive stock selection as well as good region weighting decisions through our underweight to the weak-performing Latin Ameri-can markets and overweight to the best-performing Asia region, though our sizeable underweight to the strong Philippines market dragged on performance. Our strongest stock selection came from

 

Fund Facts at April 30, 2015        

Total Net Assets

      $626.9 M

 

Sales Charge

      None

 

Number of Holdings

      79

 

Turnover (5 Yr. Average)

      32%

 

Redemption Fee

      2% first 90 days

 

Dividend Policy

        Annual
     Institutional Class    Investor Class

 

Ticker

   HLFMX    HLMOX

 

CUSIP

   412295867    412295859

 

Inception Date

   5/27/2008    12/31/2010

 

Minimum Investment*

   $100,000    $5,000

 

Expense Ratio

   1.77%    2.22%

*Lower minimums available through certain brokerage firms.

investments in the Gulf States, where Saudi Arabian electronics retailer Jarir Marketing outperformed. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia’s newly crowned King Salman provided a stimulus package to consumers in the form of a two month salary bonus, which helped support growth in the company’s same-store sales. Stock selection was weakest in Latin America, primarily from poorly performing Peru-based packaged food company Alicorp where currency weakness and commodity hedging losses hurt the company’s profitability.

Investment Perspectives

Diversification is essential to our portfolio construction

When Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were removed from the FEM Index in May 2014, the concentration of many remaining countries in the Index increased.3 The Philippines is particularly notable—following its booming performance over the past year, the country now accounts for about 26% of the Index! Other large constituents include Colombia (14%) and Kuwait (11%). We will likely remain underweight in markets that we believe are too large in the Index in order to provide a well-diversified portfolio.

As noted earlier, returns in the FEMs have historically been heavily influenced by the idiosyncratic risks associated with each individual country. Diversification is therefore extremely helpful in mitigating the volatility of portfolio performance. A portfolio that is well diversified across the FEM universe should exhibit lower volatility than might be expected if one only considered the volatility of each market in isolation.

The Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio is managed in strict accordance with the model portfolio constructed for Harding Loevner’s Frontier Emerging Markets Equity Strategy. The Strategy’s risk-control guidelines require that we invest in a minimum of 15 markets and have a maximum 20% exposure to each single market. The guidelines are defined on absolute terms, based on actual portfolios weights, rather than in terms relative to the Index. Our goal is to offer investors a diversified portfolio across regions and sectors, irrespective of the weights of the regions and sectors in the benchmark.

 

 

3Qatar and UAE had combined weights of about 20% before their elimination from the MSCI FEM Index.

 

 

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Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio continued

 

As we abide by the rules we have set for ourselves, we recognize the direct impact the Strategy’s risk-control constraints can have on relative performance due to the unusual nature of the Index. As we mentioned in the attribution discussion, our underweight to the top-performing Philippines was a drag on our returns compared to the benchmark in this period. We will continue to be underweight the Philippines unless its weight in the Index changes, and this positioning could again have a negative impact on relative returns if this market outperforms again in the future (and, similarly, could be a positive in the event of a significant correction in the market). Regardless, in our view the Strategy should benefit over the long term by maintaining a well-diversified portfolio that consistently adheres to the guidelines we have established.

Philippines

Lower oil prices stimulate an already robust economy

Previously regarded as the “sick man of Asia” for its slow economic growth over the two decades before the global financial crisis, the Philippines has recorded one of the highest growth rates in Asia in the past five years. We visited this nation of 100 million people in March 2015 to get a first-hand understanding of the underlying strength of its economy and capital markets, and we returned with a very positive outlook.

The Philippines’ US$290 billion economy grew 6% in 2014 and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects growth to accelerate to nearly 7% in 2015.4 Personal consumption, which accounts for over 70% of GDP, has been increasing an average of 5% per annum, supported by a young population eager to make purchases and rising income from the country’s emerging middle class.5 Inward remittances from overseas Filipinos have also been growing, further supporting domestic consumption. During our trip, we saw anecdotal evidence of increasing affluence with an influx of premium international brands, such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci, into the rapidly growing formal retail malls in the country. One of the main industries contributing to economic growth and rising incomes is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), which is among the country’s largest employers with over 1 million people working in the industry. The BPO industry’s annual revenues have grown an average of 28% per year over the past decade to US$18 billion in 2014. Alongside the rising BPO industry and increasing remittances, another source of the Philippines improving economic health has

 

Geographical Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Investor Classes   
Region      Portfolio         Benchmark 1 
   

Africa

     24.7         18.6   
   

Asia

     32.4         33.9   
   

Europe

     6.9         5.3   
   

Gulf States

     17.7         13.5   
   

Latin America

     11.0         27.3   
   

Middle East

     0.5         1.4   
   

Developed Market Listed2

     3.3           
   

Cash

     3.5           

1MSCI Frontier Emerging Markets Index. 2Includes frontier markets or emerging markets companies listed in developed markets.

Sector Weightings (%) at April 30, 2015   
Institutional and Investor Classes   
Sector      Portfolio         Benchmark 1 
   

Consumer Discretionary

     11.8         1.2   
   

Consumer Staples

     16.6         7.5   
   

Energy

     5.6         6.8   
   

Financials

     35.9         50.8   
   

Health Care

     3.5         1.4   
   

Industrials

     3.7         8.2   
   

Information Technology

     0.4         0.0   
   

Materials

     12.3         9.5   
   

Telecom Services

     5.7         11.5   
   

Utilities

     1.0         3.1   
   

Cash

     3.5           

1MSCI Frontier Emerging Markets Index

been falling oil prices. The government does not subsidize retail prices for petroleum products or electricity prices, so the population has enjoyed the direct impact of cheaper oil through subdued inflation and higher disposable income, bolstering people’s ability to consume. Several of the consumer companies we met with during our recent trip indicated they are struggling to meet surging demand. As oil imports accounted for about 5% of GDP in 2014, the IMF also expects the lower oil price to strengthen the current account surplus.6 We believe this could continue to boost foreign exchange reserves—which currently stand at about US$80 billion—and consequently strengthen the peso. The lower inflation caused by falling commodity prices has also given the Central Bank of the Philippines room to maintain accommodative monetary policies. The cost of credit has fallen sharply over the past 10 years (the country’s 10-year risk-free rate was around 12% in 2004 and currently stands at about 4%), which should also support business investment and consumer spending. Recognizing the positives in the Philippines’ domestic economy and external position, two of the major credit rating agencies—Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s—raised the country’s sovereign credit rating to BBB in 2014, one notch above the baseline investment grade level.

One Portfolio holding that is well placed to benefit from consumption growth in the Philippines is Universal Robina, a packaged-food manufacturing company with several strong brands in the Philippines and neighboring Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. We believe the company has three key competitive advantages: First, Universal Robina has strong local brands that are market leaders in their categories and enjoy significant consumer loyalty. Second, the company has a large distribution reach that allows it to supply thousands of mom-and-pop shops in the Philippines. This distribution network has made the company a natural partner for multinational companies interested in entering the Philippines market. For example, Universal Robina recently signed agreements with French Danone and Japanese Calbee Foods to manufacture and distribute their products in the

 

 

4International Monetary Fund, Statement at the End of an IMF Staff Mission to the Philippines, Press Release No. 15/150 (Washington D.C.: IMF Publication Services, March, 2015).

5Deutsche Bank, 2015 Philippines Strategy Presentation, (January 29, 2015).

6ibid

 

 

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Institutional Class HLFMX

Investor Class HLMOX

 

country. Lastly, the company has an integrated business model that includes in-house flour mills and sugar refineries. The refined flour and sugar that Universal Robina produces is not only used in manufacturing its own products but is also sold in the external market. In this way, the company reduces the impact of raw material price volatility upon revenues as compared to its peers.

We particularly like how Universal Robina continues to seek growth opportunities in new locales while pursuing further market share gains in its existing markets. For instance, in July 2014 the company announced the acquisition of Griffin’s, a leader in New Zealand’s snack food industry. The acquisition should allow Universal Robina to both expand its distribution reach into Australia and New Zealand and diversify its product mix in long-standing markets through the addition of Griffin’s premium products.

Saudi Arabia

So far, so good despite oil price slump

We visited Saudi Arabia in November 2014 at a time when the crude oil price was experiencing a precipitous decline, and had expected to see consumers and business managers low in confidence and fearful of a grim future. To our surprise, it was business as usual in Saudi Arabia with confidence high and little concern over the oil “crisis”. This attitude can be attributed to the country’s strong fiscal position—it has very low government debt that is only 3% of GDP—which gives the country significant borrowing capacity to help sustain growth even in periods of low oil prices.7 The kingdom also has about US$500 billion in sovereign reserves from savings acquired when oil prices were high, which provides a buffer to comfortably finance expected deficits and avoid major cuts to current expenditures.8 The government has even announced an expansionary budget for 2015 that includes continued funding of major infrastructure projects and social programs. Saudi Arabia’s fiscal and external position could deteriorate if the oil price remains low for an extended period of time, given that over 90% of fiscal revenues and 80% of export revenues come from the sale of oil. However, Saudi Arabia is a key player in the global oil market with significant influence over oil market dynamics and pricing. We expect it will continue to pursue oil market strategies that ultimately benefit the country. In fact, the low price of the past several months appears to have been part of just such a strategy. OPEC (under Saudi Arabia’s leadership) decided last November not to try to boost prices by cutting oil production. By letting prices remain low, the cartel exerted pressure on the world’s higher-cost oil producers (especially US shale drillers) as a way to avoid surrendering market share.

Beyond its strong fiscal position, Saudi Arabia also possesses attractive demographics. At 30 million people, the country has the largest population among the six nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Its population is young, with a median age of around 25, and 2 million people enter the labor force every five years.9 Given the government’s ongoing efforts to increase employment, improve credit penetration, and increase wealth distribution, the spending

 

 

7International Monetary Fund, Saudi Arabia, IMF Country Report No. 14/292 (Washington D.C.: IMF Publication Services, September 2014), 11.

8Citi Research: Middle East Macro Monthly, (March 5, 2015), 49.

9Jarir Marketing, Investor Presentation, September 2014.

Ten Largest Holdings at April 30, 2015

Institutional and Investor Classes

  

  

Company    Sector    Country      %   
   

Universal Robina

   Cons Staples    Philippines      4.1   
   

Kolao Holdings

   Cons Discretionary    South Korea      3.7   
   

Jarir Marketing

   Cons Discretionary    Saudi Arabia      3.6   
   

Safaricom

   Telecom Services    Kenya      2.8   
   

Hoa Phat Group

   Materials    Vietnam      2.8   
   

Commercial Int’l Bank

   Financials    Egypt      2.7   
   

Cementos Argos

   Materials    Colombia      2.7   
   

PetroVietnam

   Energy    Vietnam      2.6   
   

Olympic Industries

   Cons Staples    Bangladesh      2.6   
   

Bank of the Philippines

   Financials    Philippines      2.5   

power of the country as a whole is expected to continue growing. Jarir Marketing, Saudi Arabia’s leading retailer of office supplies, books and electronic products, should benefit from the country’s consumption growth. The company has developed a unique brand in its home market—its stores bring to mind a successful fusion of its North American counterparts Staples, Barnes & Noble, and Best Buy. Jarir has significant competitive advantages that differentiate it from other retailers in the country, including holding the exclusive right in Saudi Arabia to translate English books into Arabic. It also has a robust retail network spread across the country and the company’s ability to provide warranty and after-sales service for its electronic products makes it difficult for competitors to compete solely on price. These advantages have allowed Jarir to develop a leading market share in its product categories, a very high return on equity of 60%, as well as high inflation-adjusted cash flow return on investment of about 30% (which is four to ten times higher than that of its aforementioned North American counterparts). The company currently has 36 stores—31 of which are in Saudi Arabia—with plans to spur medium-term growth by opening new sales outlets, with a target to reach a total of 60 stores by 2018.

 

 

Please read the separate disclosure page for important information, including the risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

 

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Commentary Disclosures

 

The Portfolios invest in foreign securities, which will involve greater volatility and political, economic, and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. They also invest in emerging markets, which involve unique risks, such as exposure to economies less diverse and mature than the US or other more established foreign markets. Economic and political instability may cause larger price changes in emerging markets securities than other foreign securities.

Investments in small- and mid-cap companies involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility.

Diversification does not guarantee a profit or prevent a loss in a declining market.

Long-term earnings growth and earnings per share growth are not a forecast of the Portfolios’ future performance.

Bold type indicates companies held in the Portfolios during the fiscal year. Only the first reference to a particular holding appears in bold. The Portfolios are actively managed; therefore holdings shown may not be current. Portfolio holdings and sector and geographical allocations should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security. Please refer to the Portfolios of Investments in this report for complete Portfolio holdings. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.

While the Portfolios have no sales charge, management fees and other expenses still apply. Please see the Prospectus for further details.

Sector & Geographical Weightings data is sourced from: Wilshire Atlas, Harding Loevner Portfolios, and MSCI Barra. Differences may exist between this source data and similar information reported in the financial statements due to timing differences and/or adjustments required pursuant to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Five year average turnover data is calculated using a simple average of annual turnover figures for the past five fiscal years. These annual turnover figures utilize purchase, sales, and market value data which is not reflective of adjustments required pursuant to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Accordingly, differences may exist between this data and similar information reported in the financial statements.

The Commodity Research Bureau Index measures the overall direction of commodity sectors.

The MSCI All Country World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global developed and emerging markets. The Index consists of 46 developed and emerging market countries. Net dividends reinvested.

The MSCI All Country World ex-US Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global developed and emerging markets, excluding the US. The Index consists of 45 developed and emerging market countries. Net dividends reinvested.

The MSCI All Country World ex-US Small Cap Index is a free-float market capitalization index that is designed to measure small cap developed and emerging market equity performance. The Index consists of 43 developed and emerging markets countries and targets companies within a market capitalization range of USD 170–4,200 million in terms of the companies’ full market capitalization. Net dividends reinvested.

The MSCI China Index captures large and mid cap representation across China H shares, B shares, Red chips and P chips. With 140 constituents, the index covers about 85% of this China equity universe.

The MSCI EAFE Index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance, excluding the US & Canada. The Index consists of 21 developed market countries.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The Index consists of 23

emerging market countries. Net dividends reinvested.

The MSCI Frontier Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure equity market performance in all countries from the MSCI Frontier Markets Index and the lower size spectrum of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The Index consists of 24 frontier markets and 4 emerging markets. Net dividends reinvested.

The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 is composed of 400 companies which meet requirements of the efficient use of capital and investor-focused management perspectives. The selection is based on quantitative criteria, including ROE for efficient use of capital, as well as other financial indicators.

The Tokyo Stock Price (Topix) Index is a capitalization-weighted index of all companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

You cannot invest directly in these Indices.

Cash Flow measures the cash generating capability of a company by adding non-cash charges (e.g. depreciation) and interest expense to pretax income.

Cash Flow Return on Investment (CFROI) is a valuation model that assumes the stock market sets prices based on cash flow, not on corporate performance and earnings.

Debt-to-GDP Ratio compares a country’s national debt to its gross domestic product. This ratio indicates the country’s ability to pay back its debt.

Earnings Per Share is the portion of a company’s profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the monetary value of all finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period (usually calculated on an annual basis).

Price/Earnings (P/E) is the ratio of a firm’s closing stock price and its trailing 12 months’ earnings/share.

Return on Equity (ROE) is the net income divided by total common equity outstanding, expressed as a percent.

Revenue is the amount of money that a company actually receives during a specific period, including discounts and deductions for returned merchandise.

Tracking Error is a measure of the amount of active risk that is being taken by a manager in a specific portfolio.

Turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of Purchases or Sales by Average Capital.

Quasar Distributors, LLC, Distributor.

 

 

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LOGO

Semi-Annual Report

April 30, 2015

 

 

Global Equity Portfolio

International Equity Portfolio

International Small Companies Portfolio

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio

Emerging Markets Portfolio

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

 

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

c/o Northern Trust

Attn: Funds Center C5S

801 South Canal Street

Chicago, IL 60607

(877) 435-8105

www.hardingloevnerfunds.com


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Table of Contents

 

 

Expense Example

  2   

Portfolio of Investments

Global Equity Portfolio

  3   

International Equity Portfolio

  6   

International Small Companies Portfolio

  9   

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio

  13   

Emerging Markets Portfolio

  17   

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

  21   

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

  25   

Statements of Operations

  27   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

  29   

Financial Highlights

  32   

Notes to Financial Statements

  38   

Privacy Notice

  47   

Supplemental Information

  48   

Directors and Officers

  49   

For use only when preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Expense Example

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

As a shareholder of a Harding Loevner Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; and to the extent applicable, distribution (12b-1) fees, and/or shareholder services fees and other fund expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in a Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of a six month period and held through the period ended April 30, 2015.

