N-CSR 1 d456325dncsr.htm PRUDENTIAL JENNISON BLEND FUND, INC. Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.

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:

   811-03336

Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:

   Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.

Address of principal executive offices:

  

655 Broad Street, 17th Floor

Newark, New Jersey 07102

Name and address of agent for service:

  

Deborah A. Docs

655 Broad Street, 17th Floor

Newark, New Jersey 07102

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

   800-225-1852

Date of fiscal year end:

   8/31/2017

Date of reporting period:

   8/31/2017

 


Item 1 – Reports to Stockholders


LOGO

 

PRUDENTIAL JENNISON BLEND FUND, INC.

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT

AUGUST 31, 2017

 

LOGO

 

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Objective: Long-term growth of capital

 

Highlights

 

 

The Fund produced strong returns during the 12-month period.

 

 

Several information technology positions performed extremely well during the period including NVIDIA, Apple, Alibaba, and Microsoft.

 

 

Netflix drove positive results in the consumer discretionary sector.

 

 

Several health care positions were notable detractors from performance, as were Anadarko Petroleum and Qualcomm.

 

 

 

This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

The views expressed in this report and information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings are for the period covered by this report and are subject to change thereafter.

 

Mutual funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, member SIPC. Jennison Associates is a registered investment adviser. Both are Prudential Financial companies. © 2017 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. Jennison Associates, Jennison, PGIM, and the PGIM logo are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

 

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PRUDENTIAL FUNDS — UPDATE

 

Effective on or about June 1, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), each Fund’s Class A, Class C, Class R and Class Z shares, as applicable, will be closed to investments by new group retirement plans, except as discussed below. Existing group retirement plans as of the Effective Date may keep their investments in their current share class and may continue to make additional purchases or exchanges of that class of shares. As of the Effective Date, all new group retirement plans wishing to add the Funds as new additions to the plan generally will be into one of the available Class Q shares, Class R2 shares, or Class R4 shares of the Funds.

 

In addition, on or about the Effective Date, the Class R shares of each Fund will be closed to all new investors, except as discussed below. Due to the closing of the Class R shares to new investors, effective on or about the Effective Date new IRA investors may only purchase Class A, Class C, Class Z or Class Q shares of the Funds, subject to share class eligibility. Following the Effective Date, no new accounts may be established in the Funds’ Class R shares and no Class R shares may be purchased or acquired by any new Class R shareholder, except as discussed below.

 

     Class A   Class C   Class Z   Class R

Existing Investors

(Group Retirement Plans, IRAs, and all other investors)

  No Change   No Change   No Change   No Change
New Group Retirement Plans   Closed to group retirement plans wishing to add the share classes as new additions to plan menus on or about June 1, 2018, subject to certain exceptions below

New IRAs

  No Change   No Change   No Change   Closed to all new
investors on or
about June 1, 2018,
subject to certain
exceptions below
All Other New Investors   No Change   No Change   No Change  

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.


However, the following new investors may continue to purchase Class A, Class C, Class R and Class Z shares of a Fund, as applicable:

 

   

Eligible group retirement plans who are exercising their one-time 90-day repurchase privilege in a Fund will be permitted to purchase such share classes.

   

Plan participants in a group retirement plan that offers Class A, Class C, Class R or Class Z shares of a Fund as of the Effective Date will be permitted to purchase such share classes of the Fund, even if the plan participant did not own shares of that class of the Fund as of the Effective Date.

   

Certain new group retirement plans will be permitted to offer such share classes of a Fund after the Effective Date, provided that the plan has or is actively negotiating a contractual agreement with the Fund’s distributor or service provider to offer such share classes of the Fund prior to or on the Effective Date.

   

New group retirement plans that combine with, replace or are otherwise affiliated with a current plan that invests in such share classes prior to or on the Effective Date will be permitted to purchase such share classes.

 

The Funds also reserve the right to refuse any purchase order that might disrupt management of a Fund or to otherwise modify the closure policy at any time on a case-by-case basis.

 

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Letter from the President

 

LOGO

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

We hope you find the annual report for the Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc. informative and useful. The report covers performance for the 12-month period ended August 31, 2017.

 

Effective April 3, 2017, Prudential Investments became known as PGIM® Investments. Why PGIM? This new name was chosen to further align with the global investment management businesses of Prudential Financial, which rebranded from Prudential Investment Management in January 2016. This new name allows for one brand and reflects our ability and commitment to delivering investment solutions to clients around the globe. Please keep in mind that only the Fund adviser’s name was changed: The name of your Fund and its management and operation will not change.

 

Major global events during the reporting period included the US presidential election and domestic issues related to the new administration’s policy initiatives. The US economy experienced weak growth during the first quarter of 2017, although stronger growth took place in the second quarter. Britain began its formal legal process to leave the European Union, and recent parliamentary elections in Britain resulted in unseating the majority party. Overall, global economic growth picked up slightly.

 

Equities in the US reached new highs, and international equities gained significantly. European stocks posted impressive results. Asian markets were solid, and emerging markets outperformed most regions.

 

In mid-June, the Federal Reserve raised its federal funds rate by 0.25% for the second time in 2017. Fixed income markets were mixed, as rising interest rates affected bond markets. High yield and emerging markets bonds were among the top performers.

 

Given the uncertainty in today’s investment environment, we believe that active professional portfolio management offers a potential advantage. Active managers often have the knowledge and flexibility to find the best investment opportunities in the most challenging markets.

 

Even so, it’s best if investment decisions are based on your long-term goals rather than on short-term market and economic developments. We also encourage you to work with an experienced financial adviser who can help you set goals, determine your tolerance for risk, and build a diversified plan that’s right for you and make adjustments when necessary.

 

At PGIM Investments, we consider it a great privilege and responsibility to help investors participate in opportunities across global markets while meeting their toughest investment challenges. We’re part of PGIM, a top-10 global investment manager with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. This investment expertise allows us to deliver actively managed funds and strategies to meet the needs of investors around the globe.

 

Thank you for choosing our family of funds.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

 

Stuart S. Parker, President

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.

October 16, 2017

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     5  


Your Fund’s Performance (unaudited)

 

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 may be lower or higher than the past performance data quoted. An investor may obtain performance data as of the most recent month-end by visiting our website at www.pgiminvestments.com or by calling (800) 225-1852.

 

    

Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/17

(with sales charges)

 
     One Year (%)    Five Years (%)      Ten Years (%)  
Class A    10.86      10.93        5.66  
Class B    11.45      11.27        5.51  
Class C    15.51      11.41        5.51  
Class Z    17.67      12.52        6.57  
Russell 3000® Index    16.06      14.27        7.70  
S&P 500 Index    16.22      14.33        7.60  
Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Average*    14.09      12.71        6.26  
Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Average*    18.44      13.58        7.68  
        
    

Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/17

(without sales charges)

 
     One Year (%)    Five Years (%)      Ten Years (%)  
Class A    17.31      12.19        6.26  
Class B    16.45      11.40        5.51  
Class C    16.51      11.41        5.51  
Class Z    17.67      12.52        6.57  
Russell 3000 Index    16.06      14.27        7.70  
S&P 500 Index    16.22      14.33        7.60  
Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Average*    14.09      12.71        6.26  
Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Average*    18.44      13.58        7.68  

 

*The Fund is compared to the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Average, although Lipper classifies the Fund in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Performance Universe. The Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Performance Universe was utilized because the Fund’s manager believes that the funds included in this Universe provide a more appropriate basis for Fund performance comparisons.

 

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Growth of a $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

 

The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class A shares with a similar investment in the Russell 3000 Index and the S&P 500 Index by portraying the initial account values at the beginning of the 10-year period for Class A shares (August 31, 2007) and the account values at the end of the current fiscal year (August 31, 2017) as measured on a quarterly basis. For purposes of the graph, and unless otherwise indicated, it has been assumed that (a) the maximum applicable front-end sales charge was deducted from the initial $10,000 investment in Class A shares; (b) all recurring fees (including management fees) were deducted; and (c) all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The line graph provides information for Class A shares only. As indicated in the tables provided earlier, performance for Class B, Class C, and Class Z shares will vary due to the differing charges and expenses applicable to each share class (as indicated in the following paragraphs). Without waiver of fees and/or expense reimbursement, if any, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

Past performance does not predict future performance. Total returns and the ending account values in the graphs include changes in share price and reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions in a hypothetical investment for the periods shown. The Fund’s total returns do not reflect the deduction of income taxes on an individual’s investment. Taxes may reduce your actual investment returns on income or gains paid by the Fund or any gains you may realize if you sell your shares.

 

Source: PGIM Investments LLC and Lipper Inc.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     7  


Your Fund’s Performance (continued)

 

 

The returns in the tables do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or following the redemption of Fund shares. The average annual total returns take into account applicable sales charges which are described for each share class in the table below.

 

     Class A   Class B*   Class C   Class Z
Maximum initial sales charge   5.50% of the public offering price   None   None   None
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or net asset value at redemption)   1% on sales of $1 million or more made within 12 months of purchase   5% (Yr. 1) 4% (Yr. 2) 3% (Yr. 3) 2% (Yr. 4) 1% (Yr. 5/6) 0% (Yr. 7)   1% on sales made within 12 months of purchase   None
Annual distribution and service (12b-1) fees (shown as a percentage of average daily net assets)   0.30%   1%   1%   None

 

*Class B shares are closed to all purchase activity and no additional Class B shares may be purchased or acquired except by exchange from Class B shares of another Fund or through dividend or capital gains reinvestment.

 

Benchmark Definitions

 

Russell 3000 Index—The Russell 3000 Index is an unmanaged index which measures the performance of the 3,000 largest US companies representing approximately 98% of the investable US equity market. The Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive, unbiased, and stable barometer of the broad market and is reconstituted annually to ensure new and growing equities are included.

 

S&P 500 Index—The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index) is an unmanaged index of over 500 stocks of large US public companies. It gives a broad look at how stock prices in the United States have performed.

 

Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Average—The Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Average (Lipper Average) is based on the average return of all funds in the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds universe. Funds in the Lipper Average invest in a variety of market-capitalization ranges without concentrating 75% of their equity assets in any one market-capitalization range over an extended period of time.

 

Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Average—The Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Average (Lipper Average) is based on the average return of all funds in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds universe. Funds in the Lipper Average invest in a variety of market-capitalization ranges without concentrating 75% of their equity assets in any one market-capitalization range over an extended period of time.

 

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Investors cannot invest directly in an index or average. The returns for the Indexes would be lower if they included the effects of sales charges, operating expenses of a mutual fund, or taxes. Returns for the Lipper Averages reflect the deduction of operating expenses, but not sales charges or taxes.

 

Presentation of Fund Holdings

 

 

Five Largest Holdings expressed as a
percentage of net assets as of 8/31/17 (%)
 

Apple, Inc., Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

    2.7  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Banks

    2.6  

Microsoft Corp., Software

    2.1  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (China), ADR, Internet Software & Services

    1.9  

Facebook, Inc., Internet Software & Services

    1.7  

 

Holdings reflect only long-term investments and are subject to change.

 

Five Largest Industries expressed as a
percentage of net assets as of 8/31/17 (%)
 

Banks

    10.0  

Internet Software & Services

    8.8  

Software

    8.6  

Pharmaceuticals

    4.3  

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail

    3.8  

 

Industry weightings reflect only long-term investments and are subject to change.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     9  


Strategy and Performance Overview

 

How did the Fund perform?

The Prudential Jennison Blend Fund’s Class A shares rose 17.31%, without sales charges, in the 12-month period ended August 31, 2017. In the same period, the Russell 3000 Index (the Index) advanced 16.06%, the S&P 500 returned 16.22%, and the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Average climbed 14.09%.

 

What was the market environment?

 

Despite the Trump administration’s unorthodox approach and the Republican controlled legislature’s lack of accomplishment, equity market gains in the 12-month period ended August 31, 2017, have been supported by earnings growth and margin expansion across many industries.

 

 

The market’s initial favorable response to the election reflected anticipation of lower corporate tax rates, a less onerous regulatory environment, and increased fiscal spending on infrastructure. With legislative accomplishments elusive and factionalism impeding cooperation, market expectations moderated.

 

 

Solid economic fundamentals in the US included moderate GDP (gross domestic product) expansion, robust employment, and accelerating corporate profit growth. Inflation remained benign. The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds target rate to 1.00%-1.25%.

 

 

All sectors in the Index posted gains except for energy and telecom services. Information technology and financials had the largest returns.

 

What worked?

 

Information technology positions contributed the most to return.

