N-CSRS 1 dncsrs.htm THE PRUDENTIAL VARIABLE CONTRACT ACCOUNT-2 The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2

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:   811-01612
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:   The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2
Address of principal executive offices:   Gateway Center 3,
  100 Mulberry Street,
  Newark, New Jersey 07102
Name and address of agent for service:   Deborah A. Docs
  Gateway Center 3,
  100 Mulberry Street,
  Newark, New Jersey 07102
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   973-367-7521
Date of fiscal year end:   12/31/2006
Date of reporting period:   6/30/2006


Item 1  

–  Reports to Stockholders


Prudential Long–Term

Growth Account

 

LOGO

 

Semiannual Report to Participants

 

June 30, 2006

 

 

The Prudential Insurance Company of America

751 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102-3777

A Prudential Financial company

 

IFS-A105483

LOGO


This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for VCA-2.

 


 

It is for the information of persons participating in The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 (VCA-2, Long-Term Growth Account, or the Account). VCA-2 is a group annuity insurance product issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, 751 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102-3777, and distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC, Three Gateway Center, 14th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077. PIMS is a Prudential Financial company. Contract guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing Company. Each company is solely responsible for its own respective financial conditions and contractual obligations. Prudential Financial and the Rock logo are service marks of The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ, and its affiliates.

 

Investors should consider the contract and the underlying portfolios’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. This and other important information is contained in the prospectuses that can be obtained from your financial professional. You should read the prospectuses carefully before investing.

 

Annuity contracts contain exclusions, limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms for keeping them in force. Your plan sponsor or licensed financial professional can provide you with costs and complete details.

 


 

A description of the Account’s proxy voting policies and procedures is available, without charge, upon request. Owners of variable annuity contracts should call 888-778-2888 to obtain descriptions of the Account’s proxy voting policies and procedures. The description is also available on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Account voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, 2006 is available on the website of the Commission, at www.sec.gov and on the Account’s website.

 

The Funds Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s Trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling (888) 778-2888.

 

The Account files with the Commission a complete listing of portfolio holdings as of its first and third quarter-end on Form N-Q. Form N-Q is available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or by visiting the Commission’s Public Reference Room. For more information on the Commission’s Public Reference Room, please visit the Commission’s website or call 1-800-SEC-0330. Participants may obtain copies of Form N-Q filings by calling 888-778-2888.


The Prudential Long-Term Growth Program

Letter to Participants

June 30, 2006

 

n   DEAR PARTICIPANT,

 

Because your success is important to us, we hope this semiannual report for The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 serves as both an informative and useful resource.

 

With the first half of the year complete, we continue to emphasize that a diversified portfolio is a prudent way to make the best of developing investment opportunities. A portfolio utilizing a diversified asset allocation strategy helps manage risk because it is not exposed to a particular asset class. In addition, it provides an opportunity to better position your investments as asset classes rotate in and out of favor. With the current volatility of today’s stock market, this concept is more important than ever.

 

When creating your diversified investment strategy, speak with your investment professional to develop a plan that takes into account your reasons for investing, as well as your personal investment horizons and tolerance for risk. By carefully choosing a wide variety of assets and reviewing them periodically over time, you can enhance your focus on meeting your long-term objectives.

 

As always, we at Prudential are committed to meeting your current and future needs by providing financial solutions that are designed to help you grow and protect your wealth. We thank you for your confidence in our products.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Judy A. Rice

President,

Variable Contract Account 2

July 31, 2006


Presentation of Portfolio Holdings for the Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 (VCA-2) as of June 30, 2006

(Unaudited)

 

VCA-2    
Five Largest Holdings (% of Net Assets)

General Electric Company

  3.1%

Honeywell International, Inc.

  2.3%

Suncor Energy, Inc.

  2.3%

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce ADR (Brazil)

  2.1%
Occidental Petroleum Corp.   2.1%

 

For a complete listing of holdings, refer to the Schedule of Investments section of this report.

Holdings reflect only long-term investments. Holdings/Issues/Industries/Sectors are subject to change.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2

 

     STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)    

June 30, 2006

 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS — 98.8 %   

Value


COMMON STOCKS   Shares

  

Aerospace/Defense — 2.3%

          

Honeywell International, Inc.

