Rating | Percentage
of Fund Investments |
A3 | 0.30% |
Baa1 | 0.47 |
Baa2 | 0.61 |
Baa3 | 3.75 |
Ba1 | 2.33 |
Ba2 | 11.74 |
Ba3 | 9.43 |
B1 | 16.13 |
B2 | 10.83 |
B3 | 9.73 |
CCC, CC, C | 1.26 |
Equities | 1.83 |
Not Rated | 22.44 |
Short Term Investments | 9.15 |
Total | 100.00% |
Beginning
Account Value |
Ending
Account Value |
Expenses
Paid During Period* | |||
(01/01/23) | (06/30/23) | (01/01/23 – 06/30/23) | |||
Institutional Class | |||||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,049.15 | $3.71 | ||
Hypothetical
(5% return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 | $1,021.17 | $3.66 | ||
Investor Class | |||||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,047.19 | $5.48 | ||
Hypothetical
(5% return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 | $1,019.44 | $5.41 |
*
Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 0.73% for the Institutional Class shares and 1.08% for the Investor Class shares, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 days to reflect the
one-half year period. Performance does not include any fees or expenses of variable insurance contracts, IRAs, qualified retirement plans or college savings programs, if
applicable. If such fees or expenses were included, returns would be lower. |
(a) | Amount is stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. |
(b) | Adjustable rate security; interest rate is subject to change. Interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at June 30, 2023. |
(c) | Represents securities sold under Rule 144A, which are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(d) | All or a portion of the security is on loan at June 30, 2023. |
(e) | Security has no contractual maturity date and pays an indefinite stream of interest. |
(f) | Security in bankruptcy. |
(g) | Security in default. |
(h) | Security is fair valued using significant unobservable inputs. |
(i) | Zero coupon bond; the interest rate shown is the effective yield on date of purchase. |
(j) | Non-income producing security. |
(k) | Collateral received for securities on loan. |
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate is the interest rate banks charge each other for short-term loans. |
LP | Limited Partnership |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate is the secured interbank overnight interest rate and reference rate established as an alternative to LIBOR. |
At June 30, 2023 the Fund held the following over-the-counter (OTC) forward foreign currency contracts: | ||||||
Counterparty | Currency
Purchased |
Quantity
of Currency Purchased |
Currency
Sold |
Quantity
of Currency Sold |
Settlement Date | Net
Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
BA | USD | 194,167 | EUR | 179,100 | 09/20/2023 | $(2,096) |
JPM | EUR | 137,700 | USD | 151,541 | 09/20/2023 | (645) |
JPM | USD | 149,301 | EUR | 137,700 | 09/20/2023 | (1,595) |
MS | EUR | 698,900 | USD | 757,873 | 09/20/2023 | 8,000 |
MS | USD | 491,012 | EUR | 452,900 | 09/20/2023 | (5,289) |
RBS | USD | 320,819 | EUR | 295,900 | 09/20/2023 | (3,436) |
SSB | EUR | 486,300 | USD | 523,579 | 09/20/2023 | 9,322 |
SSB | USD | 2,597,727 | EUR | 2,396,100 | 09/20/2023 | (27,985) |
UBS | EUR | 872,000 | USD | 955,118 | 09/20/2023 | 443 |
UBS | USD | 772,950 | EUR | 710,800 | 09/20/2023 | (5,964) |
Net Depreciation | $(29,245) |
At June 30, 2023, the Fund held the following outstanding centrally cleared credit default swaps: | |||||||||
Reference
Obligation |
Notional
Amount (000)(a) |
Value |
Upfront
Payments/ Receipts |
Fixed
Deal Pay/Receive Rate |
Maturity
Date |
Net
Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Implied
Credit Spread(b) |
Payment
Frequency | |
Buy Credit Protection | |||||||||
CDX.NA.HY.40 (c) | USD | 19,500 | $561,419 | $642,395 | 5.00% | 06/20/2028 | $(80,977) | 4.29% | Quarterly |
Net Depreciation | $(80,977) |
(a) | The maximum potential amount the Fund could be required to pay as a seller of credit protection or receive as a buyer of credit protection if a credit event occurs as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement. |
(b) | Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, are utilized in determining the value of credit default swap agreements on sovereign issues of an emerging country as of period end, and serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. |
