N-CSRS 1 dncsrs.htm GUARDIAN VALUE LINE CENTURION FUND Guardian Value Line Centurion Fund

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     811-3835    

 

Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

220 East 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10017

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 212-907-1500

 

Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2004

 

Date of reporting period: June 30, 2005

 



Item I. Reports to Stockholders.

 

A copy of the Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders for the period ended 6/30/05 is included with this Form.


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc. (Unaudited)

 

Semiannual Report
To Contractowners


 

LOGO

Bradley Brooks, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

Objective:

Long-term growth of capital

 

Inception Date:

November 15, 1983

 

Net Assets at

June 30, 2005:

$326,274,990

 

Portfolio Composition at June 30, 2005:

(Percentage of Total Net Assets)

LOGO

 


 

Top Ten Holdings  (As of 6/30/05)

 

         Company      Percentage of
Total Net Assets
 

Itron, Inc.

     1.46 %

Advisory Board Co. (The)

     1.36 %

Toll Brothers, Inc.

     1.36 %

Legg Mason, Inc.

     1.33 %

Southwestern Energy Co.

     1.32 %

KB Home

     1.32 %

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

     1.31 %

Anteon International Corp.

     1.30 %

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

     1.29 %

EOG Resources, Inc.

     1.28 %

 

Sector Weightings vs. Index  (As of 6/30/05)

 

LOGO

 

Average Annual Total Returns  (For periods ended 6/30/05)

 

    Year
to Date
  1
Yr
  3
Yrs
  5
Yrs
  10
Yrs
 

Since Inception

11/15/1983

Value Line Centurion Fund

  1.04%   8.66%   5.11%   –5.86%   7.25%   10.11%

S&P 500 Index

  –.81%   6.32%   8.28%   –2.38%   9.94%   12.40%

 


About information in this report:

  All performance data quoted is historical and the results represent past performance and neither guarantee nor predict future investment results. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month (availability within 7 business days of the most recent month end), please call us at (800) 221-3253 or visit our website at www.guardianinvestor.com. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted here. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost.
  It is important to consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses before investing. All funds involve some risk, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.
  The S&P 500 Index is an index of 500 primarily large cap U.S. stocks that is generally considered to be representative of U.S. stock market activity. Index returns are provided for comparative purposes. Please note that the index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment and its returns do not reflect the fees and expenses that have been deducted from the Fund.
  Total return figures are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and distributions and the deduction of all Fund expenses. The actual total returns for owners of variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies that provide for investment in the Fund will be lower to reflect separate account and contract/policy charges. The return figures shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a contractowner may pay on distributions or redemption of units.

 


 

VALUE LINE CENTURION FUND, INC.    1


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc. (Unaudited)

 

Semiannual Report
To Contractowners


 

Fund Expenses

 

By investing in the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including, as applicable, sales charges on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including, as applicable, management fees; distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. 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 underlying funds.

 

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested on January 1, 2005 and held for six months ended June 30, 2005.

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line 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 divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line 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.

 

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), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, 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.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2005
   Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2005
   Expenses Paid
During Period*
   Annualized
Expense Ratio

Actual

   $ 1,000    $ 1,010.40    $ 4.79    0.96%

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000    $ 1,020.03    $ 4.81    0.96%

 

*   Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the Fund’s most recent fiscal half-year).

 


 

2   VALUE LINE CENTURION FUND, INC.


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments

 

June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)

 

Common Stocks — 97.3%
Shares         Value
             
Auto & Truck — 1.0%
42,900   

Oshkosh Truck Corp.

   $ 3,358,212

Biotechnology — 3.8%
55,200   

Amgen, Inc.*

     3,337,392
28,000   

Genentech, Inc.*

     2,247,840
47,500   

Invitrogen Corp.*

     3,956,275
63,000   

Techne Corp.*

     2,892,330
         

            12,433,837

Canadian Energy — 1.1%
93,000   

EnCana Corp.