Actual Expenses

The first line under each Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line for your Portfolio under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line under each Portfolio in the table below provides 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 balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only. Therefore, the second line under each Portfolio in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

                      
Portfolio

Beginning
Account Value
November 1,

2014

  Ending Account
Value
April 30, 2015
  Annualized
Expense Ratio
 

Expenses Paid
During Period *
(November 1, 2014

to April 30, 2015)

 

Global Equity Portfolio—Institutional Class

 

Actual

$ 1,000.00    $ 1,039.60      0.91 $ 4.60   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,020.28      0.91   4.56   

Global Equity Portfolio—Advisor Class

 

Actual

  1,000.00      1,038.30      1.19   6.01   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,018.89      1.19   5.96   

International Equity Portfolio—Institutional Class

 

Actual

  1,000.00      1,061.50      0.85   4.34   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,020.58      0.85   4.26   

International Equity Portfolio—Investor Class

 

Actual

  1,000.00      1,059.60      1.16   5.92   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,019.04      1.16   5.81   

International Small Companies Portfolio—Institutional Class

 

Actual

  1,000.00      1,046.30      1.30   6.60   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,018.35      1.30   6.51   

International Small Companies Portfolio—Investor Class

 

Actual

  1,000.00      1,045.60      1.55   7.86   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,017.11      1.55   7.75   

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio—Class I

 

Actual

  1,000.00      1,000.20      1.29   6.40   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,018.40      1.29   6.46   

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio—Class II

 

Actual

  1,000.00      1,002.00      1.14   5.66   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,019.14      1.14   5.71   

Emerging Markets Portfolio—Advisor Class

 

Actual

  1,000.00      1,001.70      1.45   7.20   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,017.60      1.45   7.25   

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio—Institutional Class

 

Actual

  1,000.00      955.80      1.76   8.53   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,016.07      1.76   8.80   

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio—Investor Class

 

Actual

  1,000.00      952.70      2.17   10.51   

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  1,000.00      1,014.03      2.17   10.84   

* Expenses are calculated using each Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (181 days), and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days).

 

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Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Global Equity Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 97.4%              

Australia - 0.1%

     

Cochlear Ltd. (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     12,324         $813,386   

China - 1.9%

     

Baidu Inc. - Sponsored ADR (Software & Services)*

     82,500         16,523,100   

France - 4.5%

     

Air Liquide SA (Materials)†

     87,700         11,482,353   

Dassault Systemes SA (Software & Services)†

     123,900         9,553,194   

Essilor International SA (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     76,000         9,232,998   

L’Oreal SA (Household & Personal Products)†

     50,200         9,576,695   
        39,845,240   

Germany - 2.0%

     

Linde AG (Materials)†

     41,700         8,171,947   

SAP SE - Sponsored ADR (Software & Services)

     125,100         9,468,819   
        17,640,766   

Hong Kong - 3.2%

     

AIA Group Ltd. (Insurance)†

     3,219,300         21,489,695   

Sands China Ltd. (Consumer Services)†

     1,762,519         7,208,311   
        28,698,006   

India - 2.5%

     

HDFC Bank Ltd. - ADR (Banks)

     203,600         11,572,624   

ICICI Bank Ltd. - Sponsored ADR (Banks)

     991,200         10,833,816   
        22,406,440   

Indonesia - 0.9%

     

Bank Central Asia Tbk PT (Banks)†

     7,481,624         7,758,527   

Japan - 10.5%

     

ABC-Mart Inc. (Retailing)†

     230,600         13,125,124   

FANUC Corp. (Capital Goods)†

     68,522         14,987,220   

Kakaku.com Inc. (Software & Services)†

     331,888         5,137,256   

Keyence Corp. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     29,096         15,549,808   

M3 Inc. (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     441,500         8,322,505   

Makita Corp. (Capital Goods)†

     179,200         8,976,139   

MonotaRO Co., Ltd. (Capital Goods)†

     151,300         5,221,767   
     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 97.4%    (continued)              

Japan - 10.5%    (continued)

     

Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. (Automobiles & Components)†

     400,763         $8,995,487   

Unicharm Corp. (Household & Personal Products)†

     479,924         12,038,208   
        92,353,514   

Mexico - 1.1%

     

America Movil SAB de CV, Series L - Sponsored ADR (Telecommunication Services)

     450,360         9,408,020   

Russia - 2.3%

     

Magnit PJSC - Sponsored GDR, Reg S (Food & Staples Retailing)†

     144,700         7,976,838   

Yandex NV, Class A (Software & Services)*

     630,500         12,130,820   
        20,107,658   

South Africa - 1.6%

     

MTN Group Ltd. (Telecommunication
Services)†

     323,897         6,490,075   

Sasol Ltd. (Energy)†

     194,600         7,856,649   
        14,346,724   

Spain - 1.6%

     

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (Banks)†

     948,500         9,549,571   

Grifols SA (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     104,400         4,448,014   
        13,997,585   

Sweden - 1.4%

     

Elekta AB, Class B (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     1,320,500         12,363,600   

Switzerland - 6.1%

     

Lonza Group AG, Reg S (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)*†

     74,600         10,594,960   

Nestle SA - Sponsored ADR (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     284,200         22,059,604   

Roche Holding AG, Genusschein (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     40,600         11,694,406   

Sonova Holding AG, Reg S (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     67,300         9,332,435   
        53,681,405   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

3


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Global Equity Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 97.4%    (continued)  

Turkey - 1.5%

     

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS - ADR (Banks)

     4,187,700         $13,442,517   

United Kingdom - 4.2%

     

Abcam plc (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     157,711         1,266,255   

ARM Holdings plc - Sponsored ADR (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)

     251,300         12,813,787   

Rotork plc (Capital Goods)†

     5,732         207,056   

Shire plc (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     112,000         9,112,122   

WPP plc (Media)†

     572,400         13,366,417   
        36,765,637   

United States - 52.0%

     

3M Co. (Capital Goods)

     74,900         11,713,611   

Abbott Laboratories (Health Care Equipment & Services)

     204,400         9,488,248   

AbbVie Inc. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)

     176,200         11,393,092   

Amazon.com Inc. (Retailing)*

     26,900         11,345,882   

American Express Co. (Diversified Financials)

     181,800         14,080,410   

BorgWarner Inc. (Automobiles & Components)

     185,200         10,963,840   

Bunge Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     108,900         9,405,693   

Citrix Systems Inc. (Software & Services)*

     166,300         11,168,708   

Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Household & Personal Products)

     211,700         14,243,176   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (Health Care Equipment & Services)*

     219,900         17,833,890   

eBay Inc. (Software & Services)*

     371,600         21,649,416   

Emerson Electric Co. (Capital Goods)

     177,300         10,430,559   

Exxon Mobil Corp. (Energy)

     135,300         11,821,161   

F5 Networks Inc. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)*

     96,400         11,762,728   

Facebook Inc., Class A (Software & Services)*

     110,300         8,688,331   

First Republic Bank (Banks)

     286,600         16,705,914   

Google Inc., Class A (Software & Services)*

     32,900         18,054,533   
     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 97.4%    (continued)         

United States - 52.0%    (continued)

  

IMS Health Holdings Inc. (Health Care Equipment & Services)*

     323,000         $8,911,570   

IPG Photonics Corp. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)*

     129,200         11,444,536   

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Banks)

     182,400         11,538,624   

Lazard Ltd., Class A (Diversified Financials)

     227,100         12,043,113   

MasterCard Inc., Class A (Software & Services)

     220,800         19,918,368   

Microsoft Corp. (Software & Services)

     196,400         9,552,896   

Monsanto Co. (Materials)

     146,500         16,695,140   

NIKE Inc., Class B (Consumer Durables & Apparel)

     263,200         26,014,688   

Praxair Inc. (Materials)

     55,200         6,730,536   

Roper Technologies Inc. (Capital Goods)

     129,000         21,693,930   

Salesforce.com Inc. (Software & Services)*

     128,400         9,350,088   

Schlumberger Ltd. (Energy)

     229,600         21,722,456   

SVB Financial Group (Banks)*

     140,000         18,586,400   

Trimble Navigation Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)*

     280,700         7,138,201   

Verisk Analytics Inc., Class A (Commercial & Professional Services)*

     130,800         9,815,232   

Waters Corp. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)*

     76,900         9,627,111   

Wells Fargo & Co. (Banks)

     300,000         16,530,000   
                458,062,081   

Total Common Stocks (Cost $669,370,956)

  

     $858,214,206   
                   
PREFERRED STOCKS - 0.4%              

Spain - 0.4%

     

Grifols SA - ADR (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)

     125,300         3,985,793   

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $4,288,302)

  

     $3,985,793   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

4


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Global Equity Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares      Value  
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS - 3.5%         

Northern Institutional Funds - Prime Obligations Portfolio, 0.04% (Money Market Fund)

     30,550,416         $30,550,416   

Total Short Term Investments (Cost $30,550,416)

  

     $30,550,416   
                   

Total Investments — 101.3%

                 

(Cost $704,209,674)

              $892,750,415   

Liabilities Less Other Assets - (1.3)%

  

     (11,254,578

Net Assets — 100.0%

              $881,495,837   

Summary of Abbreviations

 

ADR American Depository Receipt.

 

GDR Global Depository Receipt.

 

Reg S Security sold outside United States without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

* Non-income producing security.
Investment categorized as level 2 security as disclosed in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.
Industry    Percentage of
Net Assets

Automobiles & Components

       2.3 %

Banks

       13.2  

Capital Goods

       8.3  

Commercial & Professional Services

       1.1  

Consumer Durables & Apparel

       3.0  

Consumer Services

       0.8  

Diversified Financials

       3.0  

Energy

       4.7  

Food & Staples Retailing

       0.9  

Food, Beverage & Tobacco

       3.6  

Health Care Equipment & Services

       8.7  

Household & Personal Products

       4.1  

Insurance

       2.4  

Materials

       4.9  

Media

       1.5  

Money Market Fund

       3.5  

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

       7.0  

Retailing

       2.8  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

       1.4  

Software & Services

       17.1  

Technology Hardware & Equipment

       5.2  

Telecommunication Services

       1.8  
            

Total Investments

       101.3  

Liabilities Less Other Assets

       (1.3 )

Net Assets

       100.0 %
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

5


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

International Equity Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 92.2%              

Australia - 1.8%

     

CSL Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     1,234,300         $88,601,550   

Belgium - 1.8%

     

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV - Sponsored ADR (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     772,500         92,730,900   

Canada - 3.9%

     

Canadian National Railway Co. (Transportation)

     1,582,500         102,102,900   

Imperial Oil Ltd. (Energy)

     2,150,200         94,888,326   
        196,991,226   

China - 1.9%

     

Baidu Inc. - Sponsored ADR (Software & Services)*

     478,800         95,894,064   

Denmark - 2.3%

     

Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     2,049,800         114,820,084   

Finland - 1.3%

     

Kone oyj, Class B (Capital Goods)†

     1,488,420         64,157,547   

France - 12.7%

     

Air Liquide SA (Materials)†

     1,092,380         143,022,725   

Dassault Systemes SA (Software & Services)†

     2,899,018         223,526,071   

L’Oreal SA (Household & Personal Products)†

     663,200         126,519,213   

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (Consumer Durables & Apparel)†

     283,000         49,484,369   

Schneider Electric SE (Capital Goods)†

     1,294,600         96,539,767   
        639,092,145   

Germany - 10.8%

     

Allianz SE, Reg S (Insurance)†

     807,700         138,113,877   

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Automobiles & Components)†

     948,700         112,831,556   

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     896,000         75,572,933   

Fuchs Petrolub SE (Materials)†

     358,274         13,458,231   

Linde AG (Materials)†

     261,010         51,150,118   
     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 92.2%    (continued)              

Germany - 10.8%    (continued)

  

SAP SE - Sponsored ADR (Software & Services)

     1,250,780         $94,671,538   

Symrise AG (Materials)†

     923,100         56,404,705   
        542,202,958   

Hong Kong - 5.9%

     

AIA Group Ltd. (Insurance)†

     29,166,700         194,695,587   

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. (Diversified Financials)†

     1,383,300         52,765,012   

Sands China Ltd. (Consumer Services)†

     11,725,000         47,952,641   
        295,413,240   

India - 2.8%

     

ICICI Bank Ltd. - Sponsored ADR (Banks)

     12,888,400         140,870,212   

Japan - 15.0%

     

FANUC Corp. (Capital Goods)†

     658,300         143,984,222   

JGC Corp. (Capital Goods)†

     2,984,000         62,201,016   

Keyence Corp. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     185,881         99,340,594   

M3 Inc. (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     2,745,400         51,752,218   

MISUMI Group Inc. (Capital Goods)†

     1,750,700         65,660,627   

Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (Real Estate)†

     2,274,000         53,457,516   

MonotaRO Co., Ltd. (Capital Goods)†

     890,800         30,743,888   

Sysmex Corp. (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     2,064,700         114,081,162   

Unicharm Corp. (Household & Personal Products)†

     5,201,600         130,474,707   
        751,695,950   

Singapore - 1.3%

     

DBS Group Holdings Ltd. (Banks)†

     4,225,083         67,157,464   

South Africa - 2.4%

     

MTN Group Ltd. (Telecommunication Services)†

     4,112,900         82,412,097   

Sasol Ltd. (Energy)†

     916,400         36,998,114   
        119,410,211   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

6


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

International Equity Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 92.2%    (continued)         

South Korea - 1.1%

     

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - GDR (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     80,600         $52,994,214   

Spain - 1.4%

     

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (Banks)†

     6,905,700         69,527,120   

Sweden - 1.6%

     

Atlas Copco AB, Class A (Capital Goods)†

     2,537,500         79,199,380   

Switzerland - 7.7%

     

Nestle SA - Sponsored ADR (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     2,446,100         189,866,282   

Roche Holding AG, Genusschein (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     496,200         142,925,226   

Sonova Holding AG, Reg S (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     392,900         54,483,116   
        387,274,624   

Taiwan - 1.6%

     

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     11,038,125         53,289,780   

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Sponsored ADR (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)

     1,024,200         25,031,448   
        78,321,228   

Turkey - 1.1%

     

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS - ADR (Banks)

     17,654,300         56,670,303   

United Kingdom - 9.9%

     

ARM Holdings plc (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     5,640,000         95,873,839   

BG Group plc (Energy)†

     7,011,000         127,251,778   

Shire plc (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     705,300         57,381,960   

Unilever plc (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     1,220,800         53,601,565   

WPP plc (Media)†

     6,963,700         162,613,069   
        496,722,211   
     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 92.2%    (continued)         

United States - 3.9%

     

Bunge Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     1,056,660         $91,263,724   

Schlumberger Ltd. (Energy)

     1,110,300         105,045,483   
                196,309,207   

Total Common Stocks (Cost $3,537,178,829)

  

     $4,626,055,838   
     
PREFERRED STOCKS - 3.5%              

Brazil - 1.6%

     

Itau Unibanco Holding SA - Sponsored ADR (Banks)

     6,350,477         81,413,115   

Germany - 0.7%

     

Fuchs Petrolub SE (Materials)†

     777,700         32,905,085   

South Korea - 1.2%

     

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - GDR,
Reg S (Technology Hardware &
Equipment)†

     119,300         59,919,748   

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $161,707,580)

  

     $174,237,948   
     
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS - 5.1%              

Northern Institutional Funds - Prime Obligations Portfolio, 0.04% (Money Market Fund)

     257,194,223         257,194,223   

Total Short Term Investments (Cost $257,194,223)

  

        
                   

Total Investments — 100.8%

                 

(Cost $3,956,080,632)

              $5,057,488,009   

Liabilities Less Other Assets - (0.8)%

  

     (42,064,367

Net Assets — 100.0%

              $5,015,423,642   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

7


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

International Equity Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Summary of Abbreviations

 

ADR American Depository Receipt.

 

GDR Global Depository Receipt.