(c) | Based on an index of North American bonds with investment grade credit ratings that trade in the credit default swap market. |
Currency Abbreviations | ||
EUR | Euro Dollar | |
USD | U.S. Dollar |
Counterparty Abbreviations | ||
BA | Bank of America Corp | |
JPM | JP Morgan Chase & Co | |
MS | Morgan Stanley & Co LLC | |
RBS | Royal Bank of Scotland | |
SSB | State Street Bank | |
UBS | UBS AG |
Empower High Yield Bond Fund | |
ASSETS: | |
Investments in securities, fair value (including $29,856,328 of securities on loan)(a) | $308,035,878 |
Repurchase agreements, fair value(b) | 31,040,451 |
Cash | 11,054,797 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies, fair value(c) | 18 |
Cash pledged on centrally cleared swaps | 1,807,237 |
Dividends and interest receivable | 4,000,127 |
Subscriptions receivable | 265,750 |
Receivable for investments sold | 18,522,797 |
Variation margin on centrally cleared swaps | 135,737 |
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | 17,766 |
Total Assets | 374,880,558 |
LIABILITIES: | |
Payable for director fees | 7,312 |
Payable for investments purchased | 1,932,231 |
Payable for other accrued fees | 105,437 |
Payable for shareholder services fees | 58,649 |
Payable to investment adviser | 237,062 |
Payable upon return of securities loaned | 31,040,451 |
Redemptions payable | 10,098,487 |
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | 47,011 |
Total Liabilities | 43,526,640 |
NET ASSETS | $331,353,918 |
NET ASSETS REPRESENTED BY: | |
Capital stock, $0.10 par value | $3,888,299 |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | 394,654,931 |
Undistributed/accumulated deficit | (67,189,312) |
NET ASSETS | $331,353,918 |
NET ASSETS BY CLASS | |
Investor Class | $101,544,019 |
Institutional Class | $229,809,899 |
CAPITAL STOCK: | |
Authorized | |
Investor Class | 160,000,000 |
Institutional Class | 170,000,000 |
Issued and Outstanding | |
Investor Class | 13,910,007 |
Institutional Class | 24,972,980 |
NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE: | |
Investor Class | $7.30 |
Institutional Class | $9.20 |
(a) Cost of investments | $328,217,754 |
(b) Cost of repurchase agreements | $31,040,451 |
(c) Cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies | $18 |
Empower High Yield Bond Fund | |
INVESTMENT INCOME: | |
Interest | $11,883,529 |
Income from securities lending | 183,255 |
Dividends | 317,494 |
Foreign withholding tax | 15,791 |
Total Income | 12,400,069 |
EXPENSES: | |
Management fees | 1,737,632 |
Shareholder services fees – Investor Class | 471,020 |
Audit and tax fees | 38,309 |
Custodian fees | 22,157 |
Directors fees | 16,546 |
Legal fees | 3,881 |
Pricing fees | 35,779 |
Registration fees | 42,938 |
Shareholder report fees | 17,800 |
Transfer agent fees | 4,545 |
Other fees | 6,948 |
Total Expenses | 2,397,555 |
Less amount waived by investment adviser | 109,108 |
Net Expenses | 2,288,447 |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME | 10,111,622 |
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): | |
Net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions | (23,062,811) |
Net realized gain on credit default swaps | 297,280 |
Net realized gain on forward foreign currency contracts | 12,737 |
Net Realized Loss | (22,752,794) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | 36,059,262 |
Net change in unrealized depreciation on credit default swaps | (80,977) |
Net change in unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | (102) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation | 35,978,183 |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain | 13,225,389 |
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $23,337,011 |
Empower High Yield Bond Fund | 2023
(Unaudited) |
2022 | |
OPERATIONS: | |||
Net investment income | $10,111,622 | $16,296,422 | |
Net realized loss | (22,752,794) | (21,259,579) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 35,978,183 | (67,743,931) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | 23,337,011 | (72,707,088) | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | |||
From net investment income and net realized gains | |||
Investor Class | (4,226,275) | (9,777,391) | |
Institutional Class | (5,605,069) | (6,704,062) | |