     3,681,870

Chemical–Diversified — 0.2%
11,700   

Eastman Chemical Co.

     645,255

Coal — 3.9%       
55,000   

Arch Coal, Inc.

     2,995,850
55,000   

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

     2,946,900
100,150   

Joy Global, Inc.

     3,364,038
66,400   

Peabody Energy Corp.

     3,455,456
         

            12,762,244

Computer & Peripherals — 2.7%
84,700   

Dell, Inc.*

     3,346,497
62,000   

MICROS Systems, Inc.*

     2,774,500
146,000   

Seagate Technology

     2,562,300
         

            8,683,297

Computer Software & Services — 6.6%
92,700   

Anteon International Corp.*

     4,228,974
79,000   

Autodesk, Inc.

     2,715,230
70,000   

Cognizant Technology Solutions
Corp., Class “A”*

     3,299,100
71,400   

Fiserv, Inc.*

     3,066,630
58,000   

Mercury Interactive Corp.*

     2,224,880
200,000   

Oracle Corp.*

     2,640,000
240,900   

Western Digital Corp.*

     3,232,878
         

            21,407,692

Drug — 2.4%
79,000   

Celgene Corp.*

     3,220,830
67,300   

Cephalon, Inc.*

     2,679,213
60,000   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

     1,868,400
         

            7,768,443

E-Commerce — 0.9%
117,000   

WebEx Communications, Inc.*

     3,089,970

Educational Services — 0.9%
76,000   

Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.*

     3,094,720

Electrical Equipment — 0.8%
135,000   

Corning, Inc.*

     2,243,700
19,200   

Thomas & Betts Corp.*

     542,208
         

            2,785,908

Electrical Utility — East — 1.1%
117,900   

Jabil Circuit, Inc.*

     3,623,067

Grocery — 0.9%
26,000   

Whole Foods Market, Inc.

     3,075,800

Healthcare Information Systems — 2.0%
50,000   

Cerner Corp.*

     3,398,500
319,600   

WebMD Corp.*

     3,282,292
         

            6,680,792

 

 

Shares         Value
             
Homebuilding — 9.7%
72,000   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

   $ 4,114,800
102,266   

D.R. Horton, Inc.

     3,846,224
62,300   

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., Class “A”*

     4,061,960
56,600   

KB Home

     4,314,618
45,200   

Pulte Homes, Inc.

     3,808,100
45,600   

Ryland Group, Inc. (The)

     3,459,672
42,300   

Standard Pacific Corp.

     3,720,285
43,700   

Toll Brothers, Inc.*

     4,437,735
         

            31,763,394

Hotel/Gaming — 2.0%
86,400   

MGM MIRAGE*

     3,419,712
45,700   

Station Casinos, Inc.

     3,034,480
         

            6,454,192

Information Services — 2.9%
91,300   

Advisory Board Co. (The)*

     4,449,962
57,000   

Equifax, Inc.

     2,035,470
39,000   

Getty Images, Inc.*

     2,896,140
         

            9,381,572

Internet — 1.8%
87,500   

CheckFree Corp.*

     2,980,250
87,000   

Yahoo!, Inc.*

     3,014,550
         

            5,994,800

Machinery — 0.9%
265,000   

Columbus McKinnon Corp.*

     2,903,075

Medical Services — 6.2%
46,000   

Aetna, Inc.

     3,809,720
98,900   

Community Health Systems, Inc.*

     3,737,431
60,000   

HCA, Inc.

     3,400,200
64,000   

LCA-Vision, Inc.

     3,101,440
54,200   

Triad Hospitals, Inc.*

     2,961,488
60,000   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     3,128,400
         

            20,138,679

Medical Supplies — 5.1%
68,300   

Affymetrix, Inc.*

     3,683,419
27,000   

Alcon, Inc.