 

   

NVIDIA has transformed itself from a personal-computer-centric graphics provider to a company focused on key high-growth markets where Jennison believes it can leverage its graphics expertise to offer high-value-added solutions: gaming (where it has dominant market share), automotive, high-performance computing, and cloud and enterprise. Developers have coalesced around its architecture and platform, potentially driving several years of strong top-line growth.

 

   

Apple’s fundamental strength reflects the proliferation of the iOS platform across the global mobile phone, tablet, and personal computer landscape as well as the financial power related to the attractive margin profile of the company’s hardware products.

 

   

Alibaba reported impressive financial results that beat consensus expectations on most of its key metrics. It operates China’s largest global online wholesale platform for small businesses, China’s largest online retail website, and China’s largest online third-party platform for brands and retailers. Jennison believes Alibaba, with its dominant market share, offers an attractive opportunity to invest in the long-term growth of the Chinese e-commerce market.

 

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After several years of lackluster EPS and PC growth, Jennison believes Microsoft has the potential for high-single-digit revenue and double-digit EPS growth over the next several years. The company has a firmly installed base, strong account control, and minimal competition in two primary areas that are shifting to a subscription profile—Office and Windows. The new CEO appears capable of navigating the move to the cloud while reenergizing the employee base and fostering renewed innovation. Microsoft’s recent earnings and revenue exceeded projections.

 

 

Consumer Discretionary also contributed strongly to performance, led by Netflix. Jennison believes that the long-term competitive positioning of Netflix has been strengthened by exclusive deals and original content, pricing power, international expansion, and scale advantage, which enable the company to fund content costs with a global subscriber base. Jennison expects Netflix to continue to benefit, as its dominant positioning within the media landscape becomes increasingly apparent. The company’s subscriber growth and international profit exceeded operations.

 

What didn’t work?

 

In health care:

 

   

After several acquisitions, Allergan has grown in size and scope. Jennison believes the company is on track to be a leader in growth pharma with a global scope. Although Jennison believes Allergan’s development pipeline could be meaningfully more productive than investors currently assume and that the balance sheet should allow for significant strategic capital deployment. The company has hit bumps in the road that may indicate that its transition is still a work in progress. Allergan has been proactive in positioning its business for a future that will be more dependent on volume growth and less dependent on price increases. While Allergan may have undertaken this initiative earlier than other companies—and paid for it with negative earnings revisions in 2016—Jennison believes it is a smart move that will be rewarded. In August, Allergan reported better-than-expected second-quarter revenue and earnings.

 

   

Uncertainty arising from a merger and acquisition for Teva and pharmaceutical companies in general caused volatility in its share price. Toward the end of the period, the US Federal Trade Commission approved its acquisition of Allergan’s generics business. Jennison thinks this will allow Teva to focus on its brand, development pipeline, and enhanced generics business, which Jennison thinks are underappreciated by the market.

 

   

Otonomy, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for diseases and disorders of the ear. The highly anticipated Phase III trial of Otividex, which treats Meniere’s disease, failed tests as a result of a higher-than-expected placebo response rate. The company has discontinued

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     11  


Strategy and Performance Overview (continued)

 

  all clinical work on the drug, which Jennison believes removed any potential to be a successful biotech story. Jennison eliminated the position.

 

   

In energy, falling oil prices and poor investment sentiment weighed on many companies, including Anadarko Petroleum. Jennison believes the company has a strong management team and a diversified portfolio of low-cost acreage that should allow it to grow both reserves and production at a faster pace than the industry. Furthermore, it has what Jennison views as an underappreciated US onshore position and has the potential to generate income from large offshore and international projects, which add to its overall growth outlook.

 

   

Qualcomm is a market leader in 3G, 4G, and next-generation wireless technologies. Ongoing legal disputes regarding payments from Apple, its contract manufacturers, and another unnamed licensee weighed on company results. Jennison believes there is great incentive for Qualcomm and Apple to reach an agreement, as their business models rely heavily on each other’s long-term success.

 

The percentage points shown in the tables identify each security’s positive or negative contribution to the Fund’s return, which is the sum of all contributions by individual holdings.

 

Top Contributors (%)   Top Detractors (%)
NVIDIA Corp.   1.04   Allergan PLC   –0.24
Apple, Inc.   0.96   Otonomy, Inc.   –0.24
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (China), ADR   0.83   Teva Pharmaceutical, Ltd., ADR   –0.21
Microsoft Corp.   0.66   Qualcomm, Inc.   –0.20
Netflix, Inc.   0.58   Anadarko Petroleum Corp.   –0.16

 

Current outlook

 

Lifted by US GDP (gross domestic product) expansion that continues at a 2.0%-2.5% rate and corporate earnings that are showing healthy growth across most sectors, investors have largely taken the new US administration’s heterodox approach and the Republican-controlled Congress’ lack of accomplishments in stride.

 

 

Economic growth in the US looks to be durable at its present rate through the rest of the year, although declining automobile production, a weaker US dollar, and limits to further job growth could pose risk. The positive outlook for corporate profits continues to reflect stable demand patterns with little near-term inflationary pressures.

 

 

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Fees and Expenses (unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemptions, as applicable, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses, as applicable. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 held through the six-month period ended August 31, 2017. The example is for illustrative purposes only; you should consult the Prospectus for information on initial and subsequent minimum investment requirements.

 

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information on 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 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number on the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’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 the Fund 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.

 

The Fund’s transfer agent may charge additional fees to holders of certain accounts that are not included in the expenses shown in the table on the following page. These fees apply to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Section 403(b) accounts. As of the close of the six-month period covered by the table, IRA fees included an annual maintenance fee of $15 per account (subject to a maximum annual maintenance fee of $25 for all accounts held by the same shareholder). Section 403(b) accounts are charged an annual $25 fiduciary maintenance fee. Some of the fees may vary in amount, or may be waived, based on your total account balance or the number of Prudential funds, including the Fund, that you own. You should consider the additional fees that were charged to your Fund account over the six-month period when you estimate the total ongoing expenses paid over the

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     13  


Fees and Expenses (continued)

 

period and the impact of these fees on your ending account value, as these additional expenses are not reflected in the information provided in the expense table. Additional fees have the effect of reducing investment returns.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Prudential Jennison
Blend Fund, Inc.
  Beginning  Account
Value
March 1, 2017
    Ending  Account
Value
August 31, 2017
    Annualized
Expense Ratio
Based on the
Six-Month Period
    Expenses  Paid
During the
Six-Month Period*
 
Class A   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,065.70       0.95   $ 4.95  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.42       0.95   $ 4.84  
Class B   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,061.70       1.65   $ 8.57  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,016.89       1.65   $ 8.39  
Class C   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,061.70       1.65   $ 8.57  
  Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,016.89       1.65   $ 8.39  
Class Z   Actual   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,067.20       0.65   $ 3.39  
    Hypothetical   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.93       0.65   $ 3.31  

 

*Fund expenses (net of fee waivers or subsidies, if any) for each share class are equal to the annualized expense ratio for each share class (provided in the table), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 184 days in the six-month period ended August 31, 2017, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2017 (to reflect the six-month period). Expenses presented in the table include the expenses of any underlying portfolios in which the Fund may invest.

 

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Schedule of Investments

as of August 31, 2017

 

Description    Shares      Value  

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS    97.8%

     

COMMON STOCKS

     

Aerospace & Defense    2.4%

                 

Boeing Co. (The)

     54,165      $ 12,981,184  

Curtiss-Wright Corp.

     12,320        1,192,822  

Esterline Technologies Corp.*

     4,377        373,796  

KLX, Inc.*

     38,211        1,831,835  

Moog, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     13,778        1,057,599  

United Technologies Corp.

     52,183        6,247,349  
     

 

 

 
        23,684,585  

Airlines    0.2%

                 

Spirit Airlines, Inc.*

     59,594        2,029,176  

Auto Components    0.3%

                 

Dorman Products, Inc.*

     15,617        1,037,281  

Tenneco, Inc.

     29,326        1,589,469  
     

 

 

 
        2,626,750  

Automobiles    0.7%

                 

Tesla, Inc.*(a)

     19,026        6,771,353  

Banks    10.0%

                 

Ameris Bancorp

     26,518        1,168,118  

Bank of America Corp.

     399,114        9,534,833  

Bank of the Ozarks

     86,409        3,712,131  

BankUnited, Inc.

     81,520        2,712,986  

BB&T Corp.

     130,027        5,992,944  

Brookline Bancorp, Inc.

     44,193        634,170  

Byline Bancorp, Inc.*

     31,233        659,953  

Citigroup, Inc.

     118,442        8,057,609  

Columbia Banking System, Inc.

     86,276        3,206,879  

Eagle Bancorp, Inc.*

     27,644        1,719,457  

East West Bancorp, Inc.

     105,569        5,845,356  

First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     23,064        811,853  

German American Bancorp, Inc.

     8,911        289,964  

Glacier Bancorp, Inc.

     54,478        1,809,214  

Investors Bancorp, Inc.

     31,324        410,031  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     279,323        25,387,667  

Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.*

     20,865        738,621  

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

     22,570        1,403,854  

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

     50,828        6,374,339  

Renasant Corp.

     58,699        2,337,981  

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida*

     85,717        1,960,348  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     15  


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of August 31, 2017

 

Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Banks (cont’d.)

 

Signature Bank*

     16,514      $ 2,119,407  

Wells Fargo & Co.

     79,256        4,047,604  

Wintrust Financial Corp.

     79,969        5,822,543  
     

 

 

 
        96,757,862  

Beverages    0.5%

                 

Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The) (Class A Stock)*(a)

     3,231        481,419  

MGP Ingredients, Inc.

     4,378        246,175  

Monster Beverage Corp.*

     66,217        3,696,233  
     

 

 

 
        4,423,827  

Biotechnology    3.8%

                 

Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.*(a)

     207,277        2,889,441  

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*

     32,607        2,940,825  

Celgene Corp.*

     72,219        10,033,386  

DBV Technologies SA (France), ADR*

     27,105        1,196,957  

Exact Sciences Corp.*

     15,100        632,539  

Juno Therapeutics, Inc.*

     61,252        2,527,870  

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co.*(a)

     42,114        1,438,193  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     8,935        4,439,801  

Shire PLC, ADR

     24,007        3,586,406  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     42,685        6,852,650  
     

 

 

 
        36,538,068  

Building Products    0.1%

                 

JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.*

     15,370        469,092  

PGT Innovations, Inc.*

     29,124        384,437  
     

 

 

 
        853,529  

Capital Markets    1.2%

                 

Evercore, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     19,925        1,503,341  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

     28,909        6,468,100  

Moelis & Co. (Class A Stock)

     63,816        2,514,350  

OM Asset Management PLC

     47,945        677,463  

Piper Jaffray Cos.

     14,270        791,272  
     

 

 

 
        11,954,526  

Chemicals    2.0%

                 

Dow Chemical Co. (The)

     77,998        5,198,567  

Ferro Corp.*

     259,947        5,009,179  

FMC Corp.

     60,428        5,210,102  

PolyOne Corp.

     110,058        3,977,496  
     

 

 

 
        19,395,344  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16  


Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Commercial Services & Supplies    0.8%

                 

Advanced Disposal Services, Inc.*

     93,090      $ 2,219,266  

Mobile Mini, Inc.

     110,100        3,330,525  

MSA Safety, Inc.

     8,190        596,723  

West Corp.

     81,837        1,912,531  
     

 

 

 
        8,059,045  

Communications Equipment    0.8%

                 

ADTRAN, Inc.

     57,554        1,271,943  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

     143,114        4,609,702  

Finisar Corp.*

     35,183        849,670  

NETGEAR, Inc.*

     7,269        348,912  

Viavi Solutions, Inc.*

     94,424        948,017  
     

 

 

 
        8,028,244  

Construction & Engineering    0.1%

                 

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp.*

     199,212        806,809  

Construction Materials    0.5%

                 

Summit Materials, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     150,529        4,446,627  

Consumer Finance    1.1%

                 

Capital One Financial Corp.

     71,886        5,722,844  

SLM Corp.*

     454,693        4,624,228  
     

 

 

 
        10,347,072  

Containers & Packaging    0.3%

                 

Sealed Air Corp.

     64,029        2,841,607  

Distributors    0.0%

                 

Core-Mark Holding Co., Inc.

     14,880        402,653  

Diversified Consumer Services    0.0%

                 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co.*

     38,123        388,855  

Diversified Telecommunication Services    0.3%

                 

Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

     40,771        1,899,929  

ORBCOMM, Inc.*

     83,458        923,045  
     

 

 

 
        2,822,974  

Electric Utilities    1.9%

                 

El Paso Electric Co.