From Net Investment Income and Net Realized Gains | (9,831,344) | (16,481,453) | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | |||
Shares sold | |||
Investor Class | 52,694,016 | 191,879,707 | |
Institutional Class | 13,924,938 | 24,697,577 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | |||
Investor Class | 4,226,275 | 9,777,391 | |
Institutional Class | 5,605,069 | 6,704,062 | |
Shares redeemed | |||
Investor Class | (241,327,258) | (166,072,590) | |
Institutional Class | (19,820,121) | (59,165,874) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | (184,697,081) | 7,820,273 | |
Total Decrease in Net Assets | (171,191,414) | (81,368,268) | |
NET ASSETS: | |||
Beginning of Period | 502,545,332 | 583,913,600 | |
End of Period | $331,353,918 | $502,545,332 | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS - SHARES: | |||
Shares sold | |||
Investor Class | 7,200,518 | 25,308,433 | |
Institutional Class | 1,503,410 | 2,573,983 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | |||
Investor Class | 584,547 | 1,364,405 | |
Institutional Class | 615,266 | 746,178 | |
Shares redeemed | |||
Investor Class | (32,702,542) | (22,431,167) | |
Institutional Class | (2,150,559) | (6,333,576) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) | (24,949,360) | 1,228,256 |
Income (Loss) from Investment Operations: | Less Distributions: | ||||||||||
Net
asset value, beginning of period |
Net
investment income(a) |
Net
realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
Total
from investment operations |
From
return of capital |
From
net investment income |
From
net realized gains |
Total
Distributions |
Net
asset value, end of period |
Total
Return (b)(c) | ||
Investor Class | |||||||||||
06/30/2023 (Unaudited) | $ 7.15 | 0.14 | 0.21 | 0.35 | - | (0.20) | - | (0.20) | $ 7.30 | 4.72% (d) | |
12/31/2022 | $ 8.40 | 0.21 | (1.21) | (1.00) | - | (0.25) | - | (0.25) | $ 7.15 | (11.80%) | |
12/31/2021 | $ 8.36 | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.30 | - | (0.26) | - | (0.26) | $ 8.40 | 3.65% | |
12/31/2020 | $ 7.84 | 0.26 | 0.57 | 0.83 | - | (0.31) | - | (0.31) | $ 8.36 | 10.79% | |
12/31/2019 | $ 7.23 | 0.34 | 0.69 | 1.03 | (0.00) (e) | (0.42) | - | (0.42) | $ 7.84 | 14.40% | |
12/31/2018 | $ 8.13 | 0.43 | (0.74) | (0.31) | - | (0.59) | - | (0.59) | $ 7.23 | (3.92%) | |
Institutional Class | |||||||||||
06/30/2023 (Unaudited) | $ 8.99 | 0.20 | 0.24 | 0.44 | - | (0.23) | - | (0.23) | $ 9.20 | 4.91% (d) | |
12/31/2022 | $10.47 | 0.30 | (1.52) | (1.22) | - | (0.26) | - | (0.26) | $ 8.99 | (11.61%) | |
12/31/2021 | $10.28 | 0.31 | 0.10 | 0.41 | - | (0.22) | - | (0.22) | $10.47 | 4.03% | |
12/31/2020 | $ 9.56 | 0.35 | 0.71 | 1.06 | - | (0.34) | - | (0.34) | $10.28 | 11.27% | |
12/31/2019 | $ 8.74 | 0.44 | 0.84 | 1.28 | (0.00) (e) | (0.46) | - | (0.46) | $ 9.56 | 14.73% | |
12/31/2018 | $ 9.69 | 0.55 | (0.89) | (0.34) | - | (0.61) | - | (0.61) | $ 8.74 | (3.58%) |
Net
assets, end of period (000) |
Ratio
of expenses to average net assets (before reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable) |
Ratio
of expenses to average net assets (after reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable) |
Ratio
of net investment income to average net assets (after reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable) |
Portfolio
turnover rate(f) | ||
Supplemental Data and Ratios | ||||||
Investor Class | ||||||
06/30/2023 (Unaudited) | $101,544 | 1.14% (g) | 1.08% (g) | 3.89% (g) | 23% (d) | |
12/31/2022 | $277,799 | 1.14% | 1.09% | 2.84% | 49% | |
12/31/2021 | $290,677 | 1.20% | 1.10% | 1.88% | 58% | |
12/31/2020 | $ 6,675 | 1.56% | 1.10% | 3.37% | 61% | |
12/31/2019 | $ 7,642 | 1.48% | 1.10% | 4.35% | 64% | |
12/31/2018 | $ 8,299 | 1.39% | 1.10% | 5.41% | 40% | |
Institutional Class | ||||||
06/30/2023 (Unaudited) | $229,810 | 0.75% (g) | 0.73% (g) | 4.29% (g) | 23% (d) | |
12/31/2022 | $224,746 | 0.76% | 0.74% | 3.13% | 49% | |
12/31/2021 | $293,237 | 0.78% | 0.75% | 2.94% | 58% | |
12/31/2020 | $267,454 | 0.79% | 0.75% | 3.71% | 61% | |
12/31/2019 | $262,043 | 0.78% | 0.75% | 4.66% | 64% | |
12/31/2018 | $239,618 | 0.79% | 0.75% | 5.76% | 40% |
(a) | Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding. |