     2,952,450
49,000   

ResMed, Inc.*

     3,233,510
82,000   

Respironics, Inc.*

     2,961,020
88,200   

SurModics, Inc.*

     3,825,234
         

            16,655,633

Metal Fabricating — 1.1%
76,700   

Lone Star Technologies, Inc.*

     3,489,850

Metals & Mining — Diversified — 1.0%
97,100   

Teck Cominco Ltd. Class “B”

     3,270,687

Natural Gas — Diversified — 3.7%
73,600   

EOG Resources, Inc.

     4,180,480
92,000   

Southwestern Energy Co.*

     4,322,160
102,266   

XTO Energy, Inc.

     3,476,021
         

            11,978,661

Oilfield Services/Equipment — 1.0%
60,100   

Cal Dive International, Inc.*

     3,147,437

Petroleum–Integrated — 0.6%
26,344   

Kerr-McGee Corp.

     2,010,311

Petroleum–Producing — 0.7%
30,000   

Noble Energy, Inc.

     2,269,500

 


See notes to financial statements.

 

     3


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments

 

June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)

 

Shares         Value
             
Pharmacy — 3.5%
67,400   

Express Scripts, Inc.*

   $ 3,368,652
91,700   

Longs Drug Stores Corp.

     3,947,685
85,700   

Walgreen Co.

     3,941,343
         

            11,257,680

Railroad — 1.0%
80,000   

CSX Corp.

     3,412,800

Restaurant — 2.3%
114,400   

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

     3,772,912
60,000   

Panera Bread Co. Class “A”*

     3,725,100
         

            7,498,012

Retail Automotive — 2.3%
66,000   

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.*

     4,260,300
104,000   

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*

     3,100,240
         

            7,360,540

Retail Building Supply — 1.2%
54,800   

Building Materials Holding Corp.

     3,797,092

Retail–Special Lines — 7.3%
57,900   

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Class “A”

     3,977,730
137,400   

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

     4,211,310
74,000   

Chico’s FAS, Inc.*

     2,536,720
88,000   

Coach, Inc.*

     2,954,160
87,750   

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The)*

     3,021,233
69,000   

Michaels Stores, Inc.

     2,854,530
73,300   

Urban Outfitters, Inc.*

     4,155,377
         

            23,711,060

Retail Store — 2.1%
67,300   

J.C. Penney Company, Inc.

     3,538,634
50,000   

Nordstrom, Inc.

     3,398,500
         

            6,937,134

Securities Brokerage — 2.2%
10,000   

Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings, Inc.

     2,955,000
41,700   

Legg Mason, Inc.

     4,341,387
         

            7,296,387

Semiconductor — 1.8%
120,000   

NVIDIA Corp.*

     3,206,400
118,000   

Photronics, Inc.*

     2,754,120
         

            5,960,520

Telecommunications Equipment — 3.8%
139,000   

ADC Telecommunications, Inc.*

     3,026,030
154,000   

Cisco Systems, Inc.*

     2,942,940
115,000   

Juniper Networks, Inc.*

     2,895,700
88,300   

Marvell Technology Group Ltd.*

     3,358,932
         

            12,223,602

Toiletries/Cosmetics — 1.0%
75,000   

Chattem, Inc.*

     3,105,000

Trucking — 1.6%       
150,000   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)*

     2,235,000
132,000   

Swift Transportation Company, Inc.*

     3,074,280
         

            5,309,280

Shares         Value  
                 
  Wireless Networking — 2.2%  
  106,300   

Itron, Inc.*

   $ 4,749,484  
  236,000   

Powerwave Technologies, Inc.*

     2,411,920  
           


              7,161,404  



 
 
 
Total Common Stocks and
Total Investment Securities — 97.3%
(Cost $280,418,360)
   $ 317,579,409  



                 
 
 
Repurchase Agreements — 3.1%
(including accrued interest)
 
 
Principal
Amount
        Value  
$ 5,500,000   

Collateralized by $4,168,000
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 6.625%, due 2/15/27, with a value of $5,734,987 (with UBS Warburg LLC, 2.75%, dated 6/30/05, due 7/1/05, delivery value $5,500,420)