  244,000    $ 9,833,200
        

Beverages — 1.4%

          

PepsiCo, Inc.

  95,500      5,733,820
        

Biotechnology — 2.8%

          

Amgen, Inc. (a)

  101,700      6,633,891

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)

  85,900      5,081,844
        

           11,715,735
        

Building Products — 1.3%

          

American Standard, Inc.

  129,600      5,607,792
        

Capital Markets — 6.0%

          

Bank of New York (The)

  217,400      6,995,932

Charles Schwab Corp.

  275,900      4,408,882

Merrill Lynch & Co.

  87,900      6,114,324

UBS AG

  72,700      7,975,190
        

             25,494,328
        

Chemicals — 3.0%

          

Agrium, Inc.

  247,300      5,744,779

Dupont EI. de Nemours

  170,300      7,084,480
        

           12,829,259
        

Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.9%

      

Waste Management, Inc.

  222,800      7,994,064
        

Communications Equipment — 5.5%

          

Avaya, Inc. (a)

  395,100      4,512,042

Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)

  238,100      4,650,093

Corning, Inc. (a)

  157,900      3,819,601

Motorola, Inc.

  246,000      4,956,900

QualComm, Inc.

  130,800      5,241,156
        

           23,179,792
        

Computers & Peripherals — 1.4%

          

Apple Computer, Inc. (a)

  104,200      5,951,904
        

Consumer Finance — 1.3%

          

American Express Co.

  99,300      5,289,711
        

Diversified Financial Services — 4.5%

          

Citigroup, Inc.

  139,100      6,710,184

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  165,292      6,996,810

NYSE Group, Inc. (a)

  76,900      5,266,112
        

           18,973,106
        

Electronic Equipment & Instruments —1.2%

      

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (a)

  152,400      4,809,744
        

Energy Equipment & Services — 1.5%

          

Schlumberger Ltd.

  99,600      6,484,956
        

Food & Staples Retailing — 2.9%

          

Kroger Co. (The)

  285,100      6,232,286

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  128,100      6,169,296
        

           12,401,582
        

COMMON STOCKS   

Value


(Continued)   Shares

  

Food Products — 2.8%

          

Cadbury Schweppes Spons. ADR
(United Kingdom)

  149,600    $ 5,807,472

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

  279,300      6,175,323
        

           11,982,795
        

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 1.1%

      

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (a)

  139,500      4,522,590
        

Health Care Providers & Services —1.1%

      

Caremark Rx, Inc.

  96,900      4,833,372
        

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 1.2%

          

OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc.

  144,500      4,999,700
        

Household Products — 1.1%

          

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  78,200      4,824,940
        

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders — 1.8%

          

TXU, Corp.

  127,700      7,649,230
        

Industrial Conglomerates — 4.1%

          

3M Co.

  54,100      4,368,575

General Electric Company

  392,700      12,939,465
        

           17,308,040
        

Insurance — 3.9%

          

American International Group

  136,900      8,083,945

Loews Corp.

  236,500      8,383,925
        

           16,467,870
        

Internet Software & Services — 2.9%

          

Google, Inc. Cl. A (a)

  14,300      5,996,419

Yahoo, Inc. (a)

  188,300      6,213,900
        

             12,210,319
        

Media — 5.3%

          

Comcast Corp. Cl. A (a)

  236,600      7,746,284

Liberty Global, Inc. Ser. C (a)

  215,421      4,431,210

News Corp. Inc. Cl. A

  329,600      6,321,728

Viacom, Inc. Cl. B (a)

  112,816      4,052,351
        

           22,551,573
        

Metals & Mining — 6.3%

          

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce ADR (Brazil)

  377,200      9,067,888

Freeport-McMoRan Cooper & Gold, Inc. Cl. B

  97,400      5,396,934

Newcrest Mining Ltd. ADR (Australia)

  399,100      6,250,425

Phelps Dodge Corp.

  70,100      5,759,416
        

           26,474,663
        

Multiline Retail — 1.3%

          

Federated Department Stores, Inc.

  150,600      5,513,466
        

Multi-Utilities — 1.4%

          

Sempra Energy

  128,400      5,839,632
        

Office Electronics — 2.0%

          

Xerox Corp. (a)

  604,900      8,414,159
        

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2

 

     STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)    

June 30, 2006

 

COMMON STOCKS   

Value


(Continued)   Shares

  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 9.9%

          

Apache Corp.

