0002000324-24-001544.txt : 20240528 0002000324-24-001544.hdr.sgml : 20240528 20240528171331 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0002000324-24-001544 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: NPORT-P PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20240331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20240528 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20240528 PERIOD START: 20241231 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000018748 ORGANIZATION NAME: IRS NUMBER: 131875970 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: NPORT-P SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-00179 FILM NUMBER: 24992989 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 630 FIFTH AVENUE STREET 2: SUITE 820 CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10111 BUSINESS PHONE: 212-698-2020 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 630 FIFTH AVENUE STREET 2: SUITE 820 CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10111 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: TRANS CENTRAL SECURITIES CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19700722 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: BUERGER LADET & RADINSKY INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19671026 NPORT-P 1 primary_doc.xml NPORT-P false 0000018748 XXXXXXXX CENTRAL SECURITIES CORPORATION 811-00179 0000018748 549300D87MQ4TEVRK235 630 Fifth Avenue Suite 820 NY 10111 212-698-2020 N/A N/A 2024-12-31 2024-03-31 N 1448568306 4881165 1443687141 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N AerCap Holdings N.V. 549300SZYINBBLJQU475 Common Stock N00985106 350000 NS USD 30418500 2.11 Long EC CORP NL N 1 N N N Alphabet Inc. 5493006MHB84DD0ZWV18 Common Stock - Class A 02079K305 450000 NS USD 67918500 4.7 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Amazon.com, Inc. ZXTILKJKG63JELOEG630 Common Stock 023135106 225000 NS USD 40585500 2.81 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N American Express Company R4PP93JZOLY261QX3811 Common Stock 025816109 200000 NS USD 45538000 3.15 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Analog Devices, Inc. GYVOE5EZ4GDAVTU4CQ61 Common Stock 032654105 400000 NS USD 79116000 5.48 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Aon plc VVT2B79I2Z4U3R6BY589 Common Stock - Class A G0403H108 150000 NS USD 50058000 3.47 Long EC CORP IE N 1 N N N Ashtead Group plc 2138007UTBN8X9K1A235 ADR 045055100 45000 NS USD 13076550 0.91 Long EC CORP GB N 1 N N N Brady Corporation 549300G2LEQOFQC8GY34 Common Stock - Class A 104674106 200000 NS USD 11856000 0.82 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Capital One Financial Corporation ZUE8T73ROZOF6FLBAR73 Common Stock 14040H105 300000 NS USD 44667000 3.09 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Coherent Corp. 549300O5C25A0MMHHU33 Common Stock 19247G107 400000 NS USD 24248000 1.68 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Hess Corporation UASVRYNXNK17ULIGK870 Common Stock 42809H107 310000 NS USD 47318400 3.28 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Intel Corporation KNX4USFCNGPY45LOCE31 Common Stock 458140100 400000 NS USD 17668000 1.22 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Johnson & Johnson 549300G0CFPGEF6X2043 Common Stock 478160104 90000 NS USD 14237100 0.99 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N JPMorgan Chase & Co. 8I5DZWZKVSZI1NUHU748 Common Stock 46625H100 200000 NS USD 40060000 2.77 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Keysight Technologies, Inc. 549300GLKVIO8YRCYN02 Common Stock 49338L103 200000 NS USD 31276000 2.17 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Medtronic plc 549300GX3ZBSQWUXY261 Common Stock G5960L103 185000 NS USD 16122750 1.12 Long EC CORP IE N 1 N N N Mercadolibre, Inc. 549300DKPDN9M5S8GB14 Common Stock 58733R102 13000 NS USD 19655480 1.36 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Merck & Co., Inc. 4YV9Y5M8S0BRK1RP0397 Common Stock 58933Y105 200000 NS USD 26390000 1.83 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Meta Platforms, Inc. BQ4BKCS1HXDV9HN80Z93 Common Stock - Class A 30303M102 100000 NS USD 48558000 3.36 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Microsoft Corporation INR2EJN1ERAN0W5ZP974 Common Stock 594918104 80000 NS USD 33657600 2.33 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Motorola Solutions, Inc. 6S552MUG6KGJVEBSEC55 Common Stock 620076307 150000 NS USD 53247000 3.69 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Progressive Corporation 529900TACNVLY9DCR586 Common Stock 743315103 435000 NS USD 89966700 6.23 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Rayonier Inc. HGV8VDVNL0W6SF2U9C50 Common Stock 754907103 1000000 NS USD 33240000 2.3 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Roche Holding AG 549300U41AUUVOAAOB37 ADR 771195104 300000 NS USD 9576000 0.66 Long EC CORP CH N 1 N N N Roper Technologies, Inc. 54930003T4SXCIWVXY35 Common Stock 776696106 54000 NS USD 30285360 2.1 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Teledyne Technologies Incorporated 549300VSMO9KYQWDND94 Common Stock 879360105 47836 NS USD 20536952 1.42 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N The Charles Schwab Corporation 549300VSGCJ7E698NM85 Common Stock 808513105 700000 NS USD 50638000 3.51 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Visa Inc. 549300JZ4OKEHW3DPJ59 Common Stock - Class A 92826C839 65000 NS USD 18140200 1.26 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Wolfspeed, Inc. 549300OGU88P3AW3TO93 Common Stock 977852102 170000 NS USD 5015000 0.35 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N The Plymouth Rock Company Incorporated 98450064D596453C6420 Common Stock - Class A N/A 28424 NS USD 326876000 22.64 Long EC CORP US Y 3 N N N Fidelity Colchester Street Trust 549300NPOIO5VXBKJA04 Treasury Only Portfolio Class I 233809300 21995190 NS USD 21995190 1.52 Long STIV RF US N 1 N N N U.S. Government N/A Treasury Bill 912797JM0 35000000 PA USD 34959167 2.42 Long DBT UST US N 2 2024-04-09 None 5.364 N N N N N N U.S. Government N/A Treasury Bill 912797HG5 45000000 PA USD 44842350 3.11 Long DBT UST US N 2 2024-04-25 None 5.371 N N N N N N 2024-05-28 CENTRAL SECURITIES CORPORATION /s/ Lawrence P. Vogel Lawrence P. Vogel Vice President and Treasurer XXXX NPORT-EX 2 cet-nportex.htm STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS

 

CENTRAL SECURITIES CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2024

(unaudited)

 

Shares      Value
    COMMON STOCKS 92.8%     
    Banks 2.8%     
200,000   JPMorgan Chase & Co.  $40,060,000 
          
    Communications Services 8.1%     
450,000   Alphabet Inc. Class A (a)   67,918,500 
100,000   Meta Platforms, Inc. Class A   48,558,000 
        116,476,500 
          
    Diversified Financial 11.0%     
200,000   American Express Company   45,538,000 
300,000   Capital One Financial Corporation   44,667,000 
700,000   The Charles Schwab Corporation   50,638,000 
65,000   Visa Inc. Class A   18,140,200 
        158,983,200 
          
    Diversified Industrial 3.8%     
350,000   AerCap Holdings N.V. (a)   30,418,500 
45,000   Ashtead Group plc ADR   13,076,550 
200,000   Brady Corporation Class A   11,856,000 
        55,351,050 
          
    Energy 3.3%     
310,000   Hess Corporation   47,318,400 
          
  Health Care 4.6%     
90,000   Johnson & Johnson   14,237,100 
185,000   Medtronic plc   16,122,750 
200,000   Merck & Co., Inc.   26,390,000 
300,000   Roche Holding AG ADR   9,576,000 
        66,325,850 
          
    Insurance Brokers 3.5%     
150,000   Aon plc Class A   50,058,000 
          
    Insurance Underwriters 28.9%     
28,424   The Plymouth Rock Company Class A (b)(c)   326,876,000 
435,000   Progressive Corporation   89,966,700 
        416,842,700 
          
    Real Estate 2.3%     
1,000,000   Rayonier Inc.   33,240,000 

 

 

 

 

Shares       Value 
    Retailing 4.2%     
225,000   Amazon.com, Inc. (a)  $40,585,500 
13,000   Mercadolibre, Inc. (a)   19,655,480 
        60,240,980 
          
    Semiconductor 7.0%     
400,000   Analog Devices, Inc.   79,116,000 
400,000   Intel Corporation   17,668,000 
170,000   Wolfspeed, Inc., Inc. (a)   5,015,000 
        101,799,000 
          
    Software and Services 4.4%   
80,000   Microsoft Corporation    33,657,600 
54,000   Roper Technologies, Inc.   30,285,360 
        63,942,960 
          
    Technology Hardware and Equipment 8.9%     
400,000   Coherent Corp. (a)   24,248,000 
200,000   Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a)   31,276,000 
150,000   Motorola Solutions, Inc.   53,247,000 
47.836   Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (a)   20,536,952 
        129,307,952 
          
    Total Common Stocks (cost $397,660,452)  $1,339,946,592 
          
     SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 7.1%
          
    Money Market Fund 1.5%     
21,995,189   Fidelity Investments Money Market Fund     
    Treasury Only Portfolio Class I   21,995,189 
          
Principal   U.S. Treasury Bills 5.6%     
$           80,000,000   U.S. Treasury Bills 5.364% - 5.371% due 4/9/24 - 4/25/24 (d)   79,801,517 
          
    Total Short-Term Investments (cost $101,796,706)   101,796,706 
          
    Total Investments (cost $499,457,158) (99.9%)   1,441,743,298 
          
    Cash, receivables and other assets less liabilities (0.1%)   1,943,843 
          
    Net Assets (100%)  $1,443,687,141 

   
 (a) Non-dividend paying. 
 (b) Affiliate as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and restricted.  See Note 3 and Note 4. 
 (c) Valued based on Level 3 inputs.  See Note 2. 
 (d) Valued based on Level 2 inputs.  See Note 2. 