   $ 5,500,420  
  4,500,000   

Collateralized by $4,595,000
U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.875%, due 1/31/06, with a value of $4,624,956 (with Morgan Stanley, 2.80%,
dated 6/30/05, due 7/1/05, delivery value $4,500,350)

     4,500,350  



      

Total Repurchase Agreements
(Cost $10,000,770)

     10,000,770  



 
 
Excess of Liabilities Over Cash and
Other Assets — (–0.4%)
     (1,305,189 )



  Net Assets — 100.0%    $ 326,274,990  



 
 
Net Asset Value Per Outstanding Share
($326,274,990 ÷ 15,957,677 shares outstanding)
   $ 20.45  



 

*   Non-income producing.

 


See notes to financial statements.

 

4    


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)


 

ASSETS

        

Investment securities, at value (cost $280,418,360)

   $ 317,579,409  

Repurchase agreements (cost $10,000,770)

     10,000,770  

Cash

     37,523  

Receivable for securities sold

     7,978,437  

Dividends receivable

     114,512  

Prepaid insurance expense

     16,072  

Receivable for capital shares sold

     11,930  

Other assets

     2,314  
    


Total Assets

     335,740,967  
    


LIABILITIES

        

Payable for securities purchased

     9,017,342  

Payable for capital shares repurchased

     165,512  

Accrued expenses:

        

Advisory fee

     134,108  

Service and distribution plan fees

     107,286  

Other

     41,729  
    


Total Liabilities

     9,465,977  
    


Net Assets

   $ 326,274,990  
    


NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

        

Capital stock, at $1.00 par value (authorized 50,000,000, outstanding 15,957,677 shares)

   $ 15,957,677  

Additional paid-in capital

     242,648,291  

Undistributed net investment loss

     (676,978 )

Accumulated net realized gain on investments

     31,184,331  

Net unrealized appreciation of investments

     37,161,669  
    


Net Assets

   $ 326,274,990  
    


Net Asset Value Per Outstanding Share
($326,274,990 ÷ 15,957,677 shares outstanding)

     $20.45  
    


 

Statement of Operations

 

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)


 

INVESTMENT INCOME

        

Dividends (Net of foreign tax of $8,214)

   $ 687,838  

Interest

     193,007  
    


Total Income

     880,845  
    


Expenses

        

Advisory fee

     815,958  

Service and distribution plan fees

     652,767  

Auditing and legal fees

     32,580  

Custodian fees

     25,942  

Insurance

     19,910  

Directors’ fees and expenses

     11,765  

Other

     5,973  
    


Total Expenses Before Custody Credits

     1,564,895  

Less: Custody Credits

     (1,507 )
    


Net Expenses

     1,563,388  
    


Net Investment Loss

     (682,543 )
    


NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN
ON INVESTMENTS

        

Net realized gain

     197,774  

Change in net unrealized appreciation

     3,074,772  
    


Net Realized Gain and Change in Net
Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

     3,272,546  
    


NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS
FROM OPERATIONS

   $ 2,590,003  
    


 


See notes to financial statements.

 

     5


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

       Six Months Ended
June 30, 2005
(Unaudited)


       Year Ended
December 31,
2004


 

Operations:

                     

Net investment loss

     $ (682,543 )      $ (914,246 )

Net realized gain on investments

       197,774          52,024,708  

Change in net unrealized appreciation

       3,074,772          (14,245,468 )
      


    


Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

       2,590,003          36,864,994  
      


    


Capital Share Transactions:

                     

Proceeds from sale of shares

       3,639,453          10,476,991  

Cost of shares repurchased

       (30,363,123 )        (52,368,057 )
      


    


Net decrease from capital share transactions

       (26,723,670 )        (41,891,066 )
      


    


Total Decrease in Net Assets

       (24,133,667 )        (5,026,072 )

NET ASSETS:

                     

Beginning of period

       350,408,657          355,434,729  
      


    


End of period

     $ 326,274,990        $ 350,408,657  
      


    


Undistributed net investment income (loss), at end of period

     $ (676,978 )      $ 5,565  
      


    


 


See notes to financial statements.