 

Reg S Security sold outside United States without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

* Non-income producing security.
Investment categorized as level 2 security as disclosed in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Industry    Percentage of
Net Assets

Automobiles & Components

       2.3 %

Banks

       8.3  

Capital Goods

       10.8  

Consumer Durables & Apparel

       1.0  

Consumer Services

       1.0  

Diversified Financials

       1.1  

Energy

       7.3  

Food, Beverage & Tobacco

       8.5  

Health Care Equipment & Services

       5.9  

Household & Personal Products

       5.1  

Insurance

       6.6  

Materials

       5.9  

Media

       3.2  

Money Market Fund

       5.1  

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

       8.0  

Real Estate

       1.1  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

       3.5  

Software & Services

       8.3  

Technology Hardware & Equipment

       4.2  

Telecommunication Services

       1.6  

Transportation

       2.0  
            

Total Investments

       100.8  

Liabilities Less Other Assets

       (0.8 )

Net Assets

       100.0 %
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

8


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

International Small Companies Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 93.6%              

Australia - 2.9%

     

iiNET Ltd. (Telecommunication Services)†

     182,330         $1,431,240   

SAI Global Ltd. (Commercial & Professional Services)†

     341,765         1,065,693   

TPG Telecom Ltd. (Telecommunication Services)†

     66,441         466,712   
        2,963,645   

Austria - 1.3%

     

Semperit AG Holding (Capital Goods)†

     28,740         1,319,456   

Brazil - 2.6%

     

CETIP SA - Mercados Organizados (Diversified Financials)

     53,097         608,872   

SLC Agricola SA (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     99,600         576,850   

Valid Solucoes e Servicos de Seguranca em Meios de Pagamento e Identificacao SA (Commercial & Professional Services)

     94,000         1,461,657   
        2,647,379   

China - 4.0%

     

Haitian International Holdings Ltd. (Capital Goods)†

     187,000         466,015   

Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd. (Consumer Durables & Apparel)†

     94,000         443,169   

Wasion Group Holdings Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     1,658,000         2,617,205   

Yip’s Chemical Holdings Ltd. (Materials)†

     978,000         595,078   
        4,121,467   

Denmark - 0.5%

     

Chr Hansen Holding A/S (Materials)†

     11,450         554,441   

Finland - 1.1%

     

Vaisala OYJ, Class A (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     42,580         1,140,997   

France - 5.2%

     

Alten SA (Software & Services)†

     29,120         1,423,384   

IPSOS (Media)†

     49,600         1,464,144   

Rubis SCA (Utilities)†

     26,716         1,815,965   

 

     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 93.6%     (continued)         

France - 5.2%     (continued)

     

Virbac SA (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     2,300         $599,616   
        5,303,109   

Germany - 9.4%

     

Bechtle AG (Software & Services)†

     27,100         2,000,081   

Bertrandt AG (Commercial & Professional Services)†

     7,880         1,047,018   

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Bearer (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     35,630         903,999   

Gerresheimer AG (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     20,750         1,179,662   

Gerry Weber International AG (Consumer Durables & Apparel)†

     28,840         947,440   

KWS Saat SE (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     3,270         985,806   

Leoni AG (Automobiles & Components)†

     16,000         1,032,298   

Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG (Capital
Goods)†

     10,400         969,935   

Wirecard AG (Software & Services)†

     12,010         528,950   
        9,595,189   

Hong Kong - 2.6%

     

Pico Far East Holdings Ltd. (Media)†

     3,931,000         1,139,439   

Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     820,900         1,505,949   
        2,645,388   

Indonesia - 2.4%

     

AKR Corporindo Tbk PT (Capital Goods)†

     2,626,500         1,048,381   

Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk PT (Telecommunication Services)†

     1,009,500         658,633   

Wijaya Karya Persero Tbk PT (Capital Goods)†

     3,408,000         783,612   
        2,490,626   

Italy - 2.9%

     

Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche SpA (Capital Goods)†

     30,000         556,928   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

9


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

International Small Companies Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 93.6% (continued)              

Italy - 2.9% (continued)

     

DiaSorin SpA (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     17,100       $ 780,812   

Yoox SpA (Retailing)*†

     52,500         1,653,810   
        2,991,550   

Japan - 15.6%

     

ABC-Mart Inc. (Retailing)†

     11,900         677,316   

Arcs Co., Ltd. (Food & Staples Retailing)†

     14,000         294,347   

Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd. (Capital Goods)†

     27,200         334,366   

Asics Corp. (Consumer Durables &
Apparel)†

     30,400         775,231   

BML Inc. (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     40,900         1,242,681   

Cosmos Pharmaceutical Corp. (Food & Staples Retailing)†

     5,400         725,972   

Hiday Hidaka Corp. (Consumer Services)†

     84,840         2,067,289   

Infomart Corp. (Software & Services)†

     113,000         1,121,521   

Lintec Corp. (Materials)†

     24,100         590,790   

Message Co., Ltd. (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     36,300         1,121,497   

MISUMI Group Inc. (Capital Goods)†

     26,700         1,001,393   

MonotaRO Co., Ltd. (Capital Goods)†

     46,600         1,608,290   

Nakanishi Inc. (Health Care Equipment & Services)†

     32,600         1,210,378   

Pigeon Corp. (Household & Personal Products)†

     59,700         1,573,853   

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     23,000         330,362   

Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. (Automobiles & Components)†

     31,300         702,557   

Sugi Holdings Co., Ltd. (Food & Staples Retailing)†

     12,700         618,365   
        15,996,208   

Kenya - 3.2%

     

East African Breweries Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     411,900         1,394,499   

Equity Group Holdings Ltd. (Banks)†

     3,551,600         1,847,839   
        3,242,338   

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 93.6%     (continued)         

Malaysia - 1.7%

     

Coastal Contracts Bhd. (Capital Goods)†

     1,376,966       $ 1,160,903   

Dialog Group Bhd. (Capital Goods)†

     1,315,240         595,449   
        1,756,352   

Mexico - 0.5%

     

Grupo Herdez SAB de CV (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)*

     169,500         461,258   

Netherlands - 3.5%

     

Arcadis NV (Capital Goods)†

     42,534         1,347,414   

ASM International NV (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     21,890         1,060,156   

Brunel International NV (Commercial & Professional Services)†

     54,600         1,117,846   
        3,525,416   

Singapore - 2.3%

     

Ezion Holdings Ltd. (Energy)†

     1,157,080         1,047,022   

Super Group Ltd. (Food, Beverage &
Tobacco)†

     1,188,000         1,337,145   
        2,384,167   

South Africa - 1.7%

     

Clicks Group Ltd. (Food & Staples Retailing)†

     144,310         1,105,591   

Discovery Ltd. (Insurance)†

     61,160         676,792   
        1,782,383   

South Korea - 3.1%

     

Cheil Worldwide Inc. (Media)*†

     67,670         1,442,901   

Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp. (Automobiles & Components)†

     20,270         761,103   

Kolao Holdings (Retailing)†

     52,850         987,817   
        3,191,821   

Spain - 0.9%

     

Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA (Capital Goods)†

     2,500         870,397   

Sweden - 2.1%

     

Industrial & Financial Systems, Class B (Software & Services)†

     61,340         2,121,341   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

10


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

International Small Companies Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 93.6%     (continued)  

Switzerland - 2.1%

     

LEM Holding SA, Reg S (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     1,840         $1,632,228   

Temenos Group AG, Reg S (Software &
Services)*†

     12,720         462,551   
        2,094,779   

Taiwan - 3.3%

     

Advantech Co., Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     116,383         959,966   

Airtac International Group (Capital Goods)†

     134,000         1,095,443   

Chipbond Technology Corp. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     358,700         777,845   

Youngtek Electronics Corp. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     254,540         558,945   
        3,392,199   

Turkey - 1.5%

     

Anadolu Hayat Emeklilik AS (Insurance)†

     756,391         1,570,172   

United Kingdom - 15.9%

     

Abcam plc (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     145,427         1,167,627   

Bank of Georgia Holdings plc (Banks)†

     40,220         1,109,058   

Britvic plc (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     92,931         1,033,068   

Grafton Group plc (Capital Goods)†

     181,640         2,297,837   

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (Insurance)†

     38,958         634,768   

Morgan Advanced Materials plc (Capital Goods)†

     177,500         912,887   

PayPoint plc (Commercial & Professional Services)†

     70,510         925,088   

Rathbone Brothers plc (Diversified Financials)†

     52,270         1,716,904   

RPC Group plc (Materials)†

     177,430         1,635,312   

RPS Group plc (Commercial & Professional Services)†

     437,560         1,431,655   

Senior plc (Capital Goods)†

     249,840         1,203,241   

Synergy Health plc (Health Care Equipment & Services)*†

     65,420         2,221,227   
        16,288,672   
     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 93.6%     (continued)  

United States - 1.3%

     

First Cash Financial Services Inc. (Diversified Financials)*

     8,800         $425,392   

PriceSmart Inc. (Food & Staples Retailing)

     11,720         942,991   
                1,368,383   

Total Common Stocks (Cost $78,299,153)

  

     $95,819,133   
     
PARTICIPATION NOTES - 2.7%  

India - 2.7%

     

GRUH Finance Ltd., Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity date 9/28/17 (Banks)^†

     276,800         1,075,997   

Max India Ltd., Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity date 8/18/17 (Insurance)^†

     245,500         1,655,477   
                2,731,474   

Total Participation Notes (Cost $2,564,244)

  

     $2,731,474   
     
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS - 3.5%  

Northern Institutional Funds - Prime Obligations Portfolio, 0.04% (Money Market Fund)

     3,637,049         3,637,049   

Total Short Term Investments (Cost $3,637,049)

  

     $3,637,049   
                   

Total Investments — 99.8%

  

        

(Cost $84,500,446)

  

     $102,187,656   

Other Assets Less Liabilities - 0.2%

              228,996   

Net Assets — 100.0%

  

     $102,416,652   

Summary of Abbreviations

 

Reg S Security sold outside United States without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

* Non-income producing security.
^ Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities, which represent 2.7% of net assets as of April 30, 2015, are considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified buyers.
Investment categorized as level 2 security as disclosed in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

11


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

International Small Companies Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Industry    Percentage of
Net Assets

Automobiles & Components

       2.4 %

Banks

       3.9  

Capital Goods

       17.2  

Commercial & Professional Services

       6.9  

Consumer Durables & Apparel

       2.1  

Consumer Services

       2.0  

Diversified Financials

       2.7  

Energy

       1.0  

Food & Staples Retailing

       3.6  

Food, Beverage & Tobacco

       7.1  

Health Care Equipment & Services

       7.3  

Household & Personal Products

       1.5  

Insurance

       4.4  

Materials

       3.3  

Media

       4.0  

Money Market Fund

       3.5  

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

       3.2  

Retailing

       3.3  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

       2.4  

Software & Services

       7.5  

Technology Hardware & Equipment

       6.2  

Telecommunication Services

       2.5  

Utilities

       1.8  

    

          

Total Investments

       99.8  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.2  

Net Assets

       100.0 %
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.3%         

Brazil - 3.3%

     

Ambev SA - ADR (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     4,299,200         $27,213,936   

BM&FBovespa SA - Bolsa de Valores Mercadorias e Futuros (Diversified Financials)

     5,120,700         21,091,584   

Cielo SA (Software & Services)

     1,638,700         22,810,560   
        71,116,080   

Chile - 0.9%

     

Banco Santander Chile - ADR (Banks)

     937,800         20,453,418   

China - 16.7%

     

51job Inc. - ADR (Commercial & Professional Services)*

     795,900         28,652,400   

Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd., Class H (Materials)†

     5,457,100         22,168,562   

Baidu Inc. - Sponsored ADR (Software & Services)*

     163,000         32,645,640   

China Merchants Holdings International Co., Ltd. (Transportation)†

     5,900,459         26,785,645   

China Mobile Ltd. - Sponsored ADR (Telecommunication Services)

     656,200         46,872,366   

CNOOC Ltd. - Sponsored ADR (Energy)

     164,600         28,187,750   

CSR Corp., Ltd., Class H (Capital Goods)†

     10,160,982         19,594,325   

Ctrip.com International Ltd. - ADR (Retailing)*

     419,700         26,726,496   

ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. (Utilities)†

     3,245,200         23,375,985   

Jiangsu Expressway Co., Ltd., Class H (Transportation)†

     9,357,000         12,879,258   

Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     14,977,670         17,135,463   

Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Software & Services)†

     2,350,000         48,533,251   

Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     4,334,100         9,146,188   

Want Want China Holdings Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     12,967,849         14,230,808   
        356,934,137   

Czech Republic - 1.2%

     

Komercni Banka A/S (Banks)†

     116,000         25,849,155   
     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.3%     (continued)         

Egypt - 0.5%

     

Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE - GDR, Reg S (Banks)†

     1,465,800         $10,113,039   

Hong Kong - 4.7%

     

AIA Group Ltd. (Insurance)†

     8,862,915         59,162,347   

ASM Pacific Technology Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     1,299,991         14,550,014   

Sands China Ltd. (Consumer Services)†

     6,473,096         26,473,523   
        100,185,884   

Hungary - 0.8%

     

Richter Gedeon Nyrt (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     1,023,000         17,228,205   

India - 10.1%

     

Ambuja Cements Ltd. (Materials)†

     7,323,000         26,762,383   

Axis Bank Ltd. (Banks)†

     4,482,000         39,988,967   

Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Telecommunication Services)†

     5,443,700         32,598,058   

Dabur India Ltd. (Household & Personal Products)†

     7,132,000         28,237,032   

Housing Development Finance Corp., Ltd. (Banks)†

     1,566,100         28,809,507   

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Automobiles & Components)†

     370,900         21,710,850   

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     2,549,600         37,572,541   
        215,679,338   

Indonesia - 2.8%

     

Astra International Tbk PT (Automobiles & Components)†

     32,673,700         17,235,133   

Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT (Banks)†

     37,581,600         33,647,055   

Semen Indonesia Persero Tbk PT (Materials)†

     9,526,200         9,161,173   
        60,043,361   

Italy - 1.1%

     

Tenaris SA - ADR (Energy)

     747,600         22,988,700   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.3%    (continued)              

Malaysia - 0.2%

     

Axiata Group Bhd. (Telecommunication Services)†

     1,814,275         $3,431,357   

Mexico - 4.0%

     

Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV - Sponsored ADR (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     140,700         12,731,943   

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV - ADR (Transportation)*

     181,600         26,253,912   

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV,
Series O (Banks)

     3,441,500         19,623,414   

Grupo Televisa SAB - Sponsored ADR (Media)*

     732,900         26,684,889   
        85,294,158   

Netherlands - 0.6%

     

Nostrum Oil & Gas plc (Energy)*†

     1,277,886         12,053,828   

Nigeria - 0.8%

     

Zenith Bank plc (Banks)

     154,374,000         16,407,086   

Peru - 1.5%

     

Credicorp Ltd. (Banks)

     204,800         31,242,240   

Poland - 1.4%

     

Bank Pekao SA (Banks)†

     559,800         29,155,745   

Russia - 4.5%

     

Lukoil OAO - Sponsored ADR (Energy)

     617,500         31,646,875   

Magnit PJSC - Sponsored GDR, Reg S (Food & Staples Retailing)†

     601,900         33,180,777   

Sberbank of Russia - Sponsored ADR
(Banks)†

     5,270,400         31,298,112   
        96,125,764   

South Africa - 7.7%

     

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)*†

     1,338,000         40,612,821   

Discovery Ltd. (Insurance)†

     3,164,600         35,019,209   

Naspers Ltd., Class N (Media)†

     265,300         41,629,892   

Sasol Ltd. (Energy)†

     597,600         24,127,098   

Standard Bank Group Ltd. (Banks)†

     1,534,200         22,491,936   
        163,880,956   
     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.3%    (continued)              

South Korea - 5.4%

     

Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. (Automobiles & Components)†

     667,132         $27,978,262   

NAVER Corp. (Software & Services)†

     16,600         10,029,204   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - GDR (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     116,900         76,861,335   
        114,868,801   

Taiwan - 10.7%

     

Advantech Co., Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     2,665,289         21,984,197   

Airtac International Group (Capital Goods)†

     1,122,000         9,172,292   

Delta Electronics Inc. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     2,867,189         17,238,333   

Hiwin Technologies Corp. (Capital Goods)†

     2,062,010         15,722,357   

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     10,992,787         32,954,885   

Largan Precision Co., Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     293,000         29,313,712   

MediaTek Inc. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     1,961,000         25,223,809   

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     16,037,277         77,424,650   
        229,034,235   

Thailand - 1.5%

     

Siam Commercial Bank pcl, Reg S (Banks)†

     6,508,270         31,391,322   

Turkey - 2.4%

     

Arcelik A/S (Consumer Durables &
Apparel)†

     5,224,400         28,122,725   

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A/S (Banks)†

     7,253,000         23,062,765   
        51,185,490   

Ukraine - 0.3%

     

MHP SA - GDR, Reg S (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     563,800         6,474,921   

United Arab Emirates - 1.1%

     

Dragon Oil plc (Energy)†

     2,504,900         23,796,088   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

14


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.3%    (continued)         

United Kingdom - 5.1%

     

Bank of Georgia Holdings plc (Banks)†

     494,100         $13,624,710   

Coca-Cola HBC AG - CDI (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)*†

     870,700         18,374,257   

Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     1,123,100         35,203,853   

SABMiller plc (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     763,100         40,715,757   
                107,918,577   

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,709,872,522)

  

     $1,902,851,885   
          
PREFERRED STOCKS - 5.7%              

Brazil - 4.2%

     

Banco Bradesco SA - ADR (Banks)

     3,223,000         34,453,870   

Cia Brasileira de Distribuicao - Sponsored ADR (Food & Staples Retailing)

     793,500         26,613,990   

Itau Unibanco Holding SA - Sponsored ADR (Banks)

     2,199,700         28,200,154   
        89,268,014   

Colombia - 0.8%

     

Bancolombia SA - Sponsored ADR (Banks)

     376,500         17,044,155   

South Korea - 0.7%

     

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - GDR, Reg S (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     30,500         15,318,963   

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $128,147,734)

  

     $121,631,132   
     Shares       Value   
PARTICIPATION NOTES - 2.9%  

Qatar - 1.0%

     

Qatar National Bank, Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity Date 9/12/16 (Banks)^†

     382,700         $20,817,484   

Saudi Arabia - 1.9%

     

Jarir Marketing Co., Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity Date 1/22/18 (Retailing)^†

     651,000         39,880,205   

Total Participation Notes (Cost $58,758,620)

  

     $60,697,689   
          
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS - 1.7%              

Northern Institutional Funds - Prime Obligations Portfolio, 0.04% (Money Market Fund)

     36,309,549         36,309,549   

Total Short Term Investments (Cost $36,309,549)

  

     $36,309,549   
                      

Total Investments — 99.6%

  

        

(Cost $1,933,088,425)

  

     $2,121,490,255   

Other Assets Less Liabilities - 0.4%

              8,780,083   

Net Assets — 100.0%

  

     $2,130,270,338   

Summary of Abbreviations

 

ADR American Depository Receipt.