  99,270    $ 6,772,199

Marathon Oil Corp.

  58,400      4,864,720

Nexen, Inc.

  123,300      6,971,382

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

  85,700      8,802,247

Petroleo Brasileiro SA ADR (Brazil)

  51,300      4,569,804

Suncor Energy, Inc.

  121,300      9,826,513
        

           41,806,865
        

Pharmaceuticals — 5.0%

          

Novartis AG ADR (Switzerland)

  132,900      7,169,955

Roche Holdings Ltd. ADR (Switzerland)

  86,700      7,151,866

Sanofi Aventis ADR (France)

  137,300      6,686,510
        

           21,008,331
        

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 2.2%

          

Broadcom Corp. Cl. A (a)

  155,800      4,681,790

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

  142,200      4,566,042
        

           9,247,832
        

Software — 2.4%

          

Adobe Systems Incorporated (a)

  227,700      6,912,972

Electronic Arts, Inc. (a)

  75,900      3,266,736
        

           10,179,708
        

Specialty Retail — 1.2%

          

Home Depot, Inc.

  141,900      5,078,601
        

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods —1.1%

          

Nike, Inc. Cl. B

  58,300      4,722,300
        

Tobacco — 1.5%

          

Altria Group, Inc.

  83,800      6,153,434
        

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 2.2%

      

NII Holdings, Inc. (a)

  94,100      5,305,358

Sprint Nextel Corp.

  194,688      3,891,813
        

           9,197,171
        

TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost: $336,741,234)

       $ 417,285,584
        

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 1.2%   

Value


 
    Shares

  

Affiliated Money Market Mutual Fund

            

Dryden Core Investment Fund — Taxable Money Market Series (b) (Cost: $5,231,454)

  5,231,454    $ 5,231,454  
        


TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%
(Cost: $341,972,688)

   $ 422,517,038  
        


OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES

            

Receivable for Securities Sold

     3,581,002  

Dividends Receivable

     566,440  

Receivable for Pending Capital Transactions

     251  

Payable to Custodian

     (83 )

Payable for Securities Purchased

     (4,462,480 )
        


LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

     (314,870 )
        


NET ASSETS — 100%

   $ 422,202,168  
        


NET ASSETS, representing:

            

Equity of Participants — 
11,535,323 Accumulation Units at an
Accumulation Unit Value of $35.0942

     404,822,487  

Equity of Annuitants

     14,363,755  

Equity of The Prudential Insurance Company of America

     3,015,926  
        


         $ 422,202,168  
        


 


 

(a) Non-income producing security.

 

(b) Prudential Investments LLC, the manager of the Account also serves as manager of the Dryden Core Investment Fund-Taxable Money Market Series.

 

ADR  

American Depository Receipt

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2

 

     STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)    

June 30, 2006

 

The industry classification of portfolio holdings and other liabilities in excess of assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of June 30, 2006 were as follows:

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

   9.9 %

Metals & Mining

   6.3  

Capital Markets

   6.0  

Communications Equipment

   5.5  

Media

   5.3  

Pharmaceuticals

   5.0  

Diversified Financial Services

   4.5  

Industrial Conglomerates

   4.1  

Insurance

   3.9  

Chemicals

   3.0  

Food and Staples Retailing

   2.9  

Internet Software & Services

   2.9  

Biotechnology

   2.8  

Food Products

   2.8  

Software

   2.4  

Aerospace & Defense

   2.3  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

   2.2  

Wireless Telecommunication Services

   2.2  

Office Electronics

   2.0  

Commercial Services & Supplies

   1.9  

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

   1.8  

Energy Equipment and Services

   1.5  

Tobacco

   1.5  

Beverages

   1.4  

Computers and Peripherals

   1.4  

Multi-Utilities

   1.4  

Building Products

   1.3  

Consumer Finance

   1.3  

Multiline Retail

   1.3  

Affiliated Money Market Mutual Fund

   1.2  

Hotels, Restaurants, & Leisure

   1.2  

Specialty Retail

   1.2  

Electronic Equipments & Instruments

   1.2  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

   1.1  

Health Care Providers & Services

   1.1  

Household Products

   1.1  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

   1.1  
    

     100.0  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

   0.0  
    

     100.0 %
    

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2

 

     STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)    

Six Months Ended June 30, 2006

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

          

Unaffiliated Dividend Income (net of $100,476 foreign withholding tax)

     $ 3,641,358  

Affiliated Dividend Income

       88,507  

Total Income

       3,729,865  

EXPENSES

          

Fees Charged to Participants and Annuitants for Investment Management Services

       (268,165 )

Fees Charged to Participants (other than Annuitants) for Assuming Mortality and Expense Risks

       (784,119 )

Total Expenses

       (1,052,284 )

NET INVESTMENT INCOME

       2,677,581  

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS

          

Net Realized Gain on Investment Transactions

       43,239,385  

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

       (35,660,086 )

NET GAIN ON INVESTMENTS

       7,579,299  

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

     $ 10,256,880  

 

     STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Unaudited)    

 

       Six Months Ended
June 30,


     Year Ended
December 31, 


 
       2006      2005  

OPERATIONS

                   

Net Investment Income

     $ 2,677,581      $ 3,403,526  

Net Realized Gain on Investment Transactions

       43,239,385        40,651,917  

Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

       (35,660,086 )      30,349,747  

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

       10,256,880        74,405,190  

CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS

                   

Purchase Payments and Transfers In

       9,188,426        13,860,538  

Withdrawals and Transfers Out

       (26,233,552 )      (41,740,395 )

Annual Administration Charges Deducted from Participants’ Accumulation Accounts

       (140 )      (9,150 )

Mortality and Expense Risk Charges Deducted from Annuitants’ Accounts

       (20,375 )      (37,592 )

Variable Annuity Payments

       (1,103,222 )      (2,051,012 )

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS

       (18,168,863 )      (29,977,611 )

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM SURPLUS TRANSFERS

       (11,176 )      32,562  

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

       (7,923,159 )      44,460,141  

NET ASSETS

                   

Beginning of period

       430,125,327        385,665,186  

End of period

     $ 422,202,168      $ 430,125,327  

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR VCA-2

 

     INCOME AND CAPITAL CHANGES PER ACCUMULATION UNIT* (Unaudited)    

(For an Accumulation Unit outstanding throughout the period)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,


    Year Ended December 31,

 
     2006     2005      2004      2003      2002      2001  

Investment Income

   $ .3037     $ .4098      $ .4502      $ .3116      $ .2859      $ .3621  

Expenses

                                                    

Investment management fee

     (.0221 )     (.0380 )      (.0331 )      (.0269 )      (.0268 )      (.0320 )

Assuming mortality and expense risks

     (.0662 )     (.1140 )      (.0991 )      (.0805 )      (.0803 )      (.0960 )

Net Investment Income

     .2154       .2578        .3180        .2042        .1788        .2341  

Capital Changes

                                                    

Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions

     3.5212       3.1463        1.5269        (.3489 )      (2.4591 )      (2.1868 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments

     (2.9490 )     2.3659        .7360        6.9421        (3.2340 )      (.7809 )

Net Increase (Decrease) in Accumulation Unit Value

     .7876       5.7700        2.5809        6.7974        (5.5143 )      (2.7336 )

Accumulation Unit Value

                                                    

Beginning of period

     34.3066       28.5366        25.9557        19.1583        24.6726        27.4062  

End of period

   $ 35.0942     $ 34.3066      $ 28.5366      $ 25.9557      $ 19.1583      $ 24.6726  

Total Return**

     2.30 %     20.22 %      9.94 %      35.48 %      (22.35 )%      (9.97 )%

Ratio Of Expenses To Average Net Assets***

     .50 %†     .50 %      .50 %      .50 %      .50 %      .50 %

Ratio Of Net Investment Income To Average Net Assets***

     1.22 %†     .84 %      1.20 %      .95 %      .83 %      .92 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     26 %††     51 %      62 %      62 %      71 %      80 %

Number of Accumulation Units Outstanding

                                                    

For Participants at end of period
(000 omitted)

     11,535       12,012        12,923        13,830        14,636        15,271  

 

*   Calculated by accumulating the actual per unit amounts daily.
**   Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported. Total returns for periods of less than one full year are not annualized.
***   These calculations exclude PICA’s equity in VCA-2.
  Annualized.
††   Not Annualized.