 

6    


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)

 

1.   Significant Accounting Policies

 

Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is an open-end diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, whose primary investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Fund’s portfolio will usually consist of common stocks ranked 1 or 2 for year-ahead performance by the Value Line Investment Survey, one of the nation’s major investment advisory services.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

 

(A)  Security Valuation

 

Securities listed on a securities exchange are valued at the closing sales price on the date as of which the net asset value is being determined. Securities traded on the NASDAQ Stock market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. In the absence of closing sales prices for such securities and for securities traded in the over-the-counter market, the security is valued at the midpoint between the latest available and representative asked and bid prices. Short-term instruments with maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. Short-term instruments with maturities greater than 60 days, at the date of purchase, are valued at the midpoint between the latest available and representative asked and bid prices, and commencing 60 days prior to maturity such securities are valued at amortized cost. Other assets and securities for which market valuations are not readily available are valued at fair value as the Board of Directors may determine in good faith. In addition, the Fund may use the fair value of a security when the closing market price on the primary exchange where the security is traded no longer accurately reflects the value of a security due to factors affecting one or more relevant securities markets or the specific issuer.

 

(B)  Repurchase Agreements

 

In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements, the Fund’s custodian takes possession of the underlying collateral securities, the value of which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market on a daily basis to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. In the event of default of the obligation to repurchase, the Fund has the right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of the obligation. Under certain circumstances, in the event of default or bankruptcy by the other party to the agreement, realization and/or retention of the collateral or proceeds may be subject to legal proceedings.

 

(C)  Federal Income Taxes

 

It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

 

(D)  Dividends and Distributions

 

It is the Fund’s policy to distribute to its shareholders, as dividends and as capital gains distributions, all the net investment income for the year and all the net capital gains realized by the Fund, if any. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. All dividends or distributions will be payable in shares of the Fund at the net asset value on the ex-dividend date. This policy is, however, subject to change at any time by the Board of Directors.

 

(E)  Investments

 

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest income on investments, adjusted for amortization of discount and premium, is earned from settlement date and recognized on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

(F)  Representations and Indemnifications

 

In the normal course of business the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

 


 

     7


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)

 

2.   Capital Share Transactions, Dividends and Distributions

 

Shares of the Fund are available to the public only through the purchase of certain contracts issued by The Guardian Insurance and Annuity Company, Inc. (GIAC). Transactions in capital stock were as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2005
(Unaudited)


    Year Ended
December 31,
2004


 

Shares sold

   183,419     562,185  

Shares repurchased

   (1,538,538 )   (2,832,967 )
    

 

Net decrease

   (1,355,119 )   (2,270,782 )
    

 

 

3.   Purchases and Sales of Securities

 

Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2005
(Unaudited)


PURCHASES:

      

Investment Securities

   $ 366,041,952
    

SALES:

      

Investment Securities

   $ 387,648,390
    

 

4.   Income Taxes

 

At June 30, 2005, information on the tax components of capital is as follows: (Unaudited)

 

Cost of investments for tax purposes

   $ 290,419,130  
    


Gross tax unrealized appreciation

   $ 41,503,027  

Gross tax unrealized depreciation

     (4,341,978 )
    


Net tax unrealized appreciation on investments

   $ 37,161,049  
    


 

5.   Investment Advisory Contract, Management Fees and Transactions with Interested Parties

 

An advisory fee of $815,958 was paid or payable to Value Line, Inc. (the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, for the six months ended June 30, 2005. This was computed at the rate of 1/2 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Fund during the period and paid monthly. The Adviser provides research, investment programs, supervision of the investment portfolio and pays costs of administrative services, office space, equipment and compensation of administrative, bookkeeping, and clerical personnel necessary for managing the affairs of the Fund. The Adviser also provides persons, satisfactory to the Fund’s Board of Directors, to act as officers and employees of the Fund and pays their salaries and wages. The Fund bears all other costs and expenses.