     39,134        2,173,894  

Exelon Corp.

     128,220        4,855,691  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     17  


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of August 31, 2017

 

Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Electric Utilities (cont’d.)

                 

PG&E Corp.

     111,041      $ 7,815,066  

Portland General Electric Co.

     80,863        3,841,801  
     

 

 

 
        18,686,452  

Electrical Equipment    0.5%

                 

Eaton Corp. PLC

     71,058        5,099,122  

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components    1.3%

                 

Anixter International, Inc.*

     41,777        3,083,143  

Flex Ltd.*

     405,772        6,601,910  

Littelfuse, Inc.

     6,081        1,132,039  

Plexus Corp.*

     34,712        1,807,801  
     

 

 

 
        12,624,893  

Energy Equipment & Services    1.0%

                 

Basic Energy Services, Inc.*(a)

     17,575        250,268  

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.*

     146,485        1,699,226  

Halliburton Co.

     204,000        7,949,880  
     

 

 

 
        9,899,374  

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)    3.3%

                 

Acadia Realty Trust

     44,406        1,274,008  

American Tower Corp.

     36,150        5,352,008  

Chatham Lodging Trust

     30,000        608,400  

Colony NorthStar, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     197,876        2,594,154  

Cousins Properties, Inc.

     242,181        2,264,392  

Crown Castle International Corp.

     46,048        4,993,445  

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

     36,369        1,425,301  

Hersha Hospitality Trust

     211,088        3,913,572  

LaSalle Hotel Properties

     69,492        1,972,183  

National Storage Affiliates Trust

     113,668        2,537,070  

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

     56,029        1,882,014  

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

     77,027        1,528,216  

Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.

     86,698        1,286,598  
     

 

 

 
        31,631,361  

Food & Staples Retailing    1.1%

                 

Performance Food Group Co.*

     103,051        2,864,818  

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.*

     82,909        1,653,205  

United Natural Foods, Inc.*

     17,865        620,809  

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

     68,950        5,382,926  
     

 

 

 
        10,521,758  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18  


Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Food Products    1.5%

                 

Adecoagro SA (Argentina)*

     303,979      $ 2,948,596  

Conagra Brands, Inc.

     139,683        4,534,110  

Darling Ingredients, Inc.*

     141,628        2,464,327  

Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)*

     24,838        998,985  

Mondelez International, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     79,052        3,214,254  
     

 

 

 
        14,160,272  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies    1.8%

                 

Boston Scientific Corp.*

     108,040        2,976,502  

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.*

     21,653        635,949  

GenMark Diagnostics, Inc.*

     216,427        2,107,999  

Globus Medical, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     8,185        247,432  

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.*

     35,179        1,793,777  

K2M Group Holdings, Inc.*

     20,598        481,581  

Masimo Corp.*

     17,006        1,434,966  

Nevro Corp.*

     24,770        2,134,679  

Penumbra, Inc.*

     3,859        331,874  

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

     43,633        4,985,943  
     

 

 

 
     17,130,702  

Health Care Providers & Services    2.6%

                 

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.*(a)

     49,388        2,318,273  

Amedisys, Inc.*

     8,524        445,294  

Cigna Corp.

     35,378        6,440,919  

HealthEquity, Inc.*

     6,840        292,547  

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings*

     34,608        5,428,957  

Premier, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     22,030        738,005  

Teladoc, Inc.*(a)

     49,585        1,663,577  

Tivity Health, Inc.*

     77,817        3,050,426  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     26,085        5,188,306  
     

 

 

 
     25,566,304  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure    3.7%

                 

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.*

     7,267        218,737  

Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.

     19,155        325,827  

Brinker International, Inc.

     21,384        667,608  

Carnival Corp.

     83,216        5,781,848  

Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)

     23,423        970,415  

ClubCorp Holdings, Inc.

     91,936        1,562,912  

Jack in the Box, Inc.

     2,736        256,144  

Marriott International, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     63,402        6,567,179  

McDonald’s Corp.

     34,200        5,470,974  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     19  


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of August 31, 2017

 

Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (cont’d.)

                 

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.*

     192,679      $ 3,757,240  

Planet Fitness, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     130,006        3,298,252  

Vail Resorts, Inc.

     18,757        4,275,658  

Wingstop, Inc.

     74,404        2,411,434  

Zoe’s Kitchen, Inc.*(a)

     67,408        867,541  
     

 

 

 
     36,431,769  

Household Durables    0.5%

                 

Newell Brands, Inc.

     74,909        3,616,607  

TRI Pointe Group, Inc.*

     78,352        998,204  
     

 

 

 
     4,614,811  

Household Products    0.8%

                 

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)

     87,198        8,045,759  

Industrial Conglomerates    0.3%

                 

General Electric Co.

     113,767        2,792,980  

Insurance    2.3%

                 

Brighthouse Financial, Inc.*

     33,366        1,904,198  

Chubb Ltd.

     48,398        6,844,445  

MetLife, Inc.

     109,463        5,126,152  

Navigators Group, Inc. (The)

     22,843        1,274,639  

RLI Corp.

     4,912        262,890  

Validus Holdings Ltd.

     68,075        3,413,961  

White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd.

     3,792        3,303,098  
     

 

 

 
     22,129,383  

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail    3.8%

                 

Amazon.com, Inc.*

     15,153        14,859,032  

Etsy, Inc.*

     17,669        289,242  

Netflix, Inc.*

     68,847        12,028,259  

Priceline Group, Inc. (The)*

     4,553        8,432,520  

Wayfair, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     15,615        1,108,821  
     

 

 

 
     36,717,874  

Internet Software & Services    8.8%

                 

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (China), ADR*(a)

     106,151        18,230,373  

Alphabet, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     12,323        11,771,423  

Alphabet, Inc. (Class C Stock)*

     7,656        7,191,510  

Criteo SA (France), ADR*(a)

     42,881        2,088,734  

eBay, Inc.*

     132,696        4,794,306  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20  


Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Internet Software & Services (cont’d.)

                 

Facebook, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     98,677      $ 16,969,484  

MercadoLibre, Inc. (Argentina)

     19,496        5,039,131  

MINDBODY, Inc. (Class A Stock)*(a)

     49,277        1,165,401  

MuleSoft, Inc. (Class A Stock)*(a)

     54,395        1,185,811  

New Relic, Inc.*

     15,058        721,278  

Q2 Holdings, Inc.*

     76,265        3,096,359  

Shutterstock, Inc.*(a)

     14,585        489,764  

Stamps.com, Inc.*(a)

     3,679        703,609  

Tencent Holdings Ltd. (China)

     297,433        12,515,884  
     

 

 

 
     85,963,067  

IT Services    3.4%

                 

DXC Technology Co.

     41,776        3,550,960  

Global Payments, Inc.

     18,534        1,769,812  

InterXion Holding NV (Netherlands)*

     68,389        3,545,970  

Mastercard, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     77,130        10,281,429  

PayPal Holdings, Inc.*

     16,362        1,009,208  

Presidio, Inc.*(a)

     112,055        1,558,685  

Visa, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     113,183        11,716,704  
     

 

 

 
     33,432,768  

Life Sciences Tools & Services    0.5%

                 

INC Research Holdings, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     42,363        2,486,708  

NanoString Technologies, Inc.*

     33,203        512,986  

PAREXEL International Corp.*

     4,016        352,966  

PRA Health Sciences, Inc.*

     4,239        328,099  

VWR Corp.*

     29,305        967,651  
     

 

 

 
     4,648,410  

Machinery    1.8%

                 

Actuant Corp. (Class A Stock)

     86,941        2,090,931  

Barnes Group, Inc.

     18,577        1,161,434  

CIRCOR International, Inc.

     8,725        418,974  

Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.*

     69,579        1,634,411  

Kennametal, Inc.

     23,922        837,270  

Mueller Water Products, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     30,329        363,645  

NN, Inc.

     108,015        2,754,382  

RBC Bearings, Inc.*

     14,406        1,588,550  

Rexnord Corp.*

     142,862        3,411,545  

Terex Corp.

     58,631        2,260,225  

Woodward, Inc.

     8,638        606,474  
     

 

 

 
     17,127,841  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     21  


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of August 31, 2017

 

Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Media    2.9%

                 

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     43,097      $ 577,500  

Charter Communications, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     23,020        9,174,391  

Cinemark Holdings, Inc.

     93,337        3,107,189  

Comcast Corp. (Class A Stock)

     178,922        7,266,022  

Liberty Global PLC (United Kingdom) (Class C Stock)*

     71,022        2,345,857  

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     111,948        3,088,645  

Viacom, Inc. (Class B Stock)

     84,723        2,423,078  
     

 

 

 
     27,982,682  

Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)    0.2%

                 

MFA Financial, Inc.

     242,370        2,128,009  

Multiline Retail    0.0%

                 

Big Lots, Inc.

     5,136        244,474  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels    3.4%

                 

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

     45,510        1,862,724  

Arch Coal, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     17,141        1,369,052  

Chevron Corp.

     69,462        7,475,500  

Noble Energy, Inc.

     112,793        2,681,090  

PDC Energy, Inc.*

     22,548        886,813  

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (Netherlands) (Class A Stock), ADR

     125,930        6,948,817  

SemGroup Corp. (Class A Stock)

     87,526        2,249,418  

Suncor Energy, Inc. (Canada)

     144,056        4,514,043  

Tallgrass Energy GP LP

     54,036        1,452,488  

WPX Energy, Inc.*

     341,113        3,407,719  
     

 

 

 
     32,847,664  

Personal Products    0.6%

                 

elf Beauty, Inc.*(a)

     63,942        1,322,960  

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The) (Class A Stock)

     41,126        4,400,071  
     

 

 

 
     5,723,031  

Pharmaceuticals    4.3%

                 

Allergan PLC

     38,021        8,725,059  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     124,010        7,500,125  

Catalent, Inc.*

     7,266        300,013  

Dermira, Inc.*

     80,886        1,908,101  

Eli Lilly & Co.

     57,907        4,707,260  

GW Pharmaceuticals PLC (United Kingdom), ADR*(a)

     12,072        1,277,459  

Intersect ENT, Inc.*

     97,268        3,005,581  

Merck & Co., Inc.

     94,569        6,039,176  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22  


Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Pharmaceuticals (cont’d.)

                 

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     6,458      $ 246,050  

Pfizer, Inc.

     208,251        7,063,874  

Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc.*

     22,547        1,143,358  
     

 

 

 
     41,916,056  

Professional Services    0.4%

                 

Advisory Board Co. (The)*

     4,957        263,960  

Korn/Ferry International

     105,208        3,505,531  

TrueBlue, Inc.*

     29,019        593,438  
     

 

 

 
     4,362,929  

Real Estate Management & Development    0.2%

                 

HFF, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     36,839        1,404,671  

Marcus & Millichap, Inc.*(a)

     36,871        970,813  
     

 

 

 
     2,375,484  

Road & Rail    0.9%

                 

Ryder System, Inc.

     38,223        2,966,105  

Saia, Inc.*

     13,442        760,145  

Union Pacific Corp.

     44,343        4,669,318  
     

 

 

 
     8,395,568  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment    3.7%

                 

Broadcom Ltd.

     38,251        9,641,930  

Brooks Automation, Inc.

     75,056        1,956,710  

Cavium, Inc.*

     52,390        3,316,811  

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.*

     77,052        3,508,948  

MaxLinear, Inc.*

     50,692        1,094,947  

NVIDIA Corp.

     51,322        8,696,000  

Power Integrations, Inc.

     5,204        379,111  

Semtech Corp.*

     49,787        1,871,991  

Silicon Laboratories, Inc.*

     6,014        456,463  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

     60,533        5,013,343  
     

 

 

 
     35,936,254  

Software    8.6%

                 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

     153,281        10,049,102  

Adobe Systems, Inc.*

     67,090        10,409,685  

Aspen Technology, Inc.*

     23,134        1,463,226  

Callidus Software, Inc.*

     42,471        1,093,628  

CyberArk Software Ltd. (Israel)*

     47,767        1,911,158  

Fortinet, Inc.*

     53,782        2,054,472  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     23  


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of August 31, 2017

 

Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Software (cont’d.)

                 

HubSpot, Inc.*(a)

     42,139      $ 3,090,896  

Microsoft Corp.

     270,856        20,251,903  

Paycom Software, Inc.*(a)

     59,776        4,459,887  

Proofpoint, Inc.*(a)

     30,940        2,839,054  

PTC, Inc.*

     85,024        4,761,344  

salesforce.com, Inc.*

     112,173        10,711,400  

Varonis Systems, Inc.*

     84,341        3,272,431  

Workday, Inc. (Class A Stock)*

     55,110        6,045,016  

Zendesk, Inc.*

     47,161        1,292,211  
     

 

 

 
     83,705,413  

Specialty Retail    1.5%

                 

Chico’s FAS, Inc.