 

CDI Chess Depository Interest.

 

GDR Global Depository Receipt.

 

Reg S Security sold outside United States without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

* Non-income producing security.
^ Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities, which represent 2.9% of net assets as of April 30, 2015, are considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified buyers.
Investment categorized as level 2 security as disclosed in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

15


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Industry    Percentage of
Net Assets

Automobiles & Components

       3.1 %

Banks

       22.4  

Capital Goods

       2.1  

Commercial & Professional Services

       1.4  

Consumer Durables & Apparel

       1.3  

Consumer Services

       1.3  

Diversified Financials

       1.0  

Energy

       6.7  

Food & Staples Retailing

       2.8  

Food, Beverage & Tobacco

       6.1  

Household & Personal Products

       1.3  

Insurance

       4.4  

Materials

       2.7  

Media

       3.2  

Money Market Fund

       1.7  

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

       6.9  

Retailing

       3.1  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

       5.5  

Software & Services

       5.4  

Technology Hardware & Equipment

       9.1  

Telecommunication Services

       3.9  

Transportation

       3.1  

Utilities

       1.1  
            

Total Investments

       99.6  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.4  

Net Assets

       100.0 %
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

16


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.4%              

Brazil - 3.3%

     

Ambev SA - ADR (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     5,449,500         $34,495,335   

BM&FBovespa SA - Bolsa de Valores Mercadorias e Futuros (Diversified Financials)

     6,490,900         26,735,282   

Cielo SA (Software & Services)

     2,077,200         28,914,442   
        90,145,059   

Chile - 0.9%

     

Banco Santander Chile - ADR (Banks)

     1,188,700         25,925,547   

China - 16.8%

     

51job Inc. - ADR (Commercial & Professional Services)*

     1,008,500         36,306,000   

Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd., Class H (Materials)†

     6,917,000         28,099,163   

Baidu Inc. - Sponsored ADR (Software & Services)*

     206,500         41,357,820   

China Merchants Holdings International Co., Ltd. (Transportation)†

     7,479,313         33,952,990   

China Mobile Ltd. - Sponsored ADR (Telecommunication Services)

     831,800         59,415,474   

CNOOC Ltd. - Sponsored ADR (Energy)

     208,700         35,739,875   

CSR Corp., Ltd., Class H (Capital Goods)†

     12,879,283         24,836,267   

Ctrip.com International Ltd. - ADR (Retailing)*

     532,000         33,877,760   

ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. (Utilities)†

     4,114,700         29,639,210   

Jiangsu Expressway Co., Ltd., Class H (Transportation)†

     11,859,000         16,323,087   

Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     18,990,128         21,725,985   

Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Software &
Services)†

     2,983,000         61,606,250   

Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     5,494,600         11,595,174   

Want Want China Holdings Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     16,437,000         18,037,825   
        452,512,880   

Czech Republic - 1.2%

     

Komercni Banka A/S (Banks)†

     147,100         32,779,403   
     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.4%     (continued)              

Egypt - 0.5%

     

Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE - GDR, Reg S (Banks)†

     1,858,100         $12,819,647   

Hong Kong - 4.7%

     

AIA Group Ltd. (Insurance)†

     11,234,000         74,989,979   

ASM Pacific Technology Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     1,647,597         18,440,558   

Sands China Ltd. (Consumer Services)†

     8,202,100         33,544,764   
        126,975,301   

Hungary - 0.8%

     

Richter Gedeon Nyrt (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     1,296,700         21,837,549   

India - 10.1%

     

Ambuja Cements Ltd. (Materials)†

     9,282,500         33,923,504   

Axis Bank Ltd. (Banks)†

     5,681,200         50,688,381   

Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Telecommunication Services)†

     6,900,300         41,320,495   

Dabur India Ltd. (Household & Personal Products)†

     9,040,400         35,792,774   

Housing Development Finance Corp., Ltd. (Banks)†

     1,985,100         36,517,306   

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Automobiles & Components)†

     470,200         27,523,433   

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     3,231,800         47,625,878   
        273,391,771   

Indonesia - 2.8%

     

Astra International Tbk PT (Automobiles & Components)†

     41,416,500         21,846,895   

Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT (Banks)†

     47,639,438         42,651,903   

Semen Indonesia Persero Tbk PT (Materials)†

     12,075,100         11,612,404   
        76,111,202   

Italy - 1.1%

     

Tenaris SA - ADR (Energy)

     950,000         29,212,500   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

17


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.4%     (continued)         

Malaysia - 0.2%

     

Axiata Group Bhd. (Telecommunication Services)†

     2,333,802         $4,413,944   

Mexico - 4.0%

     

Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV - Sponsored ADR (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     178,300         16,134,367   

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV - ADR (Transportation)*

     230,200         33,280,014   

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Series O (Banks)

     4,362,440         24,874,609   

Grupo Televisa SAB - Sponsored ADR (Media)*

     929,000         33,824,890   
        108,113,880   

Netherlands - 0.6%

     

Nostrum Oil & Gas PLC (Energy)*†

     1,619,900         15,279,920   

Nigeria - 0.8%

     

Zenith Bank plc (Banks)

     195,681,200         20,797,273   

Peru - 1.5%

     

Credicorp Ltd. (Banks)

     259,600         39,601,980   

Poland - 1.4%

     

Bank Pekao SA (Banks)†

     709,600         36,957,693   

Russia - 4.5%

     

Lukoil OAO - Sponsored ADR (Energy)

     782,800         40,118,500   

Magnit PJSC - Sponsored GDR, Reg S (Food & Staples Retailing)†

     762,900         42,056,180   

Sberbank of Russia - Sponsored ADR
(Banks)†

     6,680,600         39,672,543   
        121,847,223   

South Africa - 7.7%

     

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)*†

     1,696,000         51,479,330   

Discovery Ltd. (Insurance)†

     4,011,400         44,389,830   

Naspers Ltd., Class N (Media)†

     336,300         52,770,948   

Sasol Ltd. (Energy)†

     757,548         30,584,731   

Standard Bank Group Ltd. (Banks)†

     1,944,700         28,510,017   
        207,734,856   
     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.4%     (continued)         

South Korea - 5.4%

     

Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. (Automobiles & Components)†

     845,638         $35,464,468   

NAVER Corp. (Software & Services)†

     20,900         12,627,131   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - GDR (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     148,150         97,408,098   
        145,499,697   

Taiwan - 10.7%

     

Advantech Co., Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     3,379,439         27,874,745   

Airtac International Group (Capital Goods)†

     1,421,000         11,616,602   

Delta Electronics Inc. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     3,633,751         21,847,116   

Hiwin Technologies Corp. (Capital Goods)†

     2,613,566         19,927,845   

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     13,933,802         41,771,649   

Largan Precision Co., Ltd. (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     372,000         37,217,410   

MediaTek Inc. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     2,485,000         31,963,878   

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)†

     20,327,637         98,137,619   
        290,356,864   

Thailand - 1.5%

     

Siam Commercial Bank pcl, Reg S (Banks)†

     8,249,700         39,790,757   

Turkey - 2.4%

     

Arcelik A/S (Consumer Durables &
Apparel)†

     6,622,300         35,647,562   

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A/S (Banks)†

     9,193,800         29,234,034   
        64,881,596   

Ukraine - 0.3%

     

MHP SA - GDR, Reg S (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     700,227         8,041,707   

United Arab Emirates - 1.1%

     

Dragon Oil plc (Energy)†

     3,175,200         30,163,815   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 89.4%    (continued)         

United Kingdom - 5.1%

     

Bank of Georgia Holdings plc (Banks)†

     626,254         $17,268,831   

Coca-Cola HBC AG - CDI (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)*†

     1,103,700         23,291,222   

Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     1,423,600         44,623,101   

SABMiller plc (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     967,200         51,605,661   
                136,788,815   

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,907,101,345)

  

     $2,411,980,879   
     
PREFERRED STOCKS - 5.7%              

Brazil - 4.2%

     

Banco Bradesco SA - ADR (Banks)

     4,085,400         43,672,926   

Cia Brasileira de Distribuicao - Sponsored ADR (Food & Staples Retailing)

     1,005,800         33,734,532   

Itau Unibanco Holding SA - Sponsored ADR (Banks)

     2,788,300         35,746,006   
        113,153,464   

Colombia - 0.8%

     

Bancolombia SA - Sponsored ADR (Banks)

     477,200         21,602,844   

South Korea - 0.7%

     

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - GDR, Reg S (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     38,700         19,437,504   

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $144,973,405)

  

     $154,193,812   
     
PARTICIPATION NOTES - 2.8%              

Qatar - 1.0%

     

Qatar National Bank, Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity Date 9/12/16 (Banks)^†

     481,643         26,199,622   

Saudi Arabia - 1.8%

     

Jarir Marketing Co., Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity Date 1/22/18 (Retailing)^†

     814,000         49,865,572   

Total Participation Notes (Cost $72,674,243)

  

     $76,065,194   
     Shares       Value   
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS - 2.0%  

Northern Institutional Funds - Prime Obligations Portfolio, 0.04% (Money Market Fund)

     53,335,940         $53,335,940   

Total Short Term Investments (Cost $53,335,940)

  

     $53,335,940   
                   

Total Investments — 99.9%

                 

(Cost $2,178,084,933)

              $2,695,575,825   

Other Assets Less Liabilities - 0.1%

              3,161,168   

Net Assets — 100.0%

              $2,698,736,993   

Summary of Abbreviations

 

ADR American Depository Receipt.

 

CDI Chess Depository Interest.

 

GDR Global Depository Receipt.

 

Reg S Security sold outside United States without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

* Non-income producing security.
^ Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities, which represent 2.8% of net assets as of April 30, 2015, are considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified buyers.
Investment categorized as level 2 security as disclosed in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

19


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

Industry    Percentage of
Net Assets

Automobiles & Components

       3.2 %

Banks

       22.4  

Capital Goods

       2.1  

Commercial & Professional Services

       1.4  

Consumer Durables & Apparel

       1.3  

Consumer Services

       1.2  

Diversified Financials

       1.0  

Energy

       6.7  

Food & Staples Retailing

       2.8  

Food, Beverage & Tobacco

       6.1  

Household & Personal Products

       1.3  

Insurance

       4.4  

Materials

       2.7  

Media

       3.2  

Money Market Fund

       2.0  

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

       6.9  

Retailing

       3.1  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

       5.5  

Software & Services

       5.4  

Technology Hardware & Equipment

       9.1  

Telecommunication Services

       3.9  

Transportation

       3.1  

Utilities

       1.1  
            

Total Investments

       99.9  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

       0.1  

Net Assets

       100.0 %
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

20


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     Shares       Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 83.1%              

Bangladesh - 6.6%

     

BRAC Bank Ltd. (Banks)†

     20,500,000         $8,676,406   

GrameenPhone Ltd. (Telecommunication Services)†

     375,000         1,560,303   

Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd. (Materials)†

     303,942         416,320   

Olympic Industries Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     6,000,162         16,256,366   

Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     4,500,009         14,223,777   
        41,133,172   

Canada - 0.0%

     

Katanga Mining Ltd. (Materials)*

     772,800         169,741   

Colombia - 5.2%

     

Cementos Argos SA - Sponsored ADR (Materials)#†

     785,000         16,675,519   

Cemex Latam Holdings SA (Materials)*

     1,625,000         9,073,258   

Ecopetrol SA - Sponsored ADR (Energy)

     152,500         2,610,800   

Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana SA - Sponsored ADR (Diversified Financials)#†

     62,500         2,053,944   

Interconexion Electrica SA ESP - ADR (Utilities)#†

     27,500         2,308,985   
        32,722,506   

Croatia - 0.4%

     

Ericsson Nikola Tesla (Technology Hardware & Equipment)†

     14,250         2,843,063   

Egypt - 4.1%

     

Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE (Banks)†

     2,325,000         16,858,301   

Global Telecom Holding SAE - GDR (Telecommunication Services)*†

     1,000,000         2,189,494   

Oriental Weavers (Consumer Durables & Apparel)†

     4,750,000         6,586,543   
        25,634,338   

Estonia - 0.5%

     

Olympic Entertainment Group AS (Consumer Services)

     1,100,000         2,371,459   

 

     Shares       Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 83.1%    (continued)              

Estonia - 0.5%     (continued)

     

Tallink Grupp AS (Transportation)

     587,234         $508,379   
        2,879,838   

Ghana - 0.7%

     

Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd. (Banks)

     3,276,549         4,587,169   

Kazakhstan - 2.5%

     

Halyk Savings Bank of Kazakhstan JSC - GDR, Reg S (Banks)†

     2,023,361         15,641,218   

Kenya - 8.7%

     

East African Breweries Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     3,000,000         10,156,586   

Equity Group Holdings Ltd. (Banks)†

     23,048,000         11,991,495   

Kenya Commercial Bank Ltd. (Banks)†

     21,000,000         13,874,166   

Nation Media Group Ltd. (Media)†

     240,040         592,772   

Safaricom Ltd. (Telecommunication
Services)†

     96,000,000         17,650,583   
        54,265,602   

Kuwait - 0.9%

     

Kuwait Projects Co. Holding KSCP (Diversified Financials)†

     2,650,000         5,784,309   

Lebanon - 0.5%

     

Bank Audi SAL - GDR, Reg S (Banks)

     470,000         3,102,000   

Mauritius - 0.3%

     

MCB Group Ltd. (Banks)

     330,000         1,925,000   

Morocco - 2.0%

     

Attijariwafa Bank (Banks)†

     165,000         6,136,493   

Maroc Telecom (Telecommunication Services)†

     475,000         6,317,057   
        12,453,550   

Netherlands - 1.3%

     

Nostrum Oil & Gas plc (Energy)*†

     900,000         8,489,369   

Nigeria - 6.9%

     

Dangote Cement plc (Materials)

     11,200,000         10,383,920   

FBN Holdings plc (Banks)

     25,049,330         1,233,585   

Guaranty Trust Bank plc (Banks)

     72,500,000         10,474,246   

Lafarge Africa plc (Materials)

     9,050,000         4,274,874   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

21


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 83.1%     (continued)              

Nigeria - 6.9%     (continued)

     

Nigerian Breweries plc (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     4,750,000         $3,747,726   

UAC of Nigeria plc (Capital Goods)

     20,500,000         4,326,633   

Zenith Bank plc (Banks)

     83,500,000         8,874,498   
        43,315,482   

Pakistan - 5.2%

     

Engro Corp., Ltd. (Materials)†

     3,099,992         9,652,648   

Engro Fertilizers Ltd. (Materials)†

     10,499,999         8,943,099   

MCB Bank Ltd. (Banks)†

     2,350,000         6,396,357   

Oil & Gas Development Co., Ltd. (Energy)†

     1,550,000         2,778,476   

Pakistan Petroleum Ltd. (Energy)†

     2,699,997         4,767,038   
        32,537,618   

Panama - 1.4%

     

Copa Holdings SA, Class A (Transportation)

     78,500         8,704,865   

Peru - 3.3%

     

Alicorp SAA (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     1,800,000         3,478,122   

Credicorp Ltd. (Banks)

     98,500         15,026,175   

Ferreycorp SAA (Capital Goods)

     2,038,896         892,139   

Union Andina de Cementos SAA (Materials)

     1,600,000         1,251,996   
        20,648,432   

Philippines - 8.2%

     

Bank of the Philippine Islands (Banks)†

     6,899,992         15,670,189   

International Container Terminal Services Inc. (Transportation)†

     2,750,000         6,796,937   

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. - Sponsored ADR (Telecommunication Services)

     47,500         3,060,900   

Universal Robina Corp. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     5,250,000         25,682,996   
        51,211,022   

Poland - 0.1%

     

Kernel Holding SA (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     60,000         580,090   

Qatar - 1.1%

     