(b) | Total return does not include any fees or expenses of variable insurance contracts, if applicable. If such fees or expenses were included, the return shown would have been lower. |
(c) | Total return shown net of expenses reimbursed and/or waived, if applicable. Without the expense reimbursement and/or waiver, the return shown would have been lower. |
(d) | Not annualized for periods less than one full year. |
(e) | Amount was less than $0.01 per share. |
(f) | Portfolio turnover is calculated at the Fund level. |
(g) | Annualized. |
Class | Inputs |
Bank Loans | Broker quotes, Loan Syndications and Trading Association daily marks, loan analytics and market news. |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | Benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, evaluated bids, offers and reference data including market research publications. Inputs also may include observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to issuer. |
Convertible Bonds, Convertible Preferred Stock | Benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, evaluated bids, offers and reference data including market research publications. Inputs also may include exchange prices. |
Common Stock | Exchange traded close price, bids, evaluated bids, open and close price of the local exchange, exchange rates, fair values based on significant market movement and various index data. |
Rights | Exchange traded close price, bids and evaluated bids. |
Short Term Investments | Maturity date, credit quality and interest rates. |
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts | Foreign currency spot and forward rates. |
Credit Default Swaps | Reported trades, credit spreads and curves, recovery rates, restructuring types and net present value of cashflows. |
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||
Assets | |||||||
Investments, at fair value: | |||||||
Bank Loans | $ — | $ 25,576,965 | $ — | $ 25,576,965 | |||
Corporate Bonds and Notes | — | 219,009,355 | 23 | 219,009,378 | |||
Convertible Bonds | — | 57,219,616 | — | 57,219,616 | |||
Common Stock | 2,035,127 | — | 56,481 | 2,091,608 | |||
Convertible Preferred Stock | |||||||
Financial | 1,573,754 | — | — | 1,573,754 | |||
Industrial | — | 1,281,308 | — | 1,281,308 | |||
Utilities | — | 1,260,576 | — | 1,260,576 | |||
1,573,754 | 2,541,884 | — | 4,115,638 | ||||
Rights | — | — | 22,673 | 22,673 | |||
Short Term Investments | — | 31,040,451 | — | 31,040,451 | |||
Total investments, at fair value: | 3,608,881 | 335,388,271 | 79,177 | 339,076,329 | |||
Other Financial Investments: | |||||||
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts(a) | — | 17,766 | — | 17,766 | |||
Total Assets | $ 3,608,881 | $ 335,406,037 | $ 79,177 | $ 339,094,095 | |||
Liabilities | |||||||
Other Financial Investments: | |||||||
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts(a) | — | (47,011) | — | (47,011) | |||
Credit Default Swaps(a) | — | (80,977) | — | (80,977) | |||
Total Liabilities | $ 0 | $ (127,988) | $ — | $ (127,988) |
(a) | Forward Foreign Currency Contracts and Credit Default Swaps are reported at the security's unrealized appreciation (depreciation), which represents the change in the contract's value from trade date. |
Federal tax cost of investments | $360,233,677 |
Gross unrealized appreciation on investments | 5,099,227 |
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments | (26,366,797) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments | $(21,267,570) |
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||
Risk Exposure | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Fair Value | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Fair Value | ||||
Credit contracts (swaps) | Net unrealized depreciation on credit default swaps | $(80,977) (a) | ||||||
Foreign exchange contracts (forwards) | Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | $17,766 | Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | $(47,011) |
(a) Includes cumulative depreciation of credit default swaps as reported in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Realized Gain or (Loss) | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) | |||||
Risk Exposure | Statement of Operations Location | Statement of Operations Location | ||||
Credit contracts (swaps) | Net realized gain on credit default swaps | $297,280 | Net change in unrealized depreciation on credit default swaps | $(80,977) | ||