     29,003        222,743  

DSW, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     57,716        1,069,478  

Five Below, Inc.*

     54,456        2,590,472  

Francesca’s Holdings Corp.*

     60,521        439,382  

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

     27,507        1,650,970  

Industria de Diseno Textil SA (Spain), ADR

     333,946        6,365,011  

Party City Holdco, Inc.*(a)

     132,439        1,847,524  
     

 

 

 
     14,185,580  

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals    2.7%

                 

Apple, Inc.

     162,421        26,637,044  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods    1.3%

                 

adidas AG (Germany), ADR

     56,726        6,358,701  

Coach, Inc.

     104,355        4,351,604  

Fossil Group, Inc.*(a)

     49,370        409,277  

G-III Apparel Group Ltd.*

     13,128        361,020  

Steven Madden Ltd.*

     11,306        479,374  

Vera Bradley, Inc.*

     56,363        509,522  
     

 

 

 
     12,469,498  

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance    0.2%

                 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

     10,526        262,729  

Provident Financial Services, Inc.

     48,979        1,217,128  

WSFS Financial Corp.

     13,754        614,804  
     

 

 

 
     2,094,661  

Trading Companies & Distributors    0.4%

                 

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.*

     9,670        455,457  

Univar, Inc.*

     129,715        3,659,260  
     

 

 

 
     4,114,717  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24  


Description    Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services    0.5%

                 

Vodafone Group PLC (United Kingdom), ADR(a)

     158,071      $ 4,588,801  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $672,369,320)

 

     950,111,671  
     

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS    7.8%

     

AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS

                 

Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund(w)

     21,427,441        21,427,441  

Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund (cost $54,667,190; includes $54,608,608 of cash collateral for securities on loan)(b)(w)

     54,665,675        54,671,142  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $76,094,631)

        76,098,583  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS    105.6%
(cost $748,463,951)

 

     1,026,210,254  

Liabilities in excess of other assets    (5.6)%

 

     (54,174,797
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS    100.0%

 

   $ 972,035,457  
     

 

 

 

 

The following abbreviations are used in the annual report:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate

REITs—Real Estate Investment Trusts

* Non-income producing security.
(a) All or a portion of security is on loan. The aggregate market value of such securities, including those sold and pending settlement, is $53,852,717; cash collateral of $54,608,608 (included in liabilities) was received with which the Fund purchased highly liquid short-term investments.
(b) Represents security, or a portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment.
(w) PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund.

 

Fair Value Measurements:

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices generally in active markets for identical securities.

 

Level 2—quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, foreign currency exchange rates and other observable inputs.

 

Level 3—unobservable inputs for securities valued in accordance with Board approved fair valuation procedures.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     25  


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of August 31, 2017

 

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of August 31, 2017 in valuing such portfolio securities:

 

      Level 1         Level 2         Level 3    

Investments in Securities

     

Common Stocks

     

Aerospace & Defense

  $ 23,684,585     $     $   —  

Airlines

    2,029,176              

Auto Components

    2,626,750              

Automobiles

    6,771,353              

Banks

    96,757,862              

Beverages

    4,423,827              

Biotechnology

    36,538,068              

Building Products

    853,529              

Capital Markets

    11,954,526              

Chemicals

    19,395,344              

Commercial Services & Supplies

    8,059,045              

Communications Equipment

    8,028,244              

Construction & Engineering

    806,809              

Construction Materials

    4,446,627              

Consumer Finance

    10,347,072              

Containers & Packaging

    2,841,607              

Distributors

    402,653              

Diversified Consumer Services

    388,855              

Diversified Telecommunication Services

    2,822,974              

Electric Utilities

    18,686,452              

Electrical Equipment

    5,099,122              

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

    12,624,893              

Energy Equipment & Services

    9,899,374              

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

    31,631,361              

Food & Staples Retailing

    10,521,758              

Food Products

    14,160,272              

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

    17,130,702              

Health Care Providers & Services

    25,566,304              

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

    36,431,769              

Household Durables

    4,614,811              

Household Products

    8,045,759              

Industrial Conglomerates

    2,792,980              

Insurance

    22,129,383              

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail

    36,717,874              

Internet Software & Services

    73,447,183       12,515,884        

IT Services

    33,432,768              

Life Sciences Tools & Services

    4,648,410              

Machinery

    17,127,841              

Media

    27,982,682              

Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

    2,128,009              

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26  


      Level 1         Level 2         Level 3    

Investments in Securities (continued)

     

Common Stocks (continued)

     

Multiline Retail

  $ 244,474     $     $   —  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

    32,847,664              

Personal Products

    5,723,031              

Pharmaceuticals

    41,916,056              

Professional Services

    4,362,929              

Real Estate Management & Development

    2,375,484              

Road & Rail

    8,395,568              

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

    35,936,254              

Software

    83,705,413              

Specialty Retail

    14,185,580              

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

    26,637,044              

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

    12,469,498              

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

    2,094,661              

Trading Companies & Distributors

    4,114,717              

Wireless Telecommunication Services

    4,588,801              

Affiliated Mutual Funds

    76,098,583              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 1,013,694,370     $ 12,515,884     $  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

During the period, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 to report.

 

Industry Classification:

 

The industry classification of investments and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of August 31, 2017 were as follows (unaudited):

 

Banks

    10.0

Internet Software & Services

    8.8  

Software

    8.6  

Affiliated Mutual Funds (including 5.6% of collateral for securities on loan)

    7.8  

Pharmaceuticals

    4.3  

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail

    3.8  

Biotechnology

    3.8  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

    3.7  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

    3.7  

IT Services

    3.4  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

    3.4  

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

    3.3  

Media

    2.9  

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

    2.7  

Health Care Providers & Services

    2.6  

Aerospace & Defense

    2.4  

Insurance

    2.3  

Chemicals

    2.0  

Electric Utilities

    1.9  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

    1.8

Machinery

    1.8  

Specialty Retail

    1.5  

Food Products

    1.5  

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

    1.3  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

    1.3  

Capital Markets

    1.2  

Food & Staples Retailing

    1.1  

Consumer Finance

    1.1  

Energy Equipment & Services

    1.0  

Road & Rail

    0.9  

Commercial Services & Supplies

    0.8  

Household Products

    0.8  

Communications Equipment

    0.8  

Automobiles

    0.7  

Personal Products

    0.6  

Electrical Equipment

    0.5  

Life Sciences Tools & Services

    0.5  

Household Durables

    0.5  

Wireless Telecommunication Services

    0.5  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     27  


Schedule of Investments (continued)

as of August 31, 2017

 

Industry Classification (cont’d.)

     

Construction Materials

    0.5

Beverages

    0.5  

Professional Services

    0.4  

Trading Companies & Distributors

    0.4  

Containers & Packaging

    0.3  

Diversified Telecommunication Services

    0.3  

Industrial Conglomerates

    0.3  

Auto Components

    0.3  

Real Estate Management & Development

    0.2  

Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

    0.2  

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

    0.2  
       

Airlines

    0.2

Building Products

    0.1  

Construction & Engineering

    0.1  

Distributors

    0.0

Diversified Consumer Services

    0.0

Multiline Retail

    0.0
 

 

 

 
    105.6  

Liabilities in excess of other assets

    (5.6
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 

 

* Less than +/- 0.05%

 

Financial Instruments/Transactions—Summary of Offsetting and Netting Arrangements:

 

The Fund entered into financial instruments/transactions during the reporting period that are either offset in accordance with current requirements or are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements that permit offsetting. The information about offsetting and related netting arrangements for financial instruments/transactions, where the legal right to set-off exists, is presented in the summary below.

 

Offsetting of financial instruments/transactions assets and liabilities:

 

Description

  Gross Market
Value of
Recognized
Assets/(Liabilities)
    Collateral
Pledged/
(Received)(1)
    Net
Amount
 

Securities on Loan

  $ 53,852,717     $ (53,852,717   $   —  
 

 

 

     

 

(1) Collateral amount disclosed by the Fund is limited to the market value of financial instruments/transactions.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28  


This Page Intentionally Left Blank


Statement of Assets & Liabilities

as of August 31, 2017

 

Assets

        

Investments at value, including securities on loan of $53,852,717:

  

Unaffiliated investments (cost $672,369,320)

   $ 950,111,671  

Affiliated investments (cost $76,094,631)

     76,098,583  

Dividends receivable

     1,179,336  

Receivable for investments sold

     863,787  

Tax reclaim receivable

     120,867  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     56,476  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     1,028,430,720  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payable to broker for collateral for securities on loan

     54,608,608  

Payable for Fund shares reacquired

     523,509  

Management fee payable

     400,976  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     268,084  

Distribution fee payable

     254,805  

Payable for investments purchased

     213,832  

Affiliated transfer agent fee payable

     125,449  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     56,395,263  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 972,035,457  
  

 

 

 
          

Net assets were comprised of:

  

Common stock, at par

   $ 462,287  

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     627,944,557  
  

 

 

 
     628,406,844  

Undistributed net investment income

     1,148,948  

Accumulated net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

     64,733,362  

Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currencies

     277,746,303  
  

 

 

 

Net assets, August 31, 2017

   $ 972,035,457  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

30  


Class A

        

Net asset value and redemption price per share
($912,150,279 ÷ 43,254,525 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 21.09  

Maximum sales charge (5.50% of offering price)

     1.23  
  

 

 

 

Maximum offering price to public

   $ 22.32  
  

 

 

 

Class B

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($8,129,117 ÷ 425,756 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 19.09  
  

 

 

 

Class C

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($19,672,505 ÷ 1,029,964 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 19.10  
  

 

 

 

Class Z

        

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($32,083,556 ÷ 1,518,487 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 21.13  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     31  


Statement of Operations

Year Ended August 31, 2017

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

        

Income

  

Unaffiliated dividend income (net of foreign withholding taxes of $73,735)

   $ 11,608,835  

Income from securities lending, net (including affiliated income of $59,578)

     246,952  

Affiliated dividend income

     159,723  
  

 

 

 

Total income

     12,015,510  
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Management fee

     4,635,455  

Distribution fee—Class A

     2,670,916  

Distribution fee—Class B

     91,341  

Distribution fee—Class C

     200,488  

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses (including affiliated expense of $613,200)

     1,333,000  

Custodian and accounting fees

     122,000  

Registration fees

     68,000  

Shareholders’ reports

     57,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     29,000  

Audit fee

     24,000  

Directors’ fees

     22,000  

Miscellaneous

     29,688  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     9,282,888  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

     2,732,622  
  

 

 

 

Realized And Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Investments And Foreign Currency Transactions

        

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions (including affiliated of $6,198)

     80,768,518  

Foreign currency transactions

     (1,976
  

 

 

 
     80,766,542  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments (including affiliated of $3,952)

     67,470,367  
  

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     148,236,909  
  

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ 150,969,531  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

32  


Statement of Changes in Net Assets

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2017      2016  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

                 

Operations

     

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 2,732,622      $ 4,483,112  

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

     80,766,542        66,114,577  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currencies

     67,470,367        (45,402,057
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     150,969,531        25,195,632  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions

     

Dividends from net investment income

     

Class A

     (7,421,239      (1,926,983

Class B

     (29,062       

Class C

     (62,233       

Class Z

     (307,342      (229,440
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     (7,819,876      (2,156,423
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions from net realized gains

     

Class A

     (48,685,489      (96,064,305

Class B

     (572,609      (1,512,412

Class C

     (1,226,180      (2,530,072

Class Z

     (1,519,214      (4,602,880
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     (52,003,492      (104,709,669
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fund share transactions (Net of share conversions)

     

Net proceeds from shares sold

     10,169,016        13,654,901  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     58,523,588        104,429,027  

Cost of shares reacquired

     (125,948,279      (131,380,364
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions

     (57,255,675      (13,296,436
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     33,890,488        (94,966,896

Net Assets:

                 

Beginning of year

     938,144,969        1,033,111,865  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year(a)

   $ 972,035,457      $ 938,144,969  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(a) Includes undistributed net investment income of:

   $ 1,148,948      $ 4,957,820  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     33  


Notes to Financial Statements

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), as a diversified open-end management investment company.

 

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital growth.

 

1. Accounting Policies

 

The Fund follows investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The following accounting policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Fund consistently follows such policies in the preparation of its financial statements.