Qatar Electricity & Water Co. QSC (Utilities)†

     66,500         3,866,405   
     Shares      Value  
COMMON STOCKS - 83.1%     (continued)              

Qatar - 1.1%     (continued)

     

Qatar National Bank SAQ (Banks)†

     56,000         $3,035,312   
        6,901,717   

Romania - 1.4%

     

Banca Transilvania (Banks)*†

     14,118,582         8,780,854   

Senegal - 0.8%

     

Sonatel (Telecommunication Services)

     125,000         5,135,321   

Slovenia - 0.8%

     

Krka dd Novo mesto (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     63,500         4,898,909   

South Korea - 3.7%

     

Kolao Holdings (Retailing)†

     1,250,000         23,363,695   

Sri Lanka - 2.1%

     

Commercial Bank of Ceylon plc (Banks)†

     8,650,000         11,164,807   

John Keells Holdings plc (Capital Goods)†

     1,450,000         2,241,214   
        13,406,021   

Tanzania - 1.4%

     

Tanzania Breweries Ltd. (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)

     1,225,000         8,912,444   

Thailand - 1.5%

     

Home Product Center pcl, Reg S (Retailing)†

     17,279,994         3,774,183   

Siam Commercial Bank pcl, Reg S (Banks)†

     1,150,000         5,546,792   
        9,320,975   

Ukraine - 1.3%

     

MHP SA - GDR, Reg S (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     691,556         7,942,126   

United Arab Emirates - 2.9%

     

Agthia Group PJSC (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)†

     7,128,193         14,886,439   

Emaar Properties PJSC (Real Estate)†

     1,500,000         3,318,323   
        18,204,762   

United Kingdom - 0.6%

     

Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences)†

     100,000         3,134,525   
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

22


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

     Shares       Value   
COMMON STOCKS - 83.1%    (continued)         

United Kingdom - 0.6%     (continued)

     

KAZ Minerals plc (Materials)*†

     120,000         $478,999   
        3,613,524   

United States - 1.3%

     

PriceSmart Inc. (Food & Staples Retailing)

     102,000         8,206,920   

Vietnam - 5.4%

     

Hoa Phat Group JSC (Materials)†

     8,500,000         17,263,469   

PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services JSC (Energy)†

     6,500,000         16,521,013   
                33,784,482   

Total Common Stocks (Cost $506,890,177)

  

     $521,100,134   
          
PREFERRED STOCKS - 1.4%              

Colombia - 1.4%

     

Bancolombia SA - Sponsored ADR (Banks)

     185,000         8,374,950   

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $10,483,542)

  

     $8,374,950   
          
PARTICIPATION NOTES - 12.7%              

Kuwait - 3.3%

     

Kuwait Projects Co. Holdings, Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity Date 1/15/18 (Diversified Financials)^†

     6,655,137         14,561,213   

National Bank of Kuwait, Issued by Deutsche Bank AG, Maturity Date 3/28/18 (Banks)^†

     2,085,000         5,944,306   
        20,505,519   

Saudi Arabia - 9.4%

     

Al Rajhi Bank, Issued by JP Morgan Structured Products, Maturity Date 12/5/19 (Banks)^†

     50,000         835,144   

Al Rajhi Bank, Issued by JP Morgan Structured Products, Maturity Date 6/6/17 (Banks)^†

     300,000         5,010,866   

Almarai Co., Ltd., Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity Date 7/31/17 (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)^†

     205,000         4,933,338   
     Shares       Value   
PARTICIPATION NOTES - 12.7%     (continued)         

Saudi Arabia - 9.4%     (continued)

     

Herfy Food Services Co., Issued by JP Morgan Structured Products, Maturity Date 1/14/19 (Consumer Services)^†

     407,500         $13,202,120   

Jarir Marketing Co., Issued by HSBC Bank plc, Maturity Date 1/22/18 (Retailing)^†

     372,500         22,819,319   

Saudi British Bank, Issued by JP Morgan Structured Products, Maturity Date 12/2/19 (Banks)^†

     1,230,000         12,053,197   

Saudi British Bank, Issued by JP Morgan Structured Products, Maturity Date 12/2/19 (Banks)^†

     45,000         440,970   
                59,294,954   

Total Participation Notes (Cost $81,158,182)

  

     $79,800,473   
          
     Shares       Value   
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS - 3.1%              

Northern Institutional Funds - Prime Obligations Portfolio, 0.04% (Money Market Fund)

     19,590,504         $19,590,504   

Total Short Term Investments (Cost $19,590,504)

  

     $19,590,504   
                      

Total Investments — 100.3%

                 

(Cost $618,122,405)

              $628,866,061   

Liabilities Less Other Assets - (0.3)%

              (1,974,736

Net Assets — 100.0%

              $626,891,325   

Summary of Abbreviations

 

ADR American Depository Receipt.

 

GDR Global Depository Receipt.

 

Reg S Security sold outside United States without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

# Security valued at fair value as determined in good faith under policies and procedures established by and under the supervision of the Portfolio’s Board of Directors as disclosed in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.
* Non-income producing security.
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

23


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

April 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

^ Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities, which represent 12.7% of net assets as of April 30, 2015, are considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified buyers.
Investment categorized as level 2 security as disclosed in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Industry    Percentage of
Net Assets

Banks

       32.2 %

Capital Goods

       1.2  

Consumer Durables & Apparel

       1.0  

Consumer Services

       2.5  

Diversified Financials

       3.6  

Energy

       5.6  

Food & Staples Retailing

       1.3  

Food, Beverage & Tobacco

       15.4  

Materials

       12.5  

Media

       0.1  

Money Market Fund

       3.1  

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

       3.5  

Real Estate

       0.5  

Retailing

       8.0  

Technology Hardware & Equipment

       0.5  

Telecommunication Services

       5.7  

Transportation

       2.6  

Utilities

       1.0  
            

Total Investments

       100.3  

Liabilities Less Other Assets

       (0.3 )

Net Assets

       100.0 %
 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

24


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     

Global

Equity

Portfolio

    

International

Equity

Portfolio

    

International

Small

Companies

Portfolio

 

 

ASSETS:

            

Investments (cost $704,209,674, $3,956,080,632 and $84,500,446, respectively)

     $892,750,415         $5,057,488,009         $102,187,656   

Dividends and interest receivable

     1,765,717         14,519,961         236,903   

Foreign currency (cost $2,660, $17,093 and $59,043, respectively)

     2,945         16,819         60,842   

Receivable for investments sold

     2,464,973         5,497           

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     207,405         7,239,453         410,784   

Tax reclaim receivable

     558,499         7,447,286         95,772   

Prepaid expenses

     20,573         41,079         41,138   

Total Assets

     897,770,527         5,086,758,104         103,033,095   

 

LIABILITIES:

            

Payable to Investment Adviser

     (577,006      (2,851,511      (103,666

Payable for investments purchased

     (15,359,861      (29,193,811      (250,889

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

     (115,084      (37,841,981      (128,336

Payable for distribution fees

             (218,187      (27,822

Deferred capital gains tax

                     (36,249

Other liabilities

     (222,739      (1,228,972      (69,481

Total Liabilities

     (16,274,690      (71,334,462      (616,443

Net Assets

     $881,495,837         $5,015,423,642         $102,416,652   

 

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS:

            

Paid in capital

     $673,148,393         $3,947,796,971         $84,088,925   

Accumulated undistributed net investment income

     2,108,437         21,105,537         6,668   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions

     17,718,013         (54,613,409      679,601   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments and on assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     188,520,994         1,101,134,543         17,641,458   

Net Assets

     $881,495,837         $5,015,423,642         $102,416,652   

Net Assets:

            

Institutional Class

     $811,772,285         $4,568,279,964         $34,667,288   

Investor Class

             447,143,678         67,749,364   

Advisor Class

     69,723,552                   

Total Shares Outstanding:

            

Institutional Class (400,000,000, 400,000,000 and 400,000,000, respectively, $.001 par value shares authorized)

     24,672,961         237,431,209         2,447,432   

Investor Class ( — , 400,000,000 and 400,000,000, respectively, $.001 par value shares authorized)

             23,286,001         4,798,149   

Advisor Class (400,000,000, — and — , respectively, $.001 par value shares authorized)

     2,120,873                   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share:

            

Institutional Class

     $32.90         $19.24         $14.16   

Investor Class

             19.20         14.12   

Advisor Class

     32.87                   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

25


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     

Institutional

Emerging

Markets

Portfolio

    

Emerging

Markets

Portfolio

    

Frontier

Emerging

Markets

Portfolio

 

 

ASSETS:

            

Investments (cost $1,933,088,425, $2,178,084,933 and $618,122,405, respectively)

     $2,121,490,255         $2,695,575,825         $628,866,061   

Dividends and interest receivable

     4,157,037         5,233,255         3,242,449   

Foreign currency (cost $2,056,824, $3,078,492 and $2,604,155, respectively)

     2,102,610         3,155,669         2,595,821   

Receivable for investments sold

     904,382         1,111,558         1,444,962   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     12,404,375         4,894,609         2,353,863   

Tax reclaim receivable

     125,004         52,978         110,953   

Prepaid expenses

     78,762         44,859         40,766   

Total Assets

     2,141,262,425         2,710,068,753         638,654,875   

 

LIABILITIES:

            

Payable to Investment Adviser

     (1,964,428      (2,464,382      (729,815

Payable for investments purchased

     (6,058,380      (5,016,501      (5,830,437

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

     (503,860      (2,228,135      (3,209,629

Payable for distribution fees

                     (19,680

Deferred capital gains tax

     (1,885,118              (1,676,894

Other liabilities

     (580,301      (1,622,742      (297,095

Total Liabilities

     (10,992,087      (11,331,760      (11,763,550

Net Assets

     $2,130,270,338         $2,698,736,993         $626,891,325   

 

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS:

            

Paid in capital

     $1,987,216,996         $2,153,526,155         $607,673,971   

Accumulated undistributed net investment income

     2,799,478         1,032,164         3,647,424   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions

     (46,349,985      26,521,365         6,504,889   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments and on assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     186,603,849         517,657,309         9,065,041   

Net Assets

     $2,130,270,338         $2,698,736,993         $626,891,325   

 

Net Assets:

            

Institutional Class

     $—         $—         $570,950,868   

Class I

     1,905,536,222                   

Class II

     224,734,116                   

Investor Class

                     55,940,457   

Advisor Class

             2,698,736,993           

Total Shares Outstanding:

            

Institutional Class ( — , — and 400,000,000, respectively, $.001 par value shares authorized)

                     64,035,851   

Class I (500,000,000, — and — respectively, $.001 par value shares authorized)

     103,140,874                   

Class II (400,000,000, — and — respectively, $.001 par value shares authorized)

     21,249,037                   

Investor Class ( — , — and 400,000,000, respectively, $.001 par value shares authorized)

                     6,325,048   

Advisor Class ( — , 500,000,000 and — , respectively, $.001 par value shares authorized)

             55,669,976           

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share:

            

Institutional Class

     $—         $—         $8.92   

Class I

     18.48                   

Class II

     10.58                   

Investor Class

                     8.84   

Advisor Class

             48.48           

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

26


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Statements of Operations

Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     

Global

Equity

Portfolio

    

International

Equity

Portfolio

    

International

Small

Companies

Portfolio

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

            

Interest

     $27         $311         $—   

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $351,121, $5,324,463 and $71,057, respectively)

     5,589,908         41,650,370         680,117   

Total investment income

     5,589,935         41,650,681         680,117   
     

EXPENSES

            

Investment advisory fees (Note 3)

     3,255,120         15,715,657         574,892   

Administration fees (Note 3)

     133,589         551,926         18,397   

Distribution fees, Investor Class

             477,460         77,062   

Custody and accounting fees (Note 3)

     82,873         461,080         27,987   

Directors’ fees and expenses (Note 3)

     17,785         97,024         2,048   

Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 3)

     24,422         66,883         22,054   

Printing and postage fees

     17,361         173,053         5,498   

State registration filing fees

     36,293         86,387         24,235   

Professional fees

     35,385         121,991         16,678   

Shareholder servicing fees (Note 3)

     187,579         1,296,339         58,071   

Compliance officers’ fees and expenses (Note 3)

     8,628         30,313         4,282   

Other fees and expenses

     15,837         74,104         4,186   

Total Expenses

     3,814,872         19,152,217         835,390   

Less Waiver of investment advisory fee and/or reimbursement of other operating expenses (Note 3)

                     (160,440

Net expenses

     3,814,872         19,152,217         674,950   

Net investment income

     1,775,063         22,498,464         5,167   

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

            

Net realized gain (loss)

            

Investment transactions

     21,224,675         (13,548,733      1,647,076   

Foreign currency transactions

     2,938         (463,327      (11,896

Net realized gain (loss)

     21,227,613         (14,012,060      1,635,180   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

            

Investments (net of increase in deferred foreign taxes of $ -, $ - and $37,543, respectively)

     9,438,815         271,167,361         3,040,040   

Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     (34,737      62,737         (2,147

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     9,404,078         271,230,098         3,037,893   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     30,631,691         257,218,038         4,673,073   
     

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

     $32,406,754         $279,716,502         $4,678,240   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

27


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Statements of Operations (continued)

Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

     

Institutional

Emerging

Markets

Portfolio

    

Emerging

Markets

Portfolio

    

Frontier

Emerging

Markets

Portfolio

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

            

Interest

     $—         $—         $19   

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $2,282,153, $3,010,492 and $700,626, respectively)

     14,434,826         18,791,956         9,292,132   

Total investment income

     14,434,826         18,791,956         9,292,151   
     

EXPENSES

            

Investment advisory fees (Note 3)

     10,417,298         13,929,993         4,130,467   

Administration fees (Note 3)

     264,363         335,210         97,421   

Distribution fees, Investor Class

                     77,506   

Custody and accounting fees (Note 3)

     403,436         552,403         376,353   

Directors’ fees and expenses (Note 3)

     40,242         55,793         12,396   

Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 3)

     30,606         55,732         33,373   

Printing and postage fees

     46,256         137,819         19,576   

State registration filing fees

     79,533         63,307         47,376   

Professional fees

     71,127         92,150         31,916   

Shareholder servicing fees (Note 3)

     390,403         2,544,110         116,834   

Compliance officers’ fees and expenses (Note 3)

     14,647         19,094         7,148   

Other fees and expenses

     30,155         42,759         12,026   

Total Expenses

     11,788,066         17,828,370         4,962,392   

Less Waiver of investment advisory fee and/or reimbursement of other operating expenses (Note 3)

     (121,752                

Net expenses

     11,666,314         17,828,370         4,962,392   

Net investment income

     2,768,512         963,586         4,329,759   

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

            

Net realized gain (loss)

            

Investment transactions

     (3,816,930      31,439,141         8,450,711   

Foreign currency transactions

     (645,468      (679,741      (594,143

Net realized gain (loss)

     (4,462,398      30,759,400         7,856,568   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

            

Investments (net of increase/(decrease) in deferred foreign taxes of $(1,708,118), $(2,163,184) and $1,310,975, respectively)

     17,545,391         (28,773,802      (35,904,076

Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     226,530         129,409         17,952   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     17,771,921         (28,644,393      (35,886,124

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     13,309,523         2,115,007         (28,029,556
     

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

     $16,078,035         $3,078,593         $ (23,699,797) 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

28


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) and the Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2014

 

 

    

Global Equity

Portfolio

   

International Equity

Portfolio

 
    

April 30,

2015

    October 31,
2014
   

April 30,

2015

   

October 31,

2014

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

          

Net investment income

     $1,775,063        $2,956,657        $22,498,464        $40,100,077   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

     21,227,613        29,540,576        (14,012,060     (8,361,902

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     9,404,078        48,698,598        271,230,098        78,260,538   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     32,406,754        81,195,831        279,716,502        109,998,713   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

          

Net investment income

          

Institutional Class

     (2,554,143     (2,478,096     (38,846,985     (27,911,956

Investor Class

                   (2,382,379     (1,837,137

Advisor Class

     (81,209     (210,054              

Net realized gain from investments and foreign-currency related transactions

          

Institutional Class

     (26,960,277     (2,347,678              

Advisor Class

     (3,050,849     (367,945              

Total distributions to shareholders

     (32,646,478     (5,403,773     (41,229,364     (29,749,093

TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK(1)

          

Proceeds from sale of shares

          

Institutional Class

     116,189,209        194,571,247        878,122,599        1,013,583,093   

Investor Class

                   103,003,084        114,060,149   

Advisor Class

     5,696,822        14,896,685                 

Net Asset Value of shares issued to shareholders upon reinvestment of dividends

          

Institutional Class

     29,197,676        4,590,321        34,920,910        23,823,998   

Investor Class

                   2,200,814        1,631,420   

Advisor Class

     3,034,341        565,236                 

Cost of shares redeemed

          