 

The above table does not reflect the annual administration charge, which does not affect the Accumulation Unit Value. This charge is made by reducing Participants’ Accumulation Accounts by a number of Accumulation Units equal in value to the charge.

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF

VCA-2 (Unaudited)

 

Note 1:   General

 

The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 (VCA-2 or the Account) was established on January 9, 1968 by The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“PICA”) under the laws of the State of New Jersey and is registered as an open-end, diversified management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. VCA-2 has been designed for use by public school systems and certain tax-exempt organizations to provide for the purchase and payment of tax-deferred variable annuities. The investment objective of the Account is long-term growth of capital. Its investments are composed primarily of common stocks. Although variable annuity payments differ according to the investment performance of the Account, they are not affected by mortality or expense experience because PICA assumes the expense risk and the mortality risk under the contracts.

 

Note 2:   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Securities Valuation:    Securities listed on a securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on such exchange on the day of valuation or, if there was no sale on such day, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price on such day in the absence of an asked price. Securities traded via Nasdaq are valued at the official closing price provided by Nasdaq. Securities that are actively traded in the over-the-counter market, including listed securities for which the primary market is believed by Prudential Investments LLC (“PI” or “Manager”), in consultation with the subadviser(s), to be over-the-counter, are valued by an independent pricing agent or principal market maker. Options on securities and indices traded on an exchange are valued at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on such exchange. Futures contracts and options thereon traded on a commodities exchange or board of trade are valued at the last sale price at the close of trading on such exchange or board of trade or, if there was no sale on the applicable commodities exchange or board of trade on such day, at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on such exchange or board of trade or at the last bid price in the absence of an asked price. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been affected by events occurring after the close of the security’s foreign market and before the Fund’s normal pricing time, are valued at fair value in accordance with the Accounts’ Committee members approved fair valuation procedures. When determining the fair valuation 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 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 mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.

 

Investments in mutual funds are valued at their net asset value as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on the date of valuation.

 

Short-term investments which mature in more than 60 days are valued based on current market quotations. Short-term investments having maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. Amortized cost is computed using the cost on the date of purchase, adjusted for constant accretion of discount or amortization of premium to maturity.

 

Securities Transactions and Investment Income:    Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized and unrealized gains or losses on sales of securities are calculated on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income, including amortization of premiums and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required is recorded on the accrual basis. Income and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to the Participants and PICA on a daily basis in proportion to their respective ownership in VCA-2.

 

Estimates:    The preparation of the 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 amounts.


Federal Income Taxes:    The operations of VCA-2 are part of, and are taxed with, the operations of PICA. Under the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, PICA does not expect to incur federal income taxes on earnings of VCA-2 to the extent the earnings are credited under the Contracts. As a result, the Unit Value of VCA-2 has not been reduced by federal income taxes.

 

Annuity Reserves:    Reserves are computed for purchased annuities using the Prudential 1950 Group Annuity Valuation (GAV) Table, adjusted, and a valuation interest rate related to the Assumed Investment Result (AIR). The valuation interest rate is equal to the AIR less .5% in contract charges defined in Note 3. The AIRs are selected by each Contract-holder and are described in the prospectus.

 

Note 3:   Investment Management Agreement and Charges

 

The Account has a management agreement with PI. Pursuant to this agreement, PI has responsibility for all investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser’s performance of such services. PI 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 management of the Account. PI pays for the services of Jennison.

 

A daily charge, at an effective annual rate of 0.125% of the current value of the Participant’s (other than Annuitants’ and PICA’s) equity in VCA-2, is charged to the Account and paid to PI for investment management services. An equivalent charge is deducted monthly in determining the amount of Annuitants’ payments.

 

A daily charge, paid to PI for assuming mortality and expense risks, is calculated at an effective annual rate of 0.375% of the current value of the Participant’s (other than Annuitants’ and PICA’s) equity in VCA-2. A one-time equivalent charge is deducted when the Annuity Units for Annuitants are determined.

 

PICA, PI and Jennison are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).

 

An annual administration charge of not more than $30 annually is deducted from the accumulation account of certain Participants either at the time of withdrawal of the value of the entire Participant’s account or at the end of the fiscal year by canceling Accumulation Units. This deduction may be made from a fixed-dollar annuity contract if the Participant is enrolled under such a contract.