 

Securities Valuation: The Fund holds securities and other assets and liabilities that are fair valued at the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) has adopted valuation procedures for security valuation under which fair valuation responsibilities have been delegated to PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or “the Manager”) (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC). Under the current valuation procedures, the Valuation Committee is responsible for supervising the valuation of portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities. The valuation procedures permit the Fund to utilize independent pricing vendor services, quotations from market makers, and alternative valuation methods when market quotations are either not readily available or not deemed representative of fair value. A record of the Valuation Committee’s actions is subject to the Board’s review, approval, and ratification at its next regularly scheduled quarterly meeting.

 

Various inputs determine how the Fund’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the Schedule of Investments.

 

Common and preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds, and derivative instruments, such as futures or options, that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. In the event that no sale or official closing price on valuation date exists, these securities are generally valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price in the absence of an ask price. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

34  


Foreign equities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued using pricing vendor services that provide model prices derived using adjustment factors based on information such as local closing price, relevant general and sector indices, currency fluctuations, depositary receipts, and futures, as applicable. Securities valued using such model prices are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The models generate an evaluated adjustment factor for each security, which is applied to the local closing price to adjust it for post closing market movements. Utilizing that evaluated adjustment factor, the vendor provides an evaluated price for each security. If the vendor does not provide an evaluated price, securities are valued in accordance with exchange-traded common and preferred stock valuation policies discussed above.

 

Investments in open-end, non-exchange-traded mutual funds are valued at their net asset values as of the close of the NYSE on the date of valuation. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.

 

Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on pricing methodologies approved by the Board. In the event that unobservable inputs are used when determining such valuations, the securities will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

When determining the fair value of securities, some of the factors influencing the valuation include: the nature of any restrictions on disposition of the securities; assessment of the general liquidity of the securities; the issuer’s financial condition and the markets in which it does business; the cost of the investment; the size of the holding and the capitalization of the issuer; the prices of any recent transactions or bids/offers for such securities or any comparable securities; any available analyst media or other reports or information deemed reliable by the investment adviser regarding the issuer or the markets or industry in which it operates. Using fair value to price securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent closing price and from the price used by other unaffiliated mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities: Subject to guidelines adopted by the Board, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including those which are restricted as to disposition under securities law (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities are valued pursuant to the valuation procedures noted above. Illiquid securities are those that, because of the absence of a readily available market or due to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, cannot be sold within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the investment. Therefore, the Fund may find it difficult to sell illiquid securities at the time considered most advantageous by its Subadviser and may incur expenses that would not be incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. Certain securities that would otherwise be considered illiquid because of legal restrictions on resale to the general public may be traded among qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These Rule 144A securities, as well as commercial paper that is sold in private placements under Section 4(2) of the Securities

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     35  


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Act, may be deemed liquid by the Fund’s Subadviser under the guidelines adopted by the Directors of the Fund. However, the liquidity of the Fund’s investments in Rule 144A securities could be impaired if trading does not develop or declines.

 

Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:

 

(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities—at the current rates of exchange;

 

(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.

 

Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not generally isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities held at the end of the period. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities sold during the period. Accordingly, holding period realized foreign currency gains (losses) are included in the reported net realized gains (losses) on investment transactions.

 

Additionally, net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains (losses) from the disposition of holdings of foreign currencies, forward currency contracts, currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest, dividends and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains (losses) from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities (other than investments) at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currencies.

 

Master Netting Arrangements: The Fund is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received; and by the receipt of collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily enforceable. In addition to master netting arrangements, the right to set-off exists when all the conditions are met such that each of the parties owes the other determinable amounts,

 

36  


the reporting party has the right to set-off the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party, the reporting party intends to set-off and the right of set-off is enforceable by law. During the reporting period, there was no intention to settle on a net basis and all amounts are presented on a gross basis on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

Securities Lending: The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to banks and broker-dealers. The loans are secured by collateral at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Collateral pledged by each borrower is invested in an affiliated money market fund and is marked to market daily, based on the previous day’s market value, such that the value of the collateral exceeds the value of the loaned securities. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower will return to the Fund securities identical to the loaned securities. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund has the right to repurchase the securities in the open market using the collateral. The Fund recognizes income, net of any rebate and securities lending agent fees, for lending its securities in the form of fees or interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The borrower receives all interest and dividends from the securities loaned and such payments are passed back to the lender in amounts equivalent thereto. The Fund also continues to recognize any unrealized gain (loss) in the market price of the securities loaned and on the change in the value of the collateral invested that may occur during the term of the loan. In addition, realized gain (loss) is recognized on changes in the value of the collateral invested upon liquidation of the collateral. Net earnings from securities lending are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Income from securities lending, net”.

 

Concentration of Risk: Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of domestic origin as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of political or economic instability or the level of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets.

 

Equity and Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): The Fund invests in Equity REITs, which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Based on current and historical information, a portion of distributions received from Equity REITs during the period is estimated to be dividend income, capital gain or return of capital and recorded accordingly. When material these estimates are adjusted periodically when the actual source of distributions is disclosed by the Equity REITs.

 

Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains (losses) from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date. Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required, is recorded on the accrual basis. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual.

 

Net investment income or loss (other than distribution fees which are charged directly to the respective class) and unrealized and realized gains (losses) are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of adjusted net assets of each class at the beginning of the day.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     37  


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

 

Taxes: It is the Fund’s policy to continue to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable net investment income and capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, interest and capital gains, if any, are recorded, net of reclaimable amounts, at the time the related income is earned.

 

Dividends and Distributions: The Fund expects to pay dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified amongst undistributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gain (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate.

 

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

 

2. Agreements

 

The Fund has a management agreement with PGIM Investments. Pursuant to this agreement, PGIM Investments has responsibility for all investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser’s performance of such services. PGIM Investments has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”). The subadvisory agreement provides that Jennison will furnish investment advisory services in connection with the management of the Fund. In connection therewith, Jennison is obligated to keep certain books and records of the Fund. PGIM Investments pays for the services of Jennison, the cost of compensation of officers of the Fund, occupancy and certain clerical and bookkeeping costs of the Fund. The Fund bears all other costs and expenses.

 

The management fee paid to PGIM Investments is accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of .50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to $500 million, .475% of the next $500 million of the Fund’s average daily net assets and .45% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $1 billion. The effective management fee rate was .49% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the year ended August 31, 2017.

 

The Fund has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”) which acts as the distributor of the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates PIMS for distributing and servicing the Fund’s Class A, Class B and Class C shares, pursuant to plans of distribution (the “Distribution Plans”), regardless of expenses actually incurred by PIMS. The distribution fees are

 

38  


accrued daily and payable monthly. Pursuant to the Distribution Plans, the Fund compensates PIMS for distribution related activities at an annual rate of up to .30%, 1% and 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A, B and C shares, respectively. No distribution or service fees are paid to PIMS as distributor of the Class Z shares of the Fund.

 

PIMS has advised the Fund that it has received $199,312 in front-end sales charges resulting from sales of Class A shares during the year ended August 31, 2017. From these fees, PIMS paid such sales charges to affiliated broker-dealers, which in turn paid commissions to salespersons and incurred other distribution costs.

 

PIMS has advised the Fund that for the year ended August 31, 2017 it received $4, $6,984 and $325 in contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon redemptions by certain Class A, Class B and Class C shareholders, respectively.

 

PGIM Investments, PIMS and Jennison are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).

 

3. Other Transactions with Affiliates

 

Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (“PMFS”), an affiliate of PGIM Investments and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential, serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. Transfer agent’s fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations include certain out-of-pocket expenses paid to non-affiliates, where applicable.

 

The Fund may enter into certain securities purchase or sale transactions under Board approved Rule 17a-7 procedures. Rule 17a-7 is an exemptive rule under the 1940 Act, that permits purchase and sale transactions among affiliated investment companies, or between an investment company and a person that is affiliated solely by reason of having a common (or affiliated) investment adviser, common directors, and/or common officers. Such transactions are subject to ratification by the Board. For the reporting period ended August 31, 2017 no such transactions were entered into by the Fund.

 

The Fund may invest its overnight sweep cash in the Prudential Core Ultra Short Bond Fund (the “Core Fund”), and its securities lending cash collateral in the Prudential Institutional Money Market Fund (the “Money Market Fund”), each a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. For the reporting period ended August 31, 2017, PGIM, Inc. was compensated $43,114 by PGIM Investments for managing the Fund’s securities lending cash collateral as subadviser to the Money Market Fund. Earnings from the Core Fund and Money Market Fund are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income” and “Income from securities lending, net”, respectively.

 

4. Portfolio Securities

 

The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Treasury securities) for the year ended August 31, 2017, were $497,951,058 and $609,232,027, respectively.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     39  


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

 

5. Distributions and Tax Information

 

Distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles, are recorded on the ex-date. In order to present undistributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions and paid-in capital in excess of par on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities that more closely represent their tax character, certain adjustments have been made to undistributed net investment income and accumulated net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions. For the year ended August 31, 2017, the adjustments were to increase undistributed net investment income and decrease accumulated net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions by $1,278,382 due to the reclassification of net foreign currency losses and other book to tax differences. Net investment income, net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions and net assets were not affected by this change.

 

For the year ended August 31, 2017, the tax character of dividends paid by the Fund were $7,819,876 of ordinary income and $52,003,492 of long-term capital gains. For the year ended August 31, 2016, the tax character of dividends paid by the Fund were $2,156,423 of ordinary income and $104,709,669 of long-term capital gains.

 

As of August 31, 2017, the accumulated undistributed earnings on a tax basis were $7,945,823 of ordinary income and $62,803,575 of long-term capital gains. This differs from the amount shown on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities primarily due to cumulative timing differences between financial and tax reporting.

 

The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized appreciation as of August 31, 2017 were as follows:

 

Tax Basis

 

Gross

Unrealized
Appreciation

 

Gross

Unrealized
Depreciation

 

Net
Unrealized
Appreciation

$753,331,039   $293,822,182   $(20,942,967)   $272,879,215

 

The difference between book basis and tax basis is primarily attributable to deferred losses on wash sales and other book to tax adjustments.

 

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provisions for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. The Fund’s federal, state and local income tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

 

40  


6. Capital

 

The Fund offers Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z shares. Class A shares are sold with a front-end sales charge of up to 5.50%. Investors who purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares and redeem those shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1%, but are not subject to an initial sales charge. The Class A CDSC is waived for purchases by certain retirement or benefit plans. Class B shares are sold with a CDSC which declines from 5% to zero depending on the period of time the shares are held. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares on a quarterly basis approximately seven years after purchase. Class B shares are closed to new purchases. Class C shares are sold with a CDSC of 1% during the first 12 months. A special exchange privilege is also available for shareholders who qualified to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. Class Z shares are not subject to any sales or redemption charge and are available exclusively for sale to a limited group of investors.

 

Under certain circumstances, an exchange may be made from specified share classes of the Fund to one or more other share classes of the Fund as presented in the table of transactions in shares of common stock.

 

There are 1 billion shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, divided into five classes, designated Class A, Class B, Class C, Class Q, Class Z and Class T common stock, each of which consists of 200 million, 5 million, 25 million, 330 million, 340 million and 100 million authorized shares, respectively. The Fund currently does not have any Class Q or Class T shares outstanding.