Institutional Class

     (65,815,478     (78,234,287     (382,075,673     (756,833,391

Investor Class

                   (121,754,872     (91,523,163

Advisor Class

     (19,970,679     (28,952,896              

Net increase in net assets from portfolio share transactions

     68,331,891        107,436,306        514,416,862        304,742,106   

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

     68,092,167        183,228,364        752,904,000        384,991,726   

NET ASSETS

          

At beginning of period

     813,403,670        630,175,306        4,262,519,642        3,877,527,916   

At end of period

   $ 881,495,837      $ 813,403,670      $ 5,015,423,642      $ 4,262,519,642   

Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income Included in Net Assets

     $2,108,437        $2,968,726        $21,105,537        $39,836,437   

(1) CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:

        

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS:

        

Shares sold

     3,601,221        6,335,104        47,610,885        56,472,269   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

     927,499        151,246        1,969,594        1,349,802   

Shares redeemed

     (2,044,709     (2,503,164     (20,835,530     (42,119,099

Net increase

     2,484,011        3,983,186        28,744,949        15,702,972   

INVESTOR CLASS:

        

Shares sold

                   5,591,323        6,400,291   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

                   124,129        92,536   

Shares redeemed

                   (6,725,300     (5,097,694

Net increase (decrease)

                   (1,009,848     1,395,133   

ADVISOR CLASS:

        

Shares sold

     176,991        480,502                 

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

     96,389        18,618                 

Shares redeemed

     (628,554     (938,861              

Net decrease

     (355,174     (439,741              

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

29


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) and the Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2014

 

 

     International Small Companies
Portfolio
    Institutional Emerging Markets
Portfolio
 
    

April 30,

2015

   

October 31,

2014

   

April 30,

2015

   

October 31,

2014

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

          

Net investment income

     $5,167        $374,880        $2,768,512        $15,470,194   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

     1,635,180        1,249,872        (4,462,398     10,413,623   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     3,037,893        (539,872     17,771,921        18,687,800   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     4,678,240        1,084,880        16,078,035        44,571,617   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

          

Net investment income

          

Institutional Class

     (106,497     (122,479              

Class I

                   (11,022,311     (8,999,751

Class II

                   (2,386,064       

Investor Class

     (121,488     (189,439              

Net realized gain from investments and foreign-currency related transactions

          

Institutional Class

     (559,248     (1,655,159              

Investor Class

     (1,082,713     (3,131,178              

Total distributions to shareholders

     (1,869,946     (5,098,255     (13,408,375     (8,999,751

TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK(1)

          

Proceeds from sale of shares

          

Institutional Class

     13,645,028        14,836,762                 

Class I

                   509,773,027        677,867,908   

Class II*

                   38,856,231        192,807,410   

Investor Class

     16,931,732        29,466,501                 

Net Asset Value of shares issued to shareholders upon reinvestment of dividends

          

Institutional Class

     639,159        1,490,116                 

Class I

                   9,761,484        7,692,156   

Class II*

                   1,994,611          

Investor Class

     1,186,338        3,275,875                 

Cost of shares redeemed

          

Institutional Class

     (9,102,161     (12,511,817              

Class I

                   (138,455,379     (241,309,959

Class II*

                   (10,000,000  

Investor Class

     (15,231,456     (20,069,633              

Net increase in net assets from portfolio share transactions

     8,068,640        16,487,804        411,929,974        637,057,515   

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

     10,876,934        12,474,429        414,599,634        672,629,381   

NET ASSETS

          

At beginning of period

     91,539,718        79,065,289        1,715,670,704        1,043,041,323   

At end of period

   $ 102,416,652      $ 91,539,718      $ 2,130,270,338      $ 1,715,670,704   

Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income Included in Net Assets

     $6,668        $229,486        $2,799,478        $13,439,341   

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:

        

(1) INSTITUTIONAL CLASS:

        

Shares sold

     1,006,284        1,039,529                 

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

     49,242        109,487                 

Shares redeemed

     (681,720     (887,997              

Net increase

     373,806        261,019                 

CLASS I:

        

Shares sold

                   28,610,452        37,002,702   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

                   565,883        440,055   

Shares redeemed

                   (7,825,277     (13,376,119

Net increase

                   21,351,058        24,066,638   

CLASS II:*

        

Shares sold

                   3,842,786        18,181,475   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

                   202,293          

Shares redeemed

                   (977,517       

Net increase

                   3,067,562        18,181,475   

INVESTOR CLASS:

        

Shares sold

     1,293,436        2,066,286                 

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

     91,609        240,873                 

Shares redeemed

     (1,140,262     (1,410,437              

Net increase

     244,783        896,722                 

 

* For the period from March 5, 2014 (commencement of class operations) through October 31, 2014.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

30


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) and the Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2014

 

 

    

Emerging Markets

Portfolio

   

Frontier Emerging Markets

Portfolio

 
    

April 30,

2015

   

October 31,

2014

   

April 30,

2015

   

October 31,

2014

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

          

Net investment income

     $963,586        $22,455,192        $4,329,759        $4,016,750   

Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions

     30,759,400        100,672,133        7,856,568        17,648,853   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     (28,644,393     (40,084,999     (35,886,124     17,573,698   

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     3,078,593        83,042,326        (23,699,797     39,239,301   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

          

Net investment income

          

Institutional Class

                   (2,796,658     (777,464

Investor Class

                   (138,589     (28,324

Advisor Class

     (19,237,520     (16,977,080              

Net realized gain from investments and foreign-currency related transactions

          

Institutional Class

                   (5,342,306       

Investor Class

                   (749,018       

Advisor Class

     (96,450,985     (54,210,866              

Total distributions to shareholders

     (115,688,505     (71,187,946     (9,026,571     (805,788

TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK(1)

          

Proceeds from sale of shares

          

Institutional Class

                   202,965,129        233,577,907   

Investor Class

                   19,539,117        76,061,236   

Advisor Class

     538,897,735        838,375,319                 

Net Asset Value of shares issued to shareholders upon reinvestment of dividends

          

Institutional Class

                   6,425,116        442,478   

Investor Class

                   723,315        27,636   

Advisor Class

     107,333,549        63,185,505                 

Cost of shares redeemed

          

Institutional Class

                   (85,162,672     (66,783,481

Investor Class

                   (38,422,710     (21,700,564

Advisor Class

     (380,401,440     (480,444,492              

Net increase in net assets from portfolio share transactions

     265,829,844        421,116,332        106,067,295        221,625,212   

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

     153,219,932        432,970,712        73,340,927        260,058,725   

NET ASSETS

          

At beginning of period

     2,545,517,061        2,112,546,349        553,550,398        293,491,673   

At end of period

   $ 2,698,736,993      $ 2,545,517,061      $ 626,891,325      $ 553,550,398   

Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income Included in Net Assets

     $1,032,164        $19,306,098        $3,647,424        $2,252,912   

(1) CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:

        

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS:

        

Shares sold

                   23,038,972        24,968,772   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

                   746,239        52,426   

Shares redeemed

                   (9,734,760     (7,168,264

Net increase

                   14,050,451        17,852,934   

INVESTOR CLASS:

        

Shares sold

                   2,219,417        8,083,195   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

                   84,499        3,294   

Shares redeemed

                   (4,344,896     (2,312,389

Net increase (decrease)

                   (2,040,980     5,774,100   

ADVISOR CLASS:

        

Shares sold

     11,401,415        16,822,043                 

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends

     2,374,110        1,324,366                 

Shares redeemed

     (8,136,067     (9,737,841              

Net increase

     5,639,458        8,408,568                 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

31


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Financial Highlights

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) or the Fiscal Year or Period Ended October 31

 

 

Global Equity Portfolio — Institutional Class                                    
Per Share Data   April 30,
2015
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010(1)  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $32.98        $29.84        $25.05        $23.38        $23.52        $20.43   

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

           

Net investment income

    0.07 (2)      0.13 (2)      0.17 (2)      0.18 (2)      0.12 (2)      0.10   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    1.20        3.27        4.74        1.81        (0.04     3.04   

Net increase from investment operations

    1.27        3.40        4.91        1.99        0.08        3.14   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

           

Net investment income

    (0.12     (0.13     (0.12     (0.10     (0.06     (0.05

Net realized gain from investments

    (1.23     (0.13            (0.22     (0.16       

Total distributions

    (1.35     (0.26     (0.12     (0.32     (0.22     (0.05

Net asset value, end of period

    $32.90        $32.98        $29.84        $25.05        $23.38        $23.52   

Total Return

    3.96 %(A)      11.47     19.66     8.73     0.27     15.39 %(A) 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $811,772        $731,897        $543,293        $226,489        $147,108        $104,276   

Expenses to average net assets

    0.91 %(B)      0.97     0.99     1.12     1.16     1.27 %(B) 

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

    0.91 %(B)      0.95     0.95     0.95     1.00     1.00 %(B) 

Net investment income to average net assets

    0.47 %(B)      0.43     0.62     0.72     0.48     0.43 %(B) 

Portfolio turnover rate

    18 %(A)      30     13     32     40     35 %(A) 
(1) For the period from November 3, 2009 (commencement of class operations) through October 31, 2010.
(2) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

 

Global Equity Portfolio — Advisor Class                                    
Per Share Data   April 30,
2015
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $32.92        $29.80        $25.02        $23.36        $23.48        $20.27   

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

           

Net investment income

    0.02 (1)      0.05 (1)      0.09 (1)      0.11 (1)      0.07 (1)      0.10   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    1.19        3.27        4.74        1.82        (0.02     3.15   

Net increase from investment operations

    1.21        3.32        4.83        1.93        0.05        3.25   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

           

Net investment income

    (0.03     (0.07     (0.05     (0.05     (0.01     (0.04

Net realized gain from investments

    (1.23     (0.13            (0.22     (0.16       

Total distributions

    (1.26     (0.20     (0.05     (0.27     (0.17     (0.04

Net asset value, end of period

    $32.87        $32.92        $29.80        $25.02        $23.36        $23.48   

Total Return

    3.83 %(A)      11.19     19.33     8.43     0.18     16.07

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $69,724        $81,507        $86,882        $68,749        $58,320        $46,450   

Expenses to average net assets

    1.19 %(B)      1.20     1.25     1.35     1.30     1.41

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

    1.19 %(B)      1.20     1.24     1.23     1.18     1.17

Net investment income to average net assets

    0.14 %(B)      0.16     0.32     0.45     0.31     0.31

Portfolio turnover rate

    18 %(A)      30     13     32     40     35
(1) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

32


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Financial Highlights (continued)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) or the Fiscal Year Ended October 31

 

 

International Equity Portfolio — Institutional Class                                    
Per Share Data   April 30,
2015
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $18.30        $17.97        $15.15        $14.06        $14.51        $12.04   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

           

Net investment income

    0.10 (1)      0.18 (1)      0.17 (1)      0.18 (1)      0.17 (1)      0.08   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    1.02        0.29        2.78        1.06        (0.56     2.49   

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    1.12        0.47        2.95        1.24        (0.39     2.57   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

           

Net investment income

    (0.18     (0.14     (0.13     (0.11     (0.06     (0.10

Net realized gain from investments

                         (0.04              

Total distributions

    (0.18     (0.14     (0.13     (0.15     (0.06     (0.10

Net asset value, end of period

    $19.24        $18.30        $17.97        $15.15        $14.06        $14.51   

Total Return

    6.15 %(A)      2.65     19.58     9.00     (2.72 )%      21.50

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $4,568,280        $3,819,491        $3,467,793        $1,798,940        $969,139        $493,350   

Expenses to average net assets

    0.85 %(B)      0.87     0.87     0.87     0.86     0.93

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

    0.85 %(B)      0.87     0.87     0.87     0.86     0.93

Net investment income to average net assets

    1.05 %(B)      1.01     1.06     1.26     1.13     0.91

Portfolio turnover rate

    7 %(A)      10     20     14     15     33
(1) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

 

International Equity Portfolio — Investor Class                                    
Per Share Data   April 30,
2015
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $18.23        $17.89        $15.09        $14.01        $14.47        $12.02   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

           

Net investment income

    0.07 (1)      0.13 (1)      0.12 (1)      0.12 (1)      0.12 (1)      0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    1.02        0.29        2.77        1.06        (0.56     2.44   

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    1.09        0.42        2.89        1.18        (0.44     2.53   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

           

Net investment income

    (0.12     (0.08     (0.09     (0.06     (0.02     (0.08

Net realized gain from investments

                         (0.04              

Total distributions

    (0.12     (0.08     (0.09     (0.10     (0.02     (0.08

Net asset value, end of period

    $19.20        $18.23        $17.89        $15.09        $14.01        $14.47   

Total Return

    5.96 %(A)      2.36     19.19     8.51     (3.02 )%      21.18

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $447,144        $443,029        $409,735        $275,468        $237,494        $116,465   

Expenses to average net assets

    1.16 %(B)      1.17     1.20     1.24     1.26     1.32

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

    1.16 %(B)      1.17     1.20     1.24     1.25     1.25

Net investment income to average net assets

    0.75 %(B)      0.72     0.76     0.87     0.79     0.69

Portfolio turnover rate

    7 %(A)      10     20     14     15     33
(1) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

33


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Financial Highlights (continued)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) or the Fiscal Year or Period Ended October 31

 

 

International Small Companies Portfolio — Institutional Class                               
Per Share Data    April 30,
2015
    2014     2013     2012     2011(1)  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 13.85      $ 14.47      $ 11.45      $ 10.53      $ 12.28   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

          

Net investment income

     0.01 (2)      0.08 (2)      0.07 (2)      0.16 (2)      0.03 (2) 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

     0.61        0.23        3.09        0.85        (1.78

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

     0.62        0.31        3.16        1.01        (1.75

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

          

Net investment income

     (0.05     (0.06     (0.14     (0.09       

Net realized gain from investments

     (0.26     (0.87                     

Total distributions

     (0.31     (0.93     (0.14     (0.09       

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 14.16      $ 13.85      $ 14.47      $ 11.45      $ 10.53   

Total Return

     4.63 %(A)      2.28     27.88     9.74     (14.25 )%(A) 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

          

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

   $ 34,667      $ 28,711      $ 26,236      $ 33,515      $ 14,000   

Expenses to average net assets

     1.65 %(B)      1.59     1.68     1.64     2.70 %(B) 

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

     1.30 %(B)      1.30     1.39     1.50     1.50 %(B) 

Net investment income to average net assets

     0.20 %(B)      0.58     0.57     1.49     0.89 %(B) 

Portfolio turnover rate

     15 %(A)      36     97     10     12 %(A) 
(1) For the period from June 30, 2011 (commencement of class operations) through October 31, 2011.
(2) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

 

International Small Companies Portfolio — Investor Class                                     
Per Share Data    April 30,
2015
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 13.80      $ 14.45      $ 11.43      $ 10.51      $ 10.82      $ 8.92   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

            

Net investment income (loss)

     (0.01 )(1)      0.05 (1)      0.08 (1)      0.11 (1)      0.15 (1)      0.05   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

     0.62        0.22        3.05        0.88        (0.43     1.90   

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

     0.61        0.27        3.13        0.99        (0.28     1.95   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

            

Net investment income

     (0.03     (0.05     (0.11     (0.07     (0.03     (0.05

Net realized gain from investments

     (0.26     (0.87                            

Total distributions

     (0.29     (0.92     (0.11     (0.07     (0.03     (0.05

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 14.12      $ 13.80      $ 14.45      $ 11.43      $ 10.51      $ 10.82   

Total Return

     4.56 %(A)      1.97     27.63     9.51     (2.67 )%      21.93

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

            

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

   $ 67,749      $ 62,828      $ 52,830      $ 31,249      $ 30,142      $ 13,972   

Expenses to average net assets

     1.90 %(B)      1.88     1.99     2.02     2.15     3.14

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

     1.55 %(B)      1.55     1.60     1.75     1.75     1.75

Net investment income (loss) to average net assets

     (0.08 )%(B)      0.32     0.60     1.07     1.29     0.76

Portfolio turnover rate

     15 %(A)      36     97     10     12     11
(1) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

34


Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Financial Highlights (continued)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) or the Fiscal Year or Period Ended October 31

 

 

 

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio — Class I                                    
Per Share Data  

April 30,

2015

    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $18.60        $18.07        $16.56        $15.07        $16.70        $13.29   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

           

Net investment income

    0.03 (1)      0.20 (1)      0.18 (1)      0.16 (1)      0.15 (1)      0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    (0.02     0.48        1.45        1.49        (1.74     3.41   

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    0.01        0.68        1.63        1.65        (1.59     3.50   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

           

Net investment income

    (0.13     (0.15     (0.12     (0.16     (0.04     (0.09

Total distributions

    (0.13     (0.15     (0.12     (0.16     (0.04     (0.09

Net asset value, end of period

    $18.48        $18.60        $18.07        $16.56        $15.07        $16.70   

Total Return

    0.02 %(A)      3.80     9.85     11.17     (9.58 )%      26.50

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $1,905,536        $1,521,194        $1,043,041        $463,791        $328,713        $375,374   