 

The Fund has a Service and Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, for the payment of certain expenses incurred by Value Line Securities, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, in advertising marketing and distributing the Fund’s shares and for servicing the Fund’s shareholders at an annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the six months ended June 30, 2005, fees amounting to $652,767 were paid or payable to the Distributor under this plan.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s expenses were reduced by $1,507 under a custody credit arrangement with the Custodian.

 

 


 

8    


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each period:

 

   

Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2005
(Unaudited)

    Years Ended December 31,

 
      2004     2003     2002     2001     2000  

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $20.24     $18.15     $15.19     $19.71     $27.25     $36.09  


Income from investment operations:

                                   

Net investment income

  (.04 )   (.05 )   (.03 )   (.01 )   .05     .04  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)

  .25     2.14     2.99     (4.51 )   (4.48 )   (3.69 )


Total from investment operations

  .21     2.09     2.96     (4.52 )   (4.43 )   (3.65 )


Less distributions:

                                   

Dividends from net investment income

                  (.04 )   (.03 )

Distributions from net realized gains

                  (3.00 )   (5.16 )

Tax return of capital

                  (.07 )    


Total distributions

                  (3.11 )   (5.19 )


Net asset value, end of period

  $20.45     $20.24     $18.15     $15.19     $19.71     $27.25  


Total return**

  1.04  %+   11.51  %   19.49  %   (22.93 )%   (16.35 )%   (12.47 )%


Ratios/supplemental data:

                                   

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $326,275     $350,409     $355,435     $338,651     $523,803     $733,303  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (1)

  .96  %*   .95  %   .99  %   .76  %   .59  %   .59  %

Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets

  (.42 )%*   (.27 )%   (.19 )%   (.06 )%   .20  %   .12  %

Portfolio turnover rate

  116  %+   187  %   129  %   126  %   141  %   76  %


 

**   Total returns do not reflect the effects of charges deducted under the terms of GIAC’s variable contracts. Including such charges would reduce the total returns for all periods shown.
(1)   Ratio reflects expenses grossed up for custody credit arrangement. The ratio of expenses to average net assets net of custody credits would not have changed.
+   Not annualized
*   Annualized

 


See notes to financial statements.

 

     9


n   Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

 

Form N-Q

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and coped at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Proxy Voting

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities, and information regarding how the Fund voted these proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available through the Fund’s website at http://www.vlfunds.com and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The description of the policies and procedures is also available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-243-2729.

 


 

10    


Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

Factors Considered by the Independent Directors in Approving the Agreement (Unaudited)


 

The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires that the Fund’s Agreement be approved annually by both the Board of Directors (collectively “the Directors”) and a majority of the Directors who are not affiliated with Value Line, Inc. the Fund’s investment adviser (“Value Line”) (the “Independent Directors”) voting separately. The Directors have determined that the terms of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement (the “Agreement”) are fair and reasonable and that renewal of the contract is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. In making such determinations, the Independent Directors relied upon the assistance of counsel to the Independent Directors. Throughout the year, including the meeting specifically focused upon the review of the Agreement, the Independent Directors met in executive sessions separately from the Interested Directors of the Fund and any officers of Value Line.

 

Both in meetings specifically addressed to renewal of the Agreement and at other meetings during the course of the year, the Directors, including the Independent Directors, received materials relating to Value Line’s investment and management services under the Agreement. These materials included (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund, a peer group of funds and an index, (ii) sales and redemption data in respect of the Fund, (iii) the general investment outlook in the markets in which the Fund invests, (iv) arrangements in respect of the distribution of the Fund’s shares, (v) the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage, and (vi) the record of compliance with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions and with the Fund’s Code of Ethics, and the structure and responsibilities of Value Line’s compliance department.

 

As part of the review of the Agreement, the Independent Directors requested and Value Line provided additional information in order to evaluate the quality of Value Line’s services and the reasonableness of the fee under the Agreement. Among other items, this information included data or analyses of (1) management and other fees incurred by a peer group of funds selected by an independent evaluation service (the “Peer Group”), (2) expense ratios for the Fund and the Peer Group, (3) the investment performance for the Fund and its Peer Group, (4) Value Line’s financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affiliates’ profitability from services performed for the Fund, and (5) investment management staffing, (6) the potential for achieving further economies of scale.