 

At reporting period end, two shareholders of record held 34% of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

 

Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:

 

Class A

     Shares      Amount  

Year ended August 31, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       393,021      $ 7,773,690  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       2,898,839        55,019,965  

Shares reacquired

       (5,456,436      (107,927,405
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (2,164,576      (45,133,750

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       162,353        3,249,502  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (287,024      (5,700,647
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (2,289,247    $ (47,584,895
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       544,859      $ 10,240,942  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       5,102,245        95,973,224  

Shares reacquired

       (5,665,460      (106,834,628
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (18,356      (620,462

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       185,639        3,531,695  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (232,346      (4,361,507
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (65,063    $ (1,450,274
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     41  


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Class B

     Shares      Amount  

Year ended August 31, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       6,058      $ 108,185  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       34,509        595,964  

Shares reacquired

       (58,159      (1,052,984
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (17,592      (348,835

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (145,288      (2,634,692
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (162,880    $ (2,983,527
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       8,083      $ 147,186  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       86,878        1,497,773  

Shares reacquired

       (91,971      (1,577,031
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       2,990        67,928  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (201,713      (3,521,857
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (198,723    $ (3,453,929
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class C

               

Year ended August 31, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       65,785      $ 1,175,533  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       68,277        1,179,827  

Shares reacquired

       (215,130      (3,866,301
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (81,068      (1,510,941

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (59,716      (1,091,636
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (140,784    $ (2,602,577
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       92,040      $ 1,601,127  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       132,997        2,294,208  

Shares reacquired

       (259,921      (4,467,572
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (34,884      (572,237

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (12,359      (221,225
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (47,243    $ (793,462
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

42  


Class Z

     Shares      Amount  

Year ended August 31, 2017:

       

Shares sold

       56,217      $ 1,111,608  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       91,082        1,727,832  

Shares reacquired

       (678,387      (13,101,589
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (531,088      (10,262,149

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

       314,063        6,245,235  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (3,407      (67,762
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (220,432    $ (4,084,676
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year ended August 31, 2016:

       

Shares sold

       88,477      $ 1,665,646  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       248,076        4,663,822  

Shares reacquired

       (982,730      (18,501,133
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

       (646,177      (12,171,665

Shares issued upon conversion from other shares class(es)

       242,999        4,574,204  

Shares reacquired upon conversion into other share class(es)

       (71      (1,310
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

       (403,249    $ (7,598,771
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7. Borrowings

 

The Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Funds”), is a party to a Syndicated Credit Agreement (“SCA”) with a group of banks. The purpose of the SCA is to provide an alternative source of temporary funding for capital share redemptions. The SCA provides for a commitment of $900 million for the period October 6, 2016 through October 5, 2017. The Funds pay an annualized commitment fee of .15% of the unused portion of the SCA. Prior to October 6, 2016, the Funds had another SCA that provided a commitment of $900 million and the Funds paid an annualized commitment fee of .11% of the unused portion of the SCA. The Portfolio’s portion of the commitment fee for the unused amount, allocated based upon a method approved by the Board, is accrued daily and paid quarterly.

 

Subsequent to the reporting period end, the SCA has been renewed effective October 5, 2017 and will continue to provide a commitment of $900 million through October 4, 2018. The commitment fee paid by the Funds will continue to be .15% of the unused portion of the SCA. The interest on borrowings under both SCAs is paid monthly and at a per annum interest rate based upon a contractual spread plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the 1-month LIBOR rate or (3) zero percent.

 

Other affiliated registered investment companies that are parties to the SCA include portfolios that are subject to a predetermined mathematical formula used to manage certain benefit guarantees offered under variable annuity contracts. The formula may result in large scale asset flows into and out of the portfolios. Consequently, the portfolios may be more likely to utilize the SCA for purposes of funding redemptions. It may be possible for those portfolios to fully exhaust the committed amount of the SCA, thereby requiring the

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     43  


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Manager to allocate available funding per a Board-approved methodology designed to treat the Funds in the SCA equitably.

 

The Fund did not utilize the SCA during the year ended August 31, 2017.

 

8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Reporting Updates

 

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted new forms, rules and rule amendments intended to modernize and enhance the reporting and disclosure of information by registered investment companies and to improve the quality of information that registered investment companies provide to investors. Among the new reporting and disclosure requirements, the SEC would require registered investment companies to establish a liquidity risk management program and to file a new monthly Form N-PORT that provides more detailed information about fund holdings and their liquidity. In addition, the SEC is adopting new Form N-CEN which will require registered investment companies to annually report certain census-type information. The compliance dates are generally June 1, 2018 and December 1, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact to the funds.

 

9. Other

 

At the Fund’s Board meeting in March 2017, the Board approved a change in the methodology of allocating certain expenses, like Transfer Agent fees (including sub-transfer agent and networking fees) and Blue Sky fees. PGIM Investments implemented the changes effective September 1, 2017.

 

44  


Financial Highlights

Class A Shares  
     Year Ended August 31,  
  2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                        
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year     $19.19       $20.82       $23.71       $21.64       $17.75  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                        
Net investment income (loss)     .06       .09       .08       .05       .15  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions     3.12       .48       (.41     4.44       3.83  
Total from investment operations     3.18       .57       (.33     4.49       3.98  
Less Dividends and Distributions:                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.17     (.04     (.04     (.12     (.09
Distributions from net realized gains     (1.11     (2.16     (2.52     (2.30     -  
Total dividends and distributions     (1.28     (2.20     (2.56     (2.42     (.09
Net asset value, end of year     $21.09       $19.19       $20.82       $23.71       $21.64  
Total Return(b):     17.31%       2.96%       (1.54 )%      22.00%       22.50%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:                              
Net assets, end of year (000,000)     $912       $874       $950       $1,072       $973  
Average net assets (000,000)     $890       $884       $1,029       $1,041       $930  
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .97%       .98%       .96%       .95%       .97%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .97%       .98%       .96%       .95%       .97%  
Net investment income (loss)     .30%       .48%       .37%       .22%       .77%  
Portfolio turnover rate     53%       53%       46%       54%       73%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.
(b) Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     45  


Financial Highlights (continued)

Class B Shares  
     Year Ended August 31,  
  2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                        
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year     $17.50       $19.26       $22.23       $20.44       $16.81  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                        
Net investment income (loss)     (.07     (.04     (.07     (.10     .01  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions     2.83       .44       (.38     4.19       3.62  
Total from investment operations     2.76       .40       (.45     4.09       3.63  
Less Dividends and Distributions:                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.06     -       -       -       - (d) 
Distributions from net realized gains     (1.11     (2.16     (2.52     (2.30     -  
Total dividends and distributions     (1.17     (2.16     (2.52     (2.30     - (d) 
Net asset value, end of year     $19.09       $17.50       $19.26       $22.23       $20.44  
Total Return(b):     16.45%       2.24%       (2.23)%       21.20%       21.63%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of year (000,000)     $8       $10       $15       $22       $23  
Average net assets (000,000)     $9       $12       $18       $23       $23  
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.67%       1.68%       1.66%       1.65%       1.67%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.67%       1.68%       1.66%       1.65%       1.67%  
Net investment income (loss)     (.39)%       (.22)%       (.32)%       (.48)%       .08%  
Portfolio turnover rate     53%       53%       46%       54%       73%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.
(b) Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(d) Less than $.005 per share.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

46  


Class C Shares  
     Year Ended August 31,  
     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                        
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year     $17.50       $19.27       $22.23       $20.45       $16.82  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                        
Net investment income (loss)     (.07     (.04     (.07     (.10     .01  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions     2.84       .43       (.37     4.18       3.62  
Total from investment operations     2.77       .39       (.44     4.08       3.63  
Less Dividends and Distributions:                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.06     -       -       -       - (d) 
Distributions from net realized gains     (1.11     (2.16     (2.52     (2.30     -  
Total dividends and distributions     (1.17     (2.16     (2.52     (2.30     - (d) 
Net asset value, end of year     $19.10       $17.50       $19.27       $22.23       $20.45  
Total Return(b):     16.51%       2.18%       (2.19)%       21.14%       21.61%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of year (000,000)     $20       $20       $23       $26       $25  
Average net assets (000,000)     $20       $22       $25       $26       $23  
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.67%       1.68%       1.66%       1.65%       1.67%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.67%       1.68%       1.66%       1.65%       1.67%  
Net investment income (loss)     (.40)%       (.22)%       (.33)%       (.48)%       .07%  
Portfolio turnover rate     53%       53%       46%       54%       73%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.
(b) Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.
(d) Less than $.005 per share.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     47  


Financial Highlights (continued)

Class Z Shares  
     Year Ended August 31,  
     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
Per Share Operating Performance(a):                                        
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year     $19.22       $20.86       $23.76       $21.67       $17.78  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                        
Net investment income (loss)     .12       .15       .15       .12       .21  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions     3.12       .48       (.42     4.46       3.82  
Total from investment operations     3.24       .63       (.27     4.58       4.03  
Less Dividends and Distributions:                                        
Dividends from net investment income     (.22     (.11     (.11     (.19     (.14
Distributions from net realized gains     (1.11     (2.16     (2.52     (2.30     -  
Total dividends and distributions     (1.33     (2.27     (2.63     (2.49     (.14
Net asset value, end of year     $21.13       $19.22       $20.86       $23.76       $21.67  
Total Return(b):     17.67%       3.24%       (1.27)%       22.43%       22.82%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of year (000,000)     $32       $33       $45       $49       $41  
Average net assets (000,000)     $30       $37       $43       $45       $39  
Ratios to average net assets(c):                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .67%       .68%       .66%       .65%       .67%  
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     .67%       .68%       .66%       .65%       .67%  
Net investment income (loss)     .60%       .77%       .67%       .52%       1.08%  
Portfolio turnover rate     53%       53%       46%       54%       73%  

 

(a) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolios in which the Fund invests.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

48  


Report of Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), including the schedule of investments, as of August 31, 2017, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2017, by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures when replies from brokers were not received. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of August 31, 2017, and the results of its operations, changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the periods described in the first paragraph above, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

 

New York, New York

October 17, 2017

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.     49  


Tax Information (unaudited)

 

We are advising you that during the year ended August 31, 2017, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowed per share, but not less than $1.11 for Class A, B, C and Z as a capital gain distribution in accordance with Section 852(b)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

For the year ended August 31, 2017, the Fund reports, in accordance with Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, the following percentages of the ordinary income dividends paid as 1) qualified dividend income (QDI); and 2) eligible for corporate dividends received deduction (DRD).

 

       QDI      DRD  

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.

       100      100

 

In January 2018, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute 1099-DIV, as to the federal tax status of distributions received by you in calendar year 2017.

 

50  


INFORMATION ABOUT BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

(Unaudited)

Information about Board Members and Officers of the Fund is set forth below. Board Members who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Board Members.” Board Members who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund are referred to as “Interested Board Members.” The Board Members are responsible for the overall supervision of the operations of the Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Board in turn elects the Officers, who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund.

 

Independent Board Members(1)

Name, Address, Age

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years    Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years

Ellen S. Alberding (59)

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   President and Board Member, The Joyce Foundation (charitable foundation) (since 2002); Vice Chair, City Colleges of Chicago (community college system) (since 2011); Trustee, Skills for America’s Future (national initiative to connect employers to community colleges) (since 2011); Trustee, National Park Foundation (charitable foundation for national park system) (since 2009); Trustee, Economic Club of Chicago (since 2009).    None.

Kevin J. Bannon (65)

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   Retired; Managing Director (April 2008-May 2015) and Chief Investment Officer (October 2008-November 2013) of Highmount Capital LLC (registered investment adviser); formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (April 1993-August 2007) of Bank of New York Company; President (May 2003-May 2007) of BNY Hamilton Family of Mutual Funds.    Director of Urstadt Biddle Properties (equity real estate investment trust) (since September 2008).

Linda W. Bynoe (65)

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   President and Chief Executive Officer (since March 1995) and formerly Chief Operating Officer (December 1989-February 1995) of Telemat Ltd. (management consulting); formerly Vice President (January 1985-June 1989) at Morgan Stanley & Co. (broker-dealer).    Director of Simon Property Group, Inc. (retail real estate) (May 2003-May 2012); Director of Anixter International, Inc. (communication products distributor) (since January 2006); Director of Northern Trust Corporation (financial services) (since April 2006); Trustee of Equity Residential (residential real estate) (since December 2009).

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.


Independent Board Members(1)

Name, Address, Age

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years    Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years

Barry H. Evans (56)±

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   Retired; Formerly President (2005-2016), Global Chief Operating Officer (2014-2016), Chief Investment Officer-Global Head of Fixed Income (1998-2014), and various portfolio manager roles (1986-2006), Manulife Asset Management U.S.    Director, Manulife Trust Company (2011- present); Director, Manulife Asset Management Limited (2015-present); Formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors of Manulife Asset Management U.S. (2005-2016); Formerly Chairman of the Board, Declaration Investment Management and Research (2008-2016).

Keith F. Hartstein (61)

Board Member & Independent Chair

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   Retired; Member (since November 2014) of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (organization of independent mutual fund directors); formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (2005-2012), Senior Vice President (2004-2005), Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing (1997-2004), and various executive management positions (1990-1997), John Hancock Funds, LLC (asset management); Chairman, Investment Company Institute’s Sales Force Marketing Committee (2003-2008).    None.

Laurie Simon Hodrick (55)±

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (since 1996); Visiting Professor of Law and Rock Center for Corporate Governance Fellow, Stanford Law School (since 2015); Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University (since 2015); Sole Member, ReidCourt LLC (since 2008) (a consulting firm); Formerly Managing Director, Global Head of Alternative Investment Strategies, Deutsche Bank (2006-2008); Formerly Director/Trustee, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers Funds (1999-2006).    Independent Director, Corporate Capital Trust (since April 2017) (a business development company).