Expenses to average net assets

    1.29 %(B)      1.31     1.33     1.36     1.39     1.48

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

    1.29 %(B)      1.30     1.30     1.30     1.30     1.30

Net investment income to average net assets

    0.29 %(B)      1.12     1.06     1.00     0.93     0.74

Portfolio turnover rate

    15 %(A)      26     18     42     53     34
(1) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

 

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio — Class II            
Per Share Data  

April 30,

2015

    2014(1)  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $10.70        $10.00   

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

   

Net investment income

    0.02 (2)      0.10 (2) 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    (0.01     0.60   

Net increase from investment operations

    0.01        0.70   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

   

Net investment income

    (0.13       

Total distributions

    (0.13       

Net asset value, end of period

    $10.58        $10.70   

Total Return

    0.20 %(A)      7.00 %(A) 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

   

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $224,734        $194,477   

Expenses to average net assets

    1.27 %(B)      1.30 %(B) 

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

    1.14 %(B)      1.14 %(B) 

Net investment income to average net assets

    0.43 %(B)      1.36 %(B) 

Portfolio turnover rate

    15 %(A)      26 %(A) 
(1) For the period from March 5, 2014 (commencement of class operations) through October 31, 2014.
(2) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Financial Highlights (continued)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) or the Fiscal Year Ended October 31

 

 

Emerging Markets Portfolio — Advisor Class                                    
Per Share Data  

April. 30,

2015

    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $50.88        $50.76        $49.54        $45.18        $50.09        $39.64   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

           

Net investment income

    0.02 (1)      0.49 (1)      0.40 (1)      0.37 (1)      0.31 (1)      0.25   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    (0.10     1.32        4.33        4.34        (5.02     10.33   

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    (0.08     1.81        4.73        4.71        (4.71     10.58   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

           

Net investment income

    (0.39     (0.40     (0.36     (0.35     (0.20     (0.13

Net realized gain from investments

    (1.93     (1.29     (3.15                     

Total distributions

    (2.32     (1.69     (3.51     (0.35     (0.20     (0.13

Net asset value, end of period

    $48.48        $50.88        $50.76        $49.54        $45.18        $50.09   

Total Return

    0.17 %(A)      3.79     9.93     10.60     (9.48 )%      26.77

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $2,698,737        $2,545,517        $2,112,546        $1,715,068        $1,693,650        $2,062,255   

Expenses to average net assets

    1.45 %(B)      1.45     1.47     1.49     1.50     1.58

Net investment income to average net assets

    0.08 %(B)      0.98     0.83     0.80     0.63     0.60

Portfolio turnover rate

    17 %(A)      28     26     36     33     25
(1) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Financial Highlights (continued)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2015 (unaudited) or the Fiscal Year or Period Ended October 31

 

 

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio — Institutional Class                                    
Per Share Data  

April 30,

2015

    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.50        $8.46        $7.12        $6.57        $7.88        $6.29   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

           

Net investment income

    0.07 (1)      0.09 (1)      0.07 (1)      0.07 (1)      0.07 (1)      0.03   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    (0.50     0.97        1.35        0.51        (1.37     1.65   

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    (0.43     1.06        1.42        0.58        (1.30     1.68   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

           

Net investment income

    (0.05     (0.02     (0.08     (0.03     (0.01     (0.09

Net realized gain from investments

    (0.10                                   

Total distributions

    (0.15     (0.02     (0.08     (0.03     (0.01     (0.09

Net asset value, end of period

    $8.92        $9.50        $8.46        $7.12        $6.57        $7.88   

Total Return

    (4.42 )%(A)      12.60     20.20     8.93     (16.49 )%      27.04

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $570,951        $474,838        $271,728        $81,568        $101,666        $70,645   

Expenses to average net assets

    1.76 %(B)      1.77     1.80     1.95     1.87     2.37

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

    1.76 %(B)      1.77     1.80     1.95     1.87     2.00

Net investment income (loss) to average net assets

    1.65 %(B)      1.01     0.94     1.03     0.89     (0.08 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    22 %(A)      37     24     72     23     17
(1) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

 

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio — Investor Class                              
Per Share Data  

April 30,

2015

    2014     2013     2012     2011(1)  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.41        $8.40        $7.08        $6.55        $7.84   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

         

Net investment income

    0.04 (2)      0.04 (2)      0.05 (2)      0.10 (2)      0.04 (2) 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency-related transactions

    (0.49     0.98        1.34        0.45        (1.33

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    (0.45     1.02        1.39        0.55        (1.29

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

         

Net investment income

    (0.02     (0.01     (0.07     (0.02       

Net realized gain from investments

    (0.10                            

Total Distributions

    (0.12     (0.01     (0.07     (0.02       

Net asset value, end of period

    $8.84        $9.41        $8.40        $7.08        $6.55   

Total Return

    (4.73 )%(A)      12.15     19.83     8.49     (16.45 )%(A) 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

         

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

    $55,940        $78,712        $21,763        $3,003        $1,225   

Expenses to average net assets

    2.17 %(B)      2.22     2.64     4.71     9.06 %(B) 

Expenses to average net assets (net of fees waived/reimbursed)

    2.17 %(B)      2.22     2.25     2.25     2.25 %(B) 

Net investment income to average net assets

    0.97 %(B)      0.38     0.66     1.47     0.75 %(B) 

Portfolio turnover rate

    22 %(A)      37     24     72     23 %(A) 
(1) For the period from December 31, 2010 (commencement of class operations) through October 31, 2011.
(2) Net investment income per share was calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
(A) Not Annualized.
(B) Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

1. Organization

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc. (the “Fund”) was organized as a Maryland corporation on July 31, 1996, and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund currently has six separate diversified Portfolios, all of which were active as of April 30, 2015 (individually, a “Portfolio”, collectively, the “Portfolios”). The Fund is managed by Harding Loevner LP (the “Investment Adviser”).

 

Portfolio

Inception Date

Investment Objective

Global Equity Portfolio

(“Global Equity”)

Institutional Class: November 3, 2009

Advisor Class: December 1, 1996

to seek long-term capital appreciation through investments in equity securities of companies based both inside and outside the United States

International Equity Portfolio

(“International Equity”)

Institutional Class: May 11, 1994*

Investor Class: September 30, 2005

to seek long-term capital appreciation through investments in equity securities of companies based outside the United States

International Small Companies Portfolio

(“International Small Companies”)

Institutional Class: June 30, 2011

Investor Class: March 26, 2007

to seek long-term capital appreciation through investments in equity securities of small companies based outside the United States

Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio

(“Institutional Emerging Markets”)

Class I: October 17, 2005

Class II: March 5, 2014

to seek long-term capital appreciation through investments in equity securities of companies based in emerging markets

Emerging Markets Portfolio

(“Emerging Markets”)

Advisor Class: November 9, 1998 to seek long-term capital appreciation through investments in equity securities of companies based in emerging markets

Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolio

(“Frontier Emerging Markets”)

Institutional Class: May 27, 2008

Investor Class: December 31, 2010

to seek long-term capital appreciation through investments in equity securities of companies based in frontier and smaller emerging markets

* International Equity is the successor to the HLM International Equity Portfolio of AMT Capital Fund, Inc., pursuant to a reorganization that took place on October 31, 1996. Information for periods prior to October 31, 1996 is historical information for the predecessor portfolio.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting policies of the Fund are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund follows accounting and reporting guidance under FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services—Investment Companies”. The following is a summary of the Fund’s significant accounting policies:

Indemnifications

Under the Fund’s organizational document, its officers and Board of Directors (“Board”) are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Portfolios. In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations or that provide indemnification for certain liabilities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Valuation

The Board has adopted procedures (“Procedures”) to govern the valuation of the securities held by each Portfolio of the Fund in accordance with the 1940 Act. The Procedures incorporate principles set forth in relevant pronouncements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and its staff, including guidance on the obligations of the Portfolios and their Directors to determine, in good faith, the fair value of the Portfolios’ securities when market quotations are not readily available.

In determining a Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”), each equity security traded on a securities exchange, including the NASDAQ Stock Market, and over-the-counter securities, are first valued at the closing price on the exchange or market designated by the Fund’s accounting agent as the principal exchange (each, a “principal exchange”). The closing price provided by the Fund’s accounting agent for a principal exchange may differ from the price quoted elsewhere and may represent information such as last sales price, an official closing price, a closing auction price or other information, depending on exchange or market convention. Shares of open-end mutual funds including money market funds are valued at NAV. Such securities are typically categorized as “Level 1” pursuant to the hierarchy described below.

Participation notes are valued based upon the closing or last traded price of their underlying local shares. Such securities are typically categorized as “Level 2” pursuant to the hierarchy described below.

Since trading in many foreign securities is normally completed before the time at which a Portfolio calculates its NAV, the effect on the value of such securities held by a Portfolio of events that occur between the close of trading in the security and the time at which the Portfolio prices its securities would not be reflected in the Portfolio’s calculation of its NAV if foreign securities were generally valued at their closing prices.

To address this issue, the Board has approved the daily use of independently provided quantitative models that may adjust the closing prices of certain foreign equity securities based on information that becomes available after the foreign market closes, through the application of an adjustment factor to such securities’ closing price. Adjustment factors may be greater than, less than, or equal to 1. Thus, use of these quantitative models could cause a Portfolio to value a security higher, lower or equal to its closing market price, which in turn could cause the Portfolio’s NAV per share to differ significantly from that which would have been calculated using closing market prices. The use of these quantitative models is also intended to decrease the opportunities for persons to engage in ‘‘time zone arbitrage,’’ i.e., trading intended to take advantage of stale closing prices in foreign markets that could affect the NAV of the Portfolios. Securities subjected to an adjustment factor due to the use of these quantitative models are not specifically designated on the Portfolios’ Portfolio of Investments as being “fair valued”. Securities with an adjustment factor greater than or less than 1, which are absent the use of significant unobservable inputs into their valuation, are categorized as “Level 2” and securities with an adjustment factor equal to 1, which are absent the use of significant unobservable inputs into their valuation, are categorized as “Level 1” pursuant to the hierarchy described below.

Any securities for which market quotations are not readily available or for which available prices are deemed unreliable are priced by the Investment Adviser at “fair value as determined in good faith”, in accordance with the Procedures. Such securities are identified on the Portfolios’ Portfolio of Investments as securities valued at “fair value as determined in good faith” and absent the use of significant unobservable inputs into their valuation, such securities would be categorized as “Level 2” pursuant to the hierarchy described below.

GAAP includes a topic which establishes a hierarchy for NAV determination purposes in which various inputs are used in determining the value of each Portfolio’s assets or liabilities. This topic defines fair value as the price that the Portfolio would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. This topic establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability including assumptions about risk. Such risks include the inherent risk in a particular valuation technique which is used to measure fair value. This may include the quantitative models and/or the inputs to the quantitative models used in the valuation technique described above. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
Level 2 other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3 significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

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Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

The Portfolios disclose all transfers between levels based on valuations at the end of each reporting period.

At April 30, 2015, the Portfolios below had transfers from Level 1 to Level 2, based on levels assigned to the securities on October 31, 2014, due to the use of closing prices from a local exchange as inputs to the valuations of shares from the same issuer, trading on a foreign exchange and due to the use of an adjustment factor greater or less than 1 as inputs to the valuations.

 

      Institutional
Emerging Markets
     Emerging Markets      Frontier
Emerging Markets
 

Common Stock

        

Banks

     $31,391,322         $39,790,757         $22,405,093   

Retailing

                     3,774,183   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $31,391,322         $39,790,757         $26,179,276   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

GAAP provides additional guidance for estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased as well as guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate when a transaction is not orderly.

The following is a summary of the Portfolio’s investments classified by Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 and security type as of April 30, 2015. Please refer to each Portfolio’s Portfolio of Investments to view individual securities classified by industry type and country.

 

Portfolio   

Unadjusted Quoted Prices

in Active Markets for

Identical Assets (Level 1)

    

Other Significant

Observable Inputs

(Level 2)

     Total  
     Common
Stocks
     Preferred
Stocks
     Short-Term
Investments
     Common
Stocks
     Preferred
Stocks
     Participation
Notes
     Investment
Securities
 

Global Equity

     $576,315,188         $3,985,793         $30,550,416         $281,899,018         $—         $—         $892,750,415   

International Equity

     1,089,035,180         81,413,115         257,194,223         3,537,020,658         92,824,833                 5,057,488,009   

International Small Companies

     4,477,020                 3,637,049         91,342,113                 2,731,474         102,187,656   

Institutional Emerging Markets

     442,233,209         106,312,169         36,309,549         1,460,618,676         15,318,963         60,697,689         2,121,490,255   

Emerging Markets

     560,611,668         134,756,308         53,335,940         1,851,369,211         19,437,504         76,065,194         2,695,575,825   

Frontier Emerging Markets

     122,332,170         8,374,950         19,590,504         398,767,964                 79,800,473         628,866,061   

As of April 30, 2015, there were no Level 3 investments held within the Portfolios.

Securities

For financial reporting purposes, all securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis, as of the last business day in the reporting period. Throughout the reporting period, securities transactions are typically accounted for on a trade date – plus one business day basis. Interest income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date (except for certain foreign dividends that may be recorded as soon as the Portfolio is informed of such dividends). The Portfolios use the specific identification method for determining realized gains or losses from sales of securities.

Dividends to Shareholders

It is the policy of the Portfolios to declare dividends from net investment income annually. Net short-term and long-term capital gains distributions for the Portfolios, if any, are also normally distributed on an annual basis.

Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized gains from investment transactions have been determined in accordance with income tax regulations and may differ from net investment income and realized gains recorded by the Portfolios for financial reporting purposes. Differences result primarily from foreign currency transactions and timing differences related to recognition of income, and gains and losses from investment transactions. In general, to the extent that any differences, which are permanent in nature, result in over distributions to shareholders, the amount of the over distribution is reclassified within the capital accounts based on its federal tax basis treatment and may be reported as return of capital. Temporary differences do not require reclassification.

 

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Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward foreign currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and asked prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of the Portfolios’ securities are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated at exchange rates prevailing when accrued. The Portfolios do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the Net realized gain (loss) from investments and Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments on the Statements of Operations.

Net realized gains and losses from foreign currency-related transactions arise from sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolios’ books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities at the period end, resulting from changes in the exchange rates.

Redemption Fees

Redemptions made within 90 days of purchase may be subject to a redemption fee equal to 2% of the amount redeemed. For the period or year ended April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, the Portfolios received the following redemption fees related to transactions in shares of common stock. These amounts are included as a component of “Cost of shares redeemed” in the Portfolios’ Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

 

     Institutional Class      Class I      Class II  
Portfolio    Period Ended
April 30,
2015 (unaudited)
     Year ended
October 31,
2014
     Period Ended
April 30,
2015 (unaudited)
     Year ended
October 31,
2014
     Period Ended
April 30,
2015 (unaudited)
     Year ended
October 31,
2014
 

Global Equity

   $ 2,614       $ 297       $       $       $       $   

International Equity

     110,727         202,246                                   

International Small Companies

     893         1,536                                   

Institutional Emerging Markets

                     65,500         73,653                   

Emerging Markets

                                               

Frontier Emerging Markets

     58,838         60,989                                   

 

     Investor Class      Advisor Class  
Portfolio    Period Ended
April 30,
2015 (unaudited)
     Year ended
October 31,
2014
     Period Ended
April 30,
2015 (unaudited)
     Year ended
October 31,
2014
 

Global Equity

   $       $       $ 1,055       $ 2,772   

International Equity

     17,555         40,158                   

International Small Companies

     1,302         14,171                   

Institutional Emerging Markets

                               

Emerging Markets

                     189,576         272,857   

Frontier Emerging Markets

     41,771         24,222                   

 

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Table of Contents

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

3. Significant Agreements and Transactions with Affiliates

The Board has approved an investment advisory agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Investment Adviser. Advisory fees are computed daily and paid monthly based on the average daily net assets of each Portfolio. The Investment Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fee and/or reimburse the Portfolios for other operating expenses to the extent that aggregate expenses, excluding certain non-operating expenses, exceed certain annual rates of the average daily net assets of each class.

The following annualized advisory fees and contractual expense limits were in effect for the period ended April 30, 2015. The advisory fees are charged at the Portfolio level as a whole and expense limitations are at the class specific level.