 

See accompanying notes to statement of investments.

 

 

 

 CENTRAL SECURITIES CORPORATION 

(the “Corporation”) 

NOTES TO STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS 

(unaudited)

 

1. Security Valuation – Marketable common stocks are valued at the last or closing sale price or, if unavailable, at the closing bid price. Investments in money market funds are valued at net asset value per share. Other short-term investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Securities for which no ready market exists are valued at estimated fair value pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the price used by other investors or the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.

 

As of March 31, 2024, the tax cost of investments was $499,457,158. Net unrealized appreciation was $942,286,140 consisting of gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation of $946,486,425 and $4,200,285, respectively.

 

2. Fair Value Measurements – The Corporation’s investments are categorized below in three broad hierarchical levels based on market price observability as follows: 

·Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical investments;

·Level 2 – Other significant observable inputs obtained from independent sources, for example, quoted prices in active markets for similar investments;

·Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs including the Corporation’s own assumptions based upon the best information available. The Corporation’s only Level 3 investment is The Plymouth Rock Company Class A Common Stock (“Plymouth Rock”).

 

The designated Level for a security is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in that security.

 

The Corporation’s investments as of March 31, 2024 are classified as follows:

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common stocks  $1,013,070,592       $326,876,000   $1,339,946,592 
Short-term investments   21,995,189    79,801,517        101,796,706 
Total investments  $1,035,065,781   $79,801,517   $326,876,000   $1,441,743,298 

 

The following is a reconciliation of the change in the value of Level 3 investments:

 

Balance at December 31, 2023  $304,136,800 
Change in net unrealized appreciation of investments in affiliated companies included in net increase in net assets resulting from operations   22,739,200 
Balance at March 31, 2024  $326,876,000 

  

Unrealized appreciation of Level 3 investments held as of March 31, 2024 increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 by $22,739,200, which is included in the above table.

 

Management assists the Board of Directors in the determination of fair value of Plymouth Rock. In valuing the Plymouth Rock Level 3 investment as of March 31, 2024, management considered Plymouth Rock’s financial condition and results of operations, the insurance industry outlook, and any transactions in Plymouth Rock’s shares. Management used significant unobservable inputs to develop a range of values for the investment. It used a comparable company approach that utilized the following valuation multiples from selected publicly traded companies: price-to-book value (range: 1.0–2.7; average: 1.7); price-to-historical earnings (range: 18.2–46.4; average: 30.3); and price-to-forward earnings estimates (range: 12.1–24.9; average: 18.0). Management also used Plymouth Rock’s book value and a discounted cash flow model based on a forecasted return on equity of approximately 11% and a cost of capital of approximately 12%. The average of these values was then discounted for lack of marketability and control of the Plymouth Rock shares. Management considered a discount range of 25% to 35%, a range management believes market participants would apply. An independent valuation of Plymouth Rock’s shares obtained by Plymouth Rock was also considered. Management presented and discussed the above information with the Corporation’s directors, who determined the value for the investment.

 

 

 

 

Increases (decreases) in the price-to-book value multiple, price-to-historical earnings multiple, price-to-forward earnings estimate multiple, return on equity rate and book value in isolation would have resulted in a higher (lower) range of fair values. Increases (decreases) in the discount for lack of marketability and control or cost of capital in isolation would have resulted in a lower (higher) range of fair values.

 

3. Restricted Securities - The Corporation may from time to time invest in securities the resale of which is restricted. On March 31, 2024, the Corporation’s only restricted security consisted of 28,424 shares of Plymouth Rock that were acquired on December 15, 1982 at a cost of $710,600. This security had a value of $326,876,000 at March 31, 2024, which was equal to 22.6% of the Corporation’s net assets. The Corporation does not have the right to demand registration of this security.

 

4. Affiliated Companies – Plymouth Rock is an affiliated company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 due to the Corporation’s ownership of 5% or more of the company’s outstanding voting securities. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, unrealized appreciation from the Corporation’s investment in Plymouth Rock increased by $22,739,200 and the Corporation received dividends of $5,477,589 from Plymouth Rock. The Chairman of the Corporation is a director of Plymouth Rock. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation is a director of certain subsidiaries of Plymouth Rock.