Michael S. Hyland, CFA (72)

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   Retired (since February 2005); formerly Senior Managing Director (July 2001-February 2005) of Bear Stearns & Co, Inc.; Global Partner, INVESCO (1999-2001); Managing Director and President of Salomon Brothers Asset Management (1989-1999).    None.

 

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Independent Board Members(1)

Name, Address, Age

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years    Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years

Richard A. Redeker (74)

Board Member & Independent Vice Chair

Portfolios Overseen: 87

   Retired Mutual Fund Senior Executive (47 years); Management Consultant; Director, Mutual Fund Directors Forum (since 2014); Independent Directors Council (organization of independent mutual fund directors)-Executive Committee, Chair of Policy Steering Committee, Governing Council.    None.

Stephen G. Stoneburn (74)

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   Chairman (since July 2011), President and Chief Executive Officer (since June 1996) of Frontline Medical Communications (publishing company); formerly President (June 1995-June 1996) of Argus Integrated Media, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Managing Director (January 1993-1995) of Cowles Business Media; Senior Vice President of Fairchild Publications, Inc. (1975-1989).    None.

 

± Mr. Evans and Ms. Hodrick joined the Board effective as of September 1, 2017.

 

Interested Board Members(1)

Name, Address, Age

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years    Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years

Stuart S. Parker (55)

Board Member & President

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   President of PGIM Investments LLC (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC) (since January 2012); Executive Vice President of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (since December 2012); Executive Vice President of Jennison Associates LLC and Head of Retail Distribution of PGIM Investments LLC (June 2005-December 2011).    None.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.


Interested Board Members(1)

Name, Address, Age

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years    Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years

Scott E. Benjamin (44)

Board Member & Vice President

Portfolios Overseen: 89

   Executive Vice President (since June 2009) of PGIM Investments LLC; Executive Vice President (June 2009-June 2012) and Vice President (since June 2012) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; Executive Vice President (since September 2009) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing, PGIM Investments (since February 2006); Vice President of Product Development and Product Management, Prudential Investments (2003-2006).    None.

Grace C. Torres* (58)

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 88

   Retired; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Prudential Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, Prudential Variable Contract Accounts and The Prudential Series Fund (1998-June 2014); Assistant Treasurer (March 1999-June 2014) and Senior Vice President (September 1999-June 2014) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) and Vice President (June 2005-June 2014) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) of Prudential Annuities Advisory Services, Inc.    Director (since July 2015) of Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. and Sun National Bank

 

* Note: Prior to her retirement in 2014, Ms. Torres was employed by PGIM Investments LLC. Due to her prior employment, she is considered to be an “interested person” under the 1940 Act. Ms. Torres is a Non-Management Interested Board Member.
(1)  The year that each Board Member joined the Board is as follows:

Ellen S. Alberding, 2013; Kevin J. Bannon, 2008; Linda W. Bynoe, 2005; Barry H. Evans, 2017; Keith F. Hartstein, 2013; Laurie Simon Hodrick, 2017; Michael S. Hyland, 2008; Richard A. Redeker, 1993; Stephen G. Stoneburn, 2003; Grace C. Torres, 2014; Stuart S. Parker, Board Member and President since 2012; Scott E. Benjamin, Board Member since 2010 and Vice President since 2009.

 

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Fund Officers(a)          

Name, Address and Age

Position with Fund

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

Raymond A. O’Hara (62)

Chief Legal Officer

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since July 2010) of Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential); Vice President (March 2011-Present) of Pruco Life Insurance Company and Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey; Vice President and Corporate Counsel (March 2011-Present) of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation; Chief Legal Officer of PGIM Investments LLC (since June 2012); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since June 2012) and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since June 2012); formerly Assistant Vice President and Corporate Counsel (September 2008-July 2010) of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; formerly Associate (September 1980-December 1987) and Partner (January 1988-August 2008) of Blazzard & Hasenauer, P.C. (formerly, Blazzard, Grodd & Hasenauer, P.C.).    Since 2012

Chad A. Earnst (42)

Chief Compliance Officer

   Chief Compliance Officer (September 2014-Present) of PGIM Investments LLC; Chief Compliance Officer (September 2014-Present) of the Prudential Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., Prudential Global Short Duration High Yield Income Fund, Inc., Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc. and Prudential Jennison MLP Income Fund, Inc.; formerly Assistant Director (March 2010-August 2014) of the Asset Management Unit, Division of Enforcement, US Securities & Exchange Commission; Assistant Regional Director (January 2010-August 2014), Branch Chief (June 2006-December 2009) and Senior Counsel (April 2003-May 2006) of the Miami Regional Office, Division of Enforcement, US Securities & Exchange Commission.    Since 2014

Deborah A. Docs (59)

Secretary

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2001) of Prudential; Vice President (since December 1996) and Assistant Secretary (since March 1999) of PGIM Investments LLC; formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary (May 2003-June 2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc.    Since 2004

Jonathan D. Shain (59)

Assistant Secretary

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since August 1998) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since May 2001) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since February 2001) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC; formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary (May 2003-June 2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc.    Since 2005

Claudia DiGiacomo (43)

Assistant Secretary

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (since December 2005); Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1999-2004).    Since 2005

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.


Fund Officers(a)          

Name, Address and Age

Position with Fund

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years   

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

Andrew R. French (54)

Assistant Secretary

   Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since February 2010) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (2006-2010) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC.    Since 2006

Charles H. Smith (44)

Anti-Money Laundering

Compliance Officer

   Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering Unit (since January 2015) of Prudential; committee member of the American Council of Life Insurers Anti-Money Laundering and Critical Infrastructure Committee (since January 2016); formerly Global Head of Economic Sanctions Compliance at AIG Property Casualty (February 2007-December 2014); Assistant Attorney General at the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Division of Public Advocacy. (August 1998-January 2007).    Since 2016

M. Sadiq Peshimam (53)

Treasurer and Principal

Financial and Accounting

Officer

   Vice President (since 2005) of PGIM Investments LLC; formerly Assistant Treasurer of funds in the Prudential Mutual Fund Complex (2006-2014).    Since 2006

Peter Parrella (59)

Assistant Treasurer

   Vice President (since 2007) and Director (2004-2007) within Prudential Mutual Fund Administration; formerly Tax Manager at SSB Citi Fund Management LLC (1997-2004).    Since 2007

Lana Lomuti (50)

Assistant Treasurer

   Vice President (since 2007) and Director (2005-2007), within Prudential Mutual Fund Administration; formerly Assistant Treasurer (December 2007-February 2014) of The Greater China Fund, Inc.    Since 2014

Linda McMullin (56)

Assistant Treasurer

   Vice President (since 2011) and Director (2008-2011) within Prudential Mutual Fund Administration.    Since 2014

Kelly A. Coyne (49)

Assistant Treasurer

   Director, Investment Operations of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since 2010).    Since 2015

 

(a) Excludes Mr. Parker and Mr. Benjamin, interested Board Members who also serve as President and Vice President, respectively.

Explanatory Notes to Tables:

 

  Board Members are deemed to be “Interested,” as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of their affiliation with PGIM Investments LLC and/or an affiliate of PGIM Investments LLC.

 

  Unless otherwise noted, the address of all Board Members and Officers is c/o PGIM Investments LLC, 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4410.

 

  There is no set term of office for Board Members or Officers. The Board Members have adopted a retirement policy, which calls for the retirement of Board Members on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age of 75.

 

  “Other Directorships Held” includes only directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the 1934 Act (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

 

  “Portfolios Overseen” includes all investment companies managed by PGIM Investments LLC. The investment companies for which PGIM Investments LLC serves as manager include the Prudential Mutual Funds, The Prudential Variable Contract Accounts, Target Mutual Funds, Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc., Prudential Global Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc., The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. and the Advanced Series Trust.

 

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Approval of Advisory Agreements

 

The Fund’s Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) consists of twelve individuals, nine of whom are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Directors”). The Board is responsible for the oversight of the Fund and its operations, and performs the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Directors have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chair of the Board is an Independent Director. The Board has established four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and two Investment Committees. Each committee is chaired by, and composed of, Independent Directors.

 

Annual Approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreements

 

As required under the 1940 Act, the Board determines annually whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement with PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”) and the Fund’s subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors,1 met on June 6-8, 2017 and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2018, after concluding that the renewal of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

In advance of the meetings, the Board requested and received materials relating to the agreements, and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its consideration. Among other things, the Board considered comparative fee information from PGIM Investments and Jennison. Also, the Board considered comparisons with other mutual funds in relevant Peer Universes and Peer Groups, as is further discussed below.

 

In approving the agreements, the Board, including the Independent Directors advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors it deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadviser, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders as the Fund’s assets grow. In their deliberations, the Directors did not identify any single factor which alone was responsible for the Board’s decision to approve the agreements with respect to the Fund. In connection with its deliberations, the Board considered information provided by PGIM Investments throughout the year at regular Board meetings, presentations from portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the meetings on June 6-8, 2017.

 

1  Barry H. Evans and Laurie Simon Hodrick joined the Board effective as of September 1, 2017. Neither Mr. Evans nor Ms. Hodrick participated in the consideration of the renewal of the advisory agreements.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.


Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)

 

 

The Directors determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PGIM Investments, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PGIM Investments and Jennison, which serves as the Fund’s subadviser pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PGIM Investments, are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment.

 

The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Directors’ reaching their determinations to approve the continuance of the agreements are separately discussed below.

 

Nature, quality and extent of services

 

The Board received and considered information regarding the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Fund by PGIM Investments and Jennison. The Board considered the services provided by PGIM Investments, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadviser for the Fund, as well as the provision of fund recordkeeping, compliance, and other services to the Fund. With respect to PGIM Investments’ oversight of the subadviser, the Board noted that PGIM Investments’ Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PGIM Investments, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PGIM Investments’ senior management on the performance and operations of the subadviser. The Board also considered that PGIM Investments pays the salaries of all of the officers and interested Directors of the Fund who are part of Fund management. The Board also considered the investment subadvisory services provided by Jennison, as well as adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with applicable Fund policies and procedures. The Board considered PGIM Investments’ evaluation of the subadviser, as well as PGIM Investments’ recommendation, based on its review of the subadviser, to renew the subadvisory agreement.

 

The Board considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PGIM Investments’ senior management responsible for the oversight of the Fund and Jennison, and also considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of Jennison’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. The Board was provided with information pertaining to PGIM Investments’ and Jennison’s organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to both PGIM Investments and Jennison. The Board also noted that it received favorable compliance reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as to both PGIM Investments and Jennison. The Board noted that Jennison is affiliated with PGIM Investments.

 

The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadvisory

 

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services provided to the Fund by Jennison, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that the Fund benefits from the services provided by PGIM Investments and Jennison under the management and subadvisory agreements.

 

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PGIM Investments

 

The Board was provided with information on the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in serving as the Fund’s investment manager. The Board discussed with PGIM Investments the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from fund management contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocations and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. The Board further noted that the subadviser is affiliated with PGIM Investments and that its profitability is reflected in PGIM Investments’ profitability report. Taking these factors into account, the Board concluded that the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable.

 

Economies of Scale

 

The Board received and discussed information concerning economies of scale that PGIM Investments may realize as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. The Board noted that the management fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints, which have the effect of decreasing the fee rate as assets increase, and that at its current level of assets the Fund’s effective fee rate reflected those rate reductions. The Board took note that the Fund’s fee structure currently results in benefits to Fund shareholders whether or not PGIM Investments realizes any economies of scale. The Board noted that economies of scale can be shared with the Fund in other ways, including low management fees from inception, additional technological and personnel investments to enhance shareholder services, and maintaining existing expense structures in the face of a rising cost environment. The Board also considered PGIM Investments’ assertion that it continually evaluates the management fee schedule of the Fund and the potential to share economies of scale through breakpoints or fee waivers as asset levels increase.

 

The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of PGIM Investments’ costs are not specific to individual funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.

 

Other Benefits to PGIM Investments and Jennison

 

The Board considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PGIM Investments and Jennison and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PGIM Investments included

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.


Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)

 

transfer agency fees received by the Fund’s transfer agent (which is affiliated with PGIM Investments), as well as benefits to its reputation or other intangible benefits resulting from PGIM Investments’ association with the Fund. The Board concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by Jennison included the ability to use soft dollar credits, as well as the potential benefits consistent with those generally resulting from an increase in assets under management, specifically, potential access to additional research resources and benefits to its reputation. The Board concluded that the benefits derived by PGIM Investments and Jennison were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.