 

Portfolio

First $1 billion of 

assets

Next $1 billion of 

assets

Next $1 billion of 

assets

Over $3 billion of 

assets

Contractual Expense
Limit*

Global Equity – Institutional Class

  0.80%

  0.78%

  0.76%

  0.74%

  0.95%

Global Equity – Advisor Class

  0.80%

  0.78%

  0.76%

  0.74%

  1.25%

International Equity – Institutional Class

  0.75%

  0.73%

  0.71%

  0.69%

  1.00%

International Equity – Investor Class

  0.75%

  0.73%

  0.71%

  0.69%

  1.25%

International Small Companies – Institutional Class

  1.25%

  1.23%

  1.23%

  1.23%

  1.30%

International Small Companies – Investor Class

  1.25%

  1.23%

  1.23%

  1.23%

  1.55%

Institutional Emerging Markets – Class I

  1.15%

  1.13%

  1.11%

  1.09%

  1.30%

Institutional Emerging Markets – Class II

  1.15%

  1.13%

  1.11%

  1.09%

  1.15%**

Emerging Markets – Advisor Class

  1.15%

  1.13%

  1.11%

  1.09%

  1.75%

Frontier Emerging Markets – Institutional Class

  1.50%

  1.48%

  1.48%

  1.48%

  2.00%

Frontier Emerging Markets – Investor Class

  1.50%

  1.48%

  1.48%

  1.48%

  2.25%

* Effective through February 29, 2016.

** The Investment Adviser has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse the Class II of the Portfolio for its other operating expenses to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses, as a percentage of average daily net assets, exceed the applicable contractual management fee, inclusive of breakpoints on assets, through February 29, 2016.

For the period ended April 30, 2015, the Investment Adviser waived and/or reimbursed the following amounts pursuant to the contractual expense limits described above:

 

Portfolio Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Investment  Adviser

International Small Companies – Institutional Class

$53,362

International Small Companies – Investor Class

107,078

Institutional Emerging Markets – Class II

121,752

The Fund has an administration agreement with The Northern Trust Company (“Northern Trust”), which provides certain accounting, clerical and bookkeeping services, Blue Sky, corporate secretarial services and assistance in the preparation and filing of tax returns and reports to shareholders and the SEC.

Northern Trust also serves as custodian of each Portfolio’s securities and cash, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or similar plans provided to the shareholders of the Portfolios.

Alaric Compliance Services, LLC (“ACS”) provides an individual to serve as chief compliance and anti-money laundering compliance officer of the Fund. Fees paid to ACS are shown as “Compliance officers’ fees and expenses” on the Statements of Operations.

The Fund has adopted an Amended Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Distribution Plan”). Under the Distribution Plan, the Investor Class of each of the International Equity, International Small Companies and Frontier Emerging Markets Portfolios may pay underwriters, distributors, dealers or brokers a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio’s Investor Class shares for services or expenses arising in connection with activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Investor Class shares of the Portfolios.

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

3. Significant Agreements and Transactions with Affiliates (continued)

 

The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, has agreements with various financial intermediaries and “mutual fund supermarkets”, under which customers of these intermediaries may purchase and hold Portfolio shares. These intermediaries assess fees in consideration for providing certain distribution, account maintenance, record keeping and transactional services. In recognition of the savings of expenses to the Fund arising from the intermediaries’ assumption of functions that the Fund would otherwise perform, such as providing sub-accounting and related shareholder services, each Portfolio or class is authorized, pursuant to a Shareholder Servicing Plan, to pay to each intermediary an annual rate of up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets attributable to that intermediary (subject to the contractual expense limits described above). Because of the contractual expense limits on certain Portfolios’ fees and expenses, the Investment Adviser paid a portion of the Portfolios’ share of these fees during the period ended April 30, 2015.

4. Class Specific Expenses

Most expenses of the Fund can be directly attributed to a particular Portfolio. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed are apportioned among the Portfolios based upon relative net assets or other appropriate measures. If an expense is incurred at the Portfolio level, it is generally apportioned among the classes of that Portfolio based upon relative net assets of each respective class. Certain expenses are incurred at the class level and charged only to that particular class. These expenses may be class specific (i.e., Distribution fees charged only to a particular class) or they may be identifiable to a particular class (i.e., the costs related to printing and mailing shareholder reports to shareholders of a particular class). Class level expenses for Portfolios with multiple active classes are shown in the table below.

 

Portfolio   Distribution
Fees
    State Registration
Filing Fees
    Printing and
Postage Fees
    Transfer Agent
Fees and Expenses
    Shareholder
Servicing Fees
 

Global Equity – Institutional Class

  $      $ 24,790      $ 13,877      $ 12,178      $ 100,225   

Global Equity – Advisor Class

           11,503        3,484        12,244        87,354   

International Equity – Institutional Class

           68,697        140,967        26,529        1,130,533   

International Equity – Investor Class

    477,460        17,690        32,086        40,354        165,806   

International Small Companies – Institutional Class

           11,550        1,417        10,963        12,648   

International Small Companies – Investor Class

    77,062        12,685        4,081        11,091        45,423   

Institutional Emerging Markets – Class I

           60,923        42,892        17,042        390,403   

Institutional Emerging Markets – Class II

           18,610        3,364        13,564          

Frontier Emerging Markets – Institutional Class

           29,184        14,545        19,437        83,272   

Frontier Emerging Markets – Investor Class

    77,506        18,192        5,031        13,936        33,562   

5. Investment Transactions

Cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments, for the period ended April 30, 2015, were as follows for each Portfolio:

 

Portfolio    Purchase Cost of
Investment Securities
           Proceeds from Sales of
Investment Securities
       

Global Equity

   $ 185,242,660          $ 146,095,129      

International Equity

     684,446,215            300,088,591      

International Small Companies

     19,225,726            13,816,432      

Institutional Emerging Markets

     689,945,520            275,687,266      

Emerging Markets

     601,161,840            427,392,571      

Frontier Emerging Markets

     211,408,675            120,134,433      

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

6. Income Tax

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes and the components of net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments at April 30, 2015, for each of the Portfolios were as follows:

 

Portfolio    Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Net
Unrealized
Appreciation /
(Depreciation)
     Cost  

Global Equity

   $ 198,063,251       $ (12,753,582   $ 185,309,669       $ 707,440,746   

International Equity

     1,172,260,605         (75,828,710     1,096,431,895         3,961,056,114   

International Small Companies

     19,697,111         (2,892,297     16,804,814         85,382,842   

Institutional Emerging Markets

     264,277,995         (86,579,853     177,698,142         1,943,792,113   

Emerging Markets

     602,517,064         (95,228,362     507,288,702         2,188,287,123   

Frontier Emerging Markets

     63,620,146         (54,849,656     8,770,490         620,095,571   

It is the policy of each Portfolio of the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions of taxable income sufficient to relieve it from substantially all federal income and excise taxes; therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

Management has performed an analysis of each Portfolio’s tax positions for the open tax years as of October 31, 2014 and has concluded that no provisions for income tax are required. The Portfolios’ federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years (open tax years: October 31, 2012; October 31, 2013; October 31, 2014) remain subject to examination by the Portfolios’ major tax jurisdictions, which include the United States, the State of New Jersey and the State of Maryland. Management is not aware of any events that are reasonably possible to occur in the next twelve months that would result in the amounts of any unrecognized tax benefits significantly increasing or decreasing for the Portfolios. However, management’s conclusions regarding tax positions taken may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, new tax laws and accounting regulations and interpretations thereof.

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

     Distributions From  
Portfolio    Ordinary
Income
2014
     Long-Term
Capital Gains
2014
     Ordinary
Income
2013
     Long-Term
Capital Gains
2013
 

Global Equity

   $ 2,737,949       $ 2,665,824       $ 1,722,330       $   

International Equity

     29,749,093                 18,521,821           

International Small Companies

     1,780,824         3,317,431         740,002           

Institutional Emerging Markets

     8,999,751                 3,683,658           

Emerging Markets

     16,977,080         54,210,866         12,078,855         106,392,227   

Frontier Emerging Markets

     805,788                 991,109           

The Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”) changed various technical rules governing the tax treatment of regulated investment companies and became effective for the Portfolios for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012. Under the Act, each Portfolio is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after the date of enactment for an unlimited period. However, any losses incurred during post-enactment years are required to be utilized prior to the losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years, which carry an expiration date. As a result of this ordering rule, pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards may be more likely to expire unused. Additionally, post-enactment capital loss carryforwards will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as permitted under previous regulation.

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

6. Income Tax (continued)

 

Capital losses incurred that will be carried forward indefinitely under provisions of the Act are as follows:

 

Portfolio    Short-Term
Capital Loss
Carryforward
           Long-Term
Capital Loss
Carryforward
       

International Equity

   $ 16,579,888          $ 19,176,254      

At October 31, 2014, the pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards and their respective years of expiration were as follows:

 

Portfolio    October 31,
2017
           October 31,
2019
       

Institutional Emerging Markets

   $ 28,667,656          $ 3,834,973      

7. Foreign Exchange Contracts

The Portfolios do not generally hedge foreign currency exposure, however, the Portfolios may enter into forward foreign exchange contracts in order to hedge their exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on their foreign portfolio holdings. Each Portfolio will conduct its currency transactions either on a spot (cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market, or by entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell currency. Foreign currency transactions entered into on the spot markets serve to pay for foreign investment purchases or to convert to dollars, the proceeds from foreign investment sales or dividend and interest receipts. The Portfolios will disclose open forward currency contracts, if any, on the Portfolios of Investments. The Portfolios do not separately disclose open spot market transactions on the Portfolios of Investments. Such realized gain (loss) and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on spot market transactions is included in “net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions” and “change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies”, respectively, on the Portfolios’ Statements of Operations. The Portfolios held no open forward currency contracts on April 30, 2015.

8. Participation Notes

Each Portfolio may invest in participation notes. Participation notes are promissory notes that are designed to offer a return linked to the performance of a particular underlying equity security or market. Participation notes are issued by banks or broker-dealers and allow a Portfolio to gain exposure to common stocks in markets where direct investment may not be allowed. Participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter and are subject to the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with a Portfolio. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, and a Portfolio investing in participation notes would be relying on the creditworthiness of such banks or broker-dealers and would have no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying assets. Participation notes may be more volatile and less liquid than other investments held by the Portfolios.

9. Concentration of Ownership

At April 30, 2015, the percentage of total shares outstanding held by record shareholders each owning 10% or greater of the aggregate shares outstanding of each Portfolio were as follows:

 

      No. of
Shareholders
           %
Ownership
      

Global Equity

     3            53.68 %*   

International Equity

     2            54.79 %*   

International Small Companies

     3            74.92 %*   

Institutional Emerging Markets

     2            55.32 %*   

Emerging Markets

     3            78.10 %*   

Frontier Emerging Markets

     4            68.42 %*   

* Includes omnibus positions of broker-dealers representing numerous shareholder accounts.

Investment activities of these shareholders may have a material effect on the Portfolios.

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

April 30, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

10. Concentration of Risk

Investing in securities of foreign issuers and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with investments in U.S. issuers. These risks include revaluation of currencies, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values and possible adverse political, social and economic developments, including those particular to a specific industry, country or region, which could cause the securities and their markets to be less liquid and prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies and U.S. government securities. These risks are greater with respect to securities of issuers located in emerging market countries in which the Portfolios are authorized to invest.

Frontier Emerging Markets is permitted to invest up to 35% of its total assets in companies in the same industry, if, at the time of investment, that industry represents 20% or more of the Portfolio’s benchmark index. During periods when the Portfolio has invested more than 25% of its total assets in companies in the same industry, it will operate as a concentrated portfolio and be subject to additional risks and greater volatility. At April 30, 2015, the Portfolio’s investment in the Banking industry amounted to 31.57% of its total assets.

11. Line of Credit

The Fund has a $100 million line of credit agreement with Northern Trust. Borrowings are made solely to facilitate the handling of redemptions or unusual or unanticipated short-term cash requirements. Because several Portfolios participate, and collateral requirements apply, there is no assurance that an individual Portfolio will have access to the entire $100 million at any particular time. Interest is charged to each Portfolio based on borrowings at an amount above the Federal Funds rate, subject to a minimum rate. In addition, a facility fee is computed at an annual rate of 0.10% on the line of credit and is allocated among the Portfolios. For the period ended April 30, 2015, Institutional Emerging Markets had an outstanding balance on one day with a maximum balance of $600,000 at an average weighted interest rate of 1.37%, Emerging Markets had an outstanding balance on one day with a maximum balance of $8,600,000 at an average weighted interest rate of 1.37% and Frontier Emerging Markets had an outstanding balance on six days with a maximum balance of $3,400,000 at an average weighted interest rate of 1.75%.

12. India Tax Matter

In March 2015, Indian tax authorities issued a draft assessment order (the “Draft Order”) with respect to the Emerging Markets and Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolios (the “Affected Portfolios”). The Draft Order asserts that the Affected Portfolios are subject to an assessment of minimum alternate tax (“MAT”) for tax year 2011-2012 on capital gains realized. Similar assessment orders were reportedly issued to dozens of other investment funds that, like the Fund, are considered “foreign institutional investors” (“FIIs”) in India. In addition, a separate order (the “Penalty Order”) asserts that the Affected Portfolios may be subject to certain penalties for failing to pay MAT. The Indian tax authorities have also indicated that they will scrutinize the Affected Portfolios’ Returns of Income for the tax year 2009-2010. The Fund has taken steps to challenge the validity of both the Penalty Order and the Draft Order and Management believes that both orders are without merit. Furthermore, per a recent announcement by the Indian Central Board of Direct Taxation, all new assessments have been put on hold until an ad hoc Committee provides guidance on the matter. Based on information known by Management at this time, Management does not believe that the matters above will have a material effect on financial results of the Affected Portfolios, and has determined to make no provision for MAT in the accompanying financial statements. However, it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of these proceedings and, it is possible that an adverse outcome could negatively impact the Affected Portfolios’ financial results. The Fund will monitor future developments and may determine to make a provision for MAT in the future.

13. Subsequent Events

Subsequent events occurring after the date of this report have been evaluated for potential impact, for purposes of recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, through the date the report was issued.

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Privacy Notice

(unaudited)

 

 

HARDING, LOEVNER FUNDS, INC.

PRIVACY NOTICE

The Fund collects nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:

 

    Information, such as your name, address, social security number, assets and income, submitted by you on applications, forms, or in other written or verbal customer communications. This information may also be provided by a consultant or intermediary acting on your behalf.
    Information that results from any transaction performed by us for you.

The Fund will not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you or its former customers to anyone except as permitted or required by law.

If you decide to close your account(s) or become an inactive customer, the Fund will adhere to the privacy policies and practices as described in this notice.

The Fund restricts access to your personal and account information to only those employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. The Fund maintains physical, administrative and technical safeguards to protect your nonpublic personal information.

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Supplemental Information

(unaudited)

 

 

Quarterly Form N-Q Portfolio Schedule

Each Portfolio will file its complete portfolio of investments with the SEC on Form N-Q at the end of the first and third fiscal quarters within 60 days of the end of the quarter to which it relates. The Portfolios’ Form N-Q will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room whose telephone number is (800) SEC-0330. Additionally, they are available upon request by calling (877) 435-8105.

Proxy Voting Record

The Fund’s proxy voting record relating to the Portfolios’ securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the Fund’s website at www.hardingloevnerfunds.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, on Form N-PX.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures are located in the Statement of Additional Information and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (877) 435-8105 or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Additional Information

The Adviser updates Fact Sheets for the Portfolios each calendar quarter, which are posted to the Fund’s website – www.hardingloevnerfunds.com. This information, along with the Adviser’s commentaries on its various strategies, is available without charge, upon request, by calling (877) 435-8105.

 

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Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.

 

Directors and Officers

(unaudited)

 

 

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE FUNDS

David R. Loevner

Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Carolyn Ainslie

Director

Jennifer M. Borggaard

Director

William E. Chapman, II

Director

R. Kelly Doherty

Director

Charles Freeman, III

Director

Samuel R. Karetsky

Director

Eric Rakowski

Director

Richard Reiter

President

Charles S. Todd

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Susan Mosher

Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer

Owen T. Meacham

Secretary

Aaron Bellish

Assistant Treasurer

Derek Jewusiak

Assistant Treasurer

Lori M. Renzulli

Assistant Secretary

Marcia Y. Lucas

Assistant Secretary

Brian Simon

Assistant Secretary

 

49


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LOGO


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LOGO


Table of Contents

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable to this filing.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable to this filing.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable to this filing.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable to this filing.

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a) Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period as set forth in § 210.1212 of Regulation
S-X [17 CFR 210.12-12], are included as part of the report to stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

 

(b) Not applicable.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to this registrant.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to this registrant.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable to this registrant.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Not applicable.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a) The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d – 15(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as of the date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.


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(b) There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits.

(a)(1) Not applicable to this filing.

(a)(2) Exhibit 99.CERT: Section 302 Certifications.

(b) Exhibit 99.906 CERT: Section 906 Certifications.


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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.

 

Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.
By

/s/ Richard T. Reiter

Richard T. Reiter
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: July 6, 2015
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/ Richard T. Reiter

Richard T. Reiter
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: July 6, 2015
By

/s/ Charles S. Todd

Charles S. Todd
(Principal Financial Officer)
Date: July 6, 2015