 

The following summarizes matters considered by the Directors in connection with their renewal of the Agreement. However, the Directors did not identify any single factor as all-important or controlling, and the summary does not detail all the matters that were considered.

 

Compliance and Investment Performance. The Directors determined that Value Line had policies and systems reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the Fund’s investment objective and regulatory requirements. The Directors also reviewed the Fund’s investment performance, as well as the Fund’s performance compared to both the performance of a peer group and the results of an index. The Fund outperformed its Peer Group for the one-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2004. Although the Fund underperformed its Peer Group for the three-year and 10-year periods ended December 31, 2004, the Directors concluded that the Fund’s overall performance supported the continuation of the Agreement.

 

Value Line’s Personnel and Methods. The Directors reviewed the background of members of the team responsible for the daily management of the Fund and the Fund’s investment objective and discipline. The Independent Directors also engaged in discussions with senior management of Value Line responsible for investment operations. The Directors concluded that Value Line has the quality and depth of personnel and the well-developed methods essential to performing its duties under the Agreement.

 

Nature and Quality of Other Services. The Directors considered the nature, quality, cost and extent of other services provided to shareholders of the Fund. The Directors also considered the nature and extent of the other services provided by Value Line’s affiliates under other contracts and its supervision of third party service providers. Based on these considerations, the Directors concluded that the nature, quality, cost and extent of such services are satisfactory and reliable and serve the shareholders of the Fund well.

 

Management Fee and Expenses. The Directors considered Value Line’s fee under the Agreement relative to the management fees charged by the Peer Group. The Fund’s management fee and total expenses for the most recent fiscal year were lower than the average fees and expense ratios of the Peer Group, and the Directors concluded that the Adviser’s fee was reasonable in light of the services and expertise provided to the Fund by the Adviser’s management team and the Adviser’s proprietary ranking system.

 

Profitability. The Directors considered the level of Value Line’s profits with respect to the management of the Fund. This consideration included a review of Value Line’s methodology in allocating certain of its costs to the management of each Fund. The

 

     11


Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

 

Factors Considered by the Independent Directors in Approving the Agreement (Unaudited)


 

Directors concluded that Value Line’s profits from management of the Funds, including the financial results derived from the Fund, bear a reasonable relationship to the services rendered and are fair for the management of the Fund in light of the business risks involved.

 

Economies of Scale. The Directors noted that, given the current and anticipated size of the Fund, any perceived and potential economies of scale were not yet a relevant consideration for the Fund.

 

Other Benefits to Value Line. The Directors also considered the character and amount of fees paid by the Fund, other than under the Agreement, and by the Fund’s shareholders for services provided by Value Line and affiliates.

 

Conclusion. The Directors, in light of Value Line’s overall performance, considered it appropriate to continue to retain the management services of Value Line. Based on their evaluation of all material factors deemed relevant and the advice of independent counsel, the Directors concluded that the Agreement with the Fund is fair and reasonable and voted to approve the continuation of the Agreement for another year.

 

12    


Item 2. Code of Ethics

 

N/A

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

N/A

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

N/A

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a)

The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-2(c) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(c) ) based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the


 

filing date of this report, are appropriately designed to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to such officers and are operating effectively.

 

  (b) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have determined that there have been no significant changes in the registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

  (a) (1)    Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

 

  (2)   Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

  attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906.CERT.


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.

 
By:        /s/    JEAN B. BUTTNER
   

Jean B. Buttner, President

 

Date:    September 6, 2005

 

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/    JEAN B. BUTTNER
   

Jean B. Buttner, President Principal Executive Officer

 

 
By:        /S/    DAVID T. HENIGSON
   

David T. Henigson, Vice President, Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer

 

Date:    September 6, 2005