 

Performance of the Fund / Fees and Expenses

 

The Board considered certain additional specific factors and made related conclusions relating to the historical performance of the Fund for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2016.

 

The Board also considered the Fund’s actual management fee, as well as the Fund’s net total expense ratio, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2016. The Board considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PGIM Investments to other funds and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds in a Peer Group. The actual management fee represents the fee rate actually paid by Fund shareholders and includes any fee waivers or reimbursements. The net total expense ratio for the Fund represents the actual expense ratio incurred by Fund shareholders.

 

The mutual funds included in the Peer Universe (the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Performance Universe)2, which was used to consider performance, and the Peer Group, which was used to consider expenses and fees, were objectively determined by Broadridge, an independent provider of mutual fund data. To the extent that PGIM Investments deemed appropriate, and for reasons addressed in detail with the Board, PGIM Investments may have provided supplemental data compiled by Broadridge for the Board’s consideration. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles, with the first quartile being the best 25% of the mutual funds (for performance, the best performing mutual funds and, for expenses, the lowest cost mutual funds).

 

2  The Fund was compared to the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Performance Universe, although the Fund is classified in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Performance Universe. The Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Performance Universe was utilized because PGIM Investments believes that the funds included in this Universe provide a more appropriate basis for Fund performance comparisons.

 

Visit our website at pgiminvestments.com  


The section below summarizes key factors considered by the Board and the Board’s conclusions regarding the Fund’s performance, fees and overall expenses. The table sets forth gross performance comparisons (which do not reflect the impact on performance of fund expenses, or any subsidies, expense caps or waivers that may be applicable) with the Peer Universe, actual management fees with the Peer Group (which reflect the impact of any subsidies or fee waivers), and net total expenses with the Peer Group, each of which were key factors considered by the Board.

 

Performance    1 Year    3 Years    5 Years    10 Years
    

4th Quartile

   4th Quartile    4th Quartile    3rd Quartile
Actual Management Fees: 1st Quartile
Net Total Expenses: 1st Quartile

 

   

The Board noted that the Fund underperformed its benchmark index over all periods.

   

The Board noted that the Fund’s recent performance had improved, with the Fund outperforming its benchmark index for the one-year period ended March 31, 2017, and ranking in the second quartile of its Peer Universe for the first quarter of 2017.

   

The Board considered PGIM Investments’ assertion that recent portfolio management changes had benefitted relative performance.

   

The Board concluded that, in light of the above, it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to continue to monitor performance and to renew the agreements.

   

The Board concluded that the management fees (including subadvisory fees) and total expenses were reasonable in light of the services provided.

 

*    *    *

 

After full consideration of these factors, the Board concluded that the approval of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.


   MAIL      TELEPHONE      WEBSITE

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

 

(800) 225-1852

 

www.pgiminvestments.com

 

PROXY VOTING
The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated to the Fund’s investment subadviser the responsibility for voting any proxies and maintaining proxy recordkeeping with respect to the Fund. A description of these proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the Fund’s website and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website.

 

DIRECTORS
Ellen S. Alberding Kevin J. Bannon Scott E. Benjamin Linda W. Bynoe Barry H. Evans Keith F. Hartstein  Laurie Simon Hodrick  Michael S. Hyland Stuart S. Parker Richard A. Redeker Stephen G. Stoneburn Grace C. Torres

 

OFFICERS
Stuart S. Parker, President Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President M. Sadiq Peshimam, Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Raymond A. O’Hara, Chief Legal Officer Deborah A. Docs, Secretary Chad A. Earnst, Chief Compliance Officer Charles H. Smith, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer Jonathan D. Shain, Assistant Secretary Claudia DiGiacomo, Assistant Secretary Andrew R. French, Assistant Secretary Peter Parrella, Assistant Treasurer Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer Linda McMullin, Assistant Treasurer Kelly A. Coyne, Assistant Treasurer

 

MANAGER   PGIM Investments LLC   655 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102

 

INVESTMENT SUBADVISER   Jennison Associates LLC   466 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017

 

DISTRIBUTOR   Prudential Investment
Management Services LLC
  655 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102

 

CUSTODIAN   The Bank of New York Mellon   225 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10286

 

TRANSFER AGENT   Prudential Mutual Fund
Services LLC
  PO Box 9658
Providence, RI 02940

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
  KPMG LLP   345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154

 

FUND COUNSEL   Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP   787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019

 


An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. An investor may obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus by visiting our website at www.pgiminvestments.com or by calling (800) 225-1852. The prospectus and summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

 

E-DELIVERY
To receive your mutual fund documents online, go to www.pgiminvestments.com/edelivery and enroll. Instead of receiving printed documents by mail, you will receive notification via email when new materials are available. You can cancel your enrollment or change your email address at any time by visiting the website address above.

 

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS
Shareholders can communicate directly with the Board of Directors by writing to the Chair of the Board, Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc., PGIM Investments, Attn: Board of Directors, 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Director by writing to the same address. Communications are not screened before being delivered to the addressee.

 

AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO SCHEDULE
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation and location of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Fund’s schedule of portfolio holdings is also available on the Fund’s website as of the end of each month no sooner than 15 days after the end of the month.

 

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852.

 

Mutual Funds:

ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
  MAY LOSE VALUE   ARE NOT A DEPOSIT OF OR GUARANTEED
BY ANY BANK OR ANY BANK AFFILIATE


LOGO

 

 

PRUDENTIAL JENNISON BLEND FUND, INC.

 

SHARE CLASS   A   B   C   Z
NASDAQ   PBQAX   PBQFX   PRECX   PEQZX
CUSIP   74441T108   74441T207   74441T306   74441T405

 

MF101E    


Item 2 – Code of Ethics – See Exhibit (a)

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the “Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies – Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers”) that applies to the registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer; the registrant’s Principal Financial Officer also serves as the Principal Accounting Officer.

The registrant hereby undertakes to provide any person, without charge, upon request, a copy of the code of ethics. To request a copy of the code of ethics, contact the registrant 800-225-1852, and ask for a copy of the Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies - Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers.

Item 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert –

The registrant’s Board has determined that Mr. Kevin J. Bannon, member of the Board’s Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert,” and that he is “independent,” for purposes of this Item.

Item 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services –

(a) Audit Fees

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), the Registrant’s principal accountant, billed the Registrant $23,576 and $39,548 respectively, for professional services rendered for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.

(b) Audit-Related Fees

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016: none.

(c) Tax Fees

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016: none.

(d) All Other Fees

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016: none.

(e) (1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures


THE PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUNDS

AUDIT COMMITTEE POLICY

on

Pre-Approval of Services Provided by the Independent Accountants

The Audit Committee of each Prudential Mutual Fund is charged with the responsibility to monitor the independence of the Fund’s independent accountants. As part of this responsibility, the Audit Committee must pre-approve the independent accounting firm’s engagement to render audit and/or permissible non-audit services, as required by law. In evaluating a proposed engagement of the independent accountants, the Audit Committee will assess the effect that the engagement might reasonably be expected to have on the accountant’s independence. The Committee’s evaluation will be based on:

 

    a review of the nature of the professional services expected to be provided,

 

    a review of the safeguards put into place by the accounting firm to safeguard independence, and

 

    periodic meetings with the accounting firm.

Policy for Audit and Non-Audit Services Provided to the Funds

On an annual basis, the scope of audits for each Fund, audit fees and expenses, and audit-related and non-audit services (and fees proposed in respect thereof) proposed to be performed by the Fund’s independent accountants will be presented by the Treasurer and the independent accountants to the Audit Committee for review and, as appropriate, approval prior to the initiation of such services. Such presentation shall be accompanied by confirmation by both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed non-audit services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants. Such proposed non-audit services shall be described in sufficient detail to enable the Audit Committee to assess the appropriateness of such services and fees, and the compatibility of the provision of such services with the auditor’s independence. The Committee shall receive periodic reports on the progress of the audit and other services which are approved by the Committee or by the Committee Chair pursuant to authority delegated in this Policy.

The categories of services enumerated under “Audit Services”, “Audit-related Services”, and “Tax Services” are intended to provide guidance to the Treasurer and the independent accountants as to those categories of services which the Committee believes are generally consistent with the independence of the independent accountants and which the Committee (or the Committee Chair) would expect upon the presentation of specific proposals to pre-approve. The enumerated categories are not intended as an exclusive list of audit, audit-related or tax services, which the Committee (or the Committee Chair) would consider for pre-approval.


Audit Services

The following categories of audit services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:

 

  Ø Annual Fund financial statement audits
  Ø Seed audits (related to new product filings, as required)
  Ø SEC and regulatory filings and consents

Audit-related Services

The following categories of audit-related services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:

 

  Ø Accounting consultations
  Ø Fund merger support services
  Ø Agreed Upon Procedure Reports
  Ø Attestation Reports
  Ø Other Internal Control Reports

Individual audit-related services that fall within one of these categories (except for fund merger support services) and are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process are subject to an authorized pre-approval by the Audit Committee so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $30,000. Any services provided under such pre-approval will be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regular meeting. Should the amount of such services exceed $30,000 any additional fees will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated). Fees related to fund merger support services are subject to a separate authorized pre-approval by the Audit Committee with fees determined on a per occurrence and merger complexity basis.

Tax Services

The following categories of tax services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:

 

  Ø Tax compliance services related to the filing or amendment of the following:
  Federal, state and local income tax compliance; and,
  Sales and use tax compliance
  Ø Timely RIC qualification reviews
  Ø Tax distribution analysis and planning
  Ø Tax authority examination services
  Ø Tax appeals support services
  Ø Accounting methods studies
  Ø Fund merger support services
  Ø Tax consulting services and related projects


Individual tax services that fall within one of these categories and are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process are subject to an authorized pre-approval by the Audit Committee so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $30,000. Any services provided under such pre-approval will be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regular meeting. Should the amount of such services exceed $30,000 any additional fees will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated).

Other Non-Audit Services

Certain non-audit services that the independent accountants are legally permitted to render will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee or by one or more Committee members to whom the Committee has delegated this authority and who will report to the full Committee any pre-approval decisions made pursuant to this Policy. Non-audit services presented for pre-approval pursuant to this paragraph will be accompanied by a confirmation from both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants.

Proscribed Services

The Fund’s independent accountants will not render services in the following categories of non-audit services:

 

  Ø

Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund

  Ø

Financial information systems design and implementation

  Ø

Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports

  Ø

Actuarial services

  Ø

Internal audit outsourcing services

  Ø

Management functions or human resources

  Ø

Broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services

  Ø

Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit

  Ø

Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible.

Pre-approval of Non-Audit Services Provided to Other Entities Within the Prudential Fund Complex

Certain non-audit services provided to PGIM Investments LLC or any of its affiliates that also provide ongoing services to the Prudential Mutual Funds will be subject to pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The only non-audit services provided to these entities that will require pre-approval are those related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds. Individual projects that are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those


services does not exceed $30,000. Services presented for pre-approval pursuant to this paragraph will be accompanied by a confirmation from both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants.

Although the Audit Committee will not pre-approve all services provided to PGIM Investments LLC and its affiliates, the Committee will receive an annual report from the Fund’s independent accounting firm showing the aggregate fees for all services provided to PGIM Investments LLC and its affiliates.

(e) (2) Percentage of services referred to in 4(b) – 4(d) that were approved by the audit committee
  For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016: none.
(f) Percentage of hours expended attributable to work performed by other than full time employees of principal accountant if greater than 50%.
  The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was 0%.
(g) Non-Audit Fees
  The aggregate non-audit fees billed by KPMG for services rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016 was $0 and $0, respectively.
(h) Principal Accountant’s Independence
  Not applicable as KPMG has not provided non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X.
Item 5 –   Audit Committee of Listed Registrants – Not applicable.
Item 6 –   Schedule of Investments – The schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
Item 7 –   Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.
Item 8 –   Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.
Item 9 –   Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not applicable.
Item 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – Not applicable.
Item 11 – Controls and Procedures


   (a)   It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
   (b)   There has been no significant change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12 – Exhibits

   (a)  

(1)  Code of Ethics – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.CODE-ETH

    

(2)  Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Attached hereto as Exhibit  EX-99.CERT.

    

(3)  Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1. – Not applicable.

   (b)   Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.906CERT.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Registrant:

 

Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Deborah A. Docs

 

Deborah A. Docs

 

Secretary

Date:

 

October 18, 2017

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/ Stuart S. Parker

 

Stuart S. Parker

 

President and Principal Executive Officer

Date:  

October 18, 2017

 

By:

 

/s/ M. Sadiq Peshimam

 

M. Sadiq Peshimam

 

Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Date:  

October 18, 2017