Foreign exchange contracts (forwards) | Net realized gain on forward foreign currency contracts | $ 12,737 | Net change in unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | $ (102) |
Investments: | Gross
Amount Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities (a) |
Financial
Instruments Available for Offset |
Financial
Instruments Collateral Received |
Cash
Collateral Pledged (Received) |
Net Amount |
Derivative Assets (forward contracts) | $ 17,766 | $ 17,766 | $— | $— | $ 35,531 |
Derivative Liabilities (forward contracts) | $(47,011) | $(17,766) | $— | $— | $(64,776) |
(a) OTC derivatives are reported gross on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. | |||||
Expires December 31, 2023 | Expires December 31, 2024 | Expires December 31, 2025 | Expires June 30, 2026 | Recoupment
of Past Reimbursed Fees by the Adviser | ||||
$130,578 | $156,428 | $227,011 | $109,108 | $0 |
Security lending transactions | Total (a) |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | $24,774,818 |
Convertible Bonds | 6,254,838 |
Convertible Preferred Stock | 10,795 |
Total secured borrowings | $31,040,451 |
(a) | The remaining contractual maturity of all of the securities lending transactions is overnight and continuous. |
(i) | the program performed well during the covered period and meets the needs and profile of the Funds; |
(ii) | the Funds benefit from the stability of their shareholder base, |
(iii) | the selection of two vendors to supply liquidity measurement products has proven to be extremely helpful, |
(v) | no Fund approached the internal triggers set by the LRMC or the regulatory percentage limitation (15%) on holdings in illiquid investments. |
ITEM 2. | CODE OF ETHICS. |
ITEM 3. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. |
ITEM 4. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. |
ITEM 5. | AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS. |
ITEM 6. | INVESTMENTS. |
ITEM 7. | DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
ITEM 8. | PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
ITEM 9. | PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS. |
ITEM 10. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. |
ITEM 11. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. |
ITEM 12. | DISCLOSURE OF LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
ITEM 13. | EXHIBITS. |
By: | /s/ Jonathan D. Kreider |
By: | /s/ Jonathan D. Kreider |
By: | /s/ Kelly B. New |
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Jonathan D. Kreider, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Empower Funds, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted account principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal half-year (the registrants second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Date: | August 23, 2023 | |
By: | /s/ Jonathan D. Kreider | |
Jonathan D. Kreider | ||
President & Chief Executive Officer |
I, Kelly B. New, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Empower Funds, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted account principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal half-year (the registrants second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Date: | August 23, 2023 | |
By: | /s/ Kelly B. New | |
Kelly B. New | ||
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer |
CERTIFICATION UNDER SECTION 906 OF SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(18 U.S.C. 1350)
In connection with the Semi-Annual Report of Empower Funds, Inc. (the Registrant) on Form N-CSR for the period ended June 30, 2023 (the Report), the undersigneds hereby certify, to the best of their knowledge, that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.
Date: | August 23, 2023 | |
By: | /s/ Jonathan D. Kreider | |
Jonathan D. Kreider | ||
President & Chief Executive Officer | ||
Date: | August 23, 2023 | |
By: | /s/ Kelly B. New | |
Kelly B. New | ||
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer |
This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of the report or as a separate disclosure document.
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Registrant and will be retained by the Registrant and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.