 

A charge of 2.5% for sales and other marketing expenses is deducted from certain Participant’s purchase payments. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, PICA has advised the Account it has not received any sales charges.

 

Note 4:   Purchases and Sales of Portfolio Securities

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2006, the aggregate cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, were $94,410,289 and $98,750,564, respectively.

 

Investment in the Core Fund:    The Account invests in the Taxable Money Market Series (the “Series”), a portfolio of Dryden Core Investment Fund, pursuant to an exemptive order received from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Series is a money market mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and managed by PI. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, the Account earned $88,507, by investing its excess cash in the Series.

 

Note 5:   Unit Transactions

 

The number of Accumulation Units issued and redeemed for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and year ended December 31, 2005, respectively, are as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,


   Year Ended
December 31,


     2006    2005

Units issued

   258,558    447,493

Units redeemed

   (735,224)    (1,358,171)

Net decrease

   (476,666)    (910,678)


Note 6:   Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Surplus Transfers

 

The increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from surplus transfers represents the net increases to/(reductions from) PICA’s investment Account. The increase (decrease) includes reserve adjustments for mortality and expense risks assumed by PICA.

 

Note 7:   Participant Loans

 

Participant loan initiations are not permitted in VCA-2. However, participants who initiated loans in other accounts are permitted to direct loan repayments into VCA-2.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2005 and year ended December 31, 2005 $4,704 and $10,766 of participant loan principal and interest has been paid to VCA-2, respectively. The participant loan principal and interest repayments are included in purchase payments and transfers in within the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.


The Prudential Variable Contract Account - 2

 

 

The Members of the Committee (the “Committee”) of The Prudential Variable Contract Account – 2 (the “Fund”) oversee the management of the Fund, and, as required by law, determine annually whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement with Prudential Investments LLC (“PI”) and the Fund’s subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Committee, including all of the Independent Committee Members, met on June 20, 2006 and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2007, after concluding that renewal of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its participants.

In advance of the meetings, the Committee received materials relating to the agreements, and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with their consideration. Among other things, the Committee considered comparisons with other mutual funds in relevant Peer Universes and Peer Groups. The mutual funds included in each Peer Universe or Peer Group were objectively determined solely by Lipper Inc., an independent provider of mutual fund data. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles over one-year, three-year and five-year time periods ending December 31, 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).

In approving the agreements, the Committee, including the Independent Committee Members advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors they deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PI and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders. In their deliberations, the Committee Members did not identify any single factor that was dispositive and each Committee Member attributed different weights to the various factors. In connection with their deliberations, the Committee considered information provided by PI throughout the year at regular Committee meetings, presentations from portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the meetings on June 20, 2006.

The Committee Members determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PI, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PI and Jennison, which serves as the Fund’s subadviser pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PI, are fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Committee Members considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment.

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

Nature, quality and extent of services

The Committee received and considered information regarding the nature and extent of services provided to the Fund by PI and Jennison. The Committee considered the services provided by PI, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadviser for the Fund, as well as the provision of recordkeeping, compliance, and other services to the Fund. With respect to PI’s oversight of the subadviser, the Committee noted that PI’s Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PI, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PI’s senior management on the performance and operations of the subadviser. The Committee also considered that PI pays the salaries of all of the officers and non-independent Committee Members. The Committee 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 Committee reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PI’s senior management responsible for the oversight of the Fund and Jennison, and also reviewed 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 Committee was provided with information pertaining to PI’s and Jennison’s organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to both PI and Jennison. The Committee also noted that it received favorable compliance reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) as to both PI and Jennison. The Committee noted that Jennison is affiliated with PI.

The Committee concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PI and the subadvisory 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 PI and Jennison under the management and subadvisory agreements.

Performance of The Prudential Variable Contract Account - 2

The Board received and considered information about the Fund’s historical performance, noting that the Fund had achieved performance during the first quarter of 2006 and over one-year, three-year and five-year periods ending December 31 that was in the first quartile in relation to the group of comparable funds in a peer universe (the “Peer Universe”). The Committee further noted that the Fund had outperformed its benchmark index over the same time periods.

The Committee determined that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

The funds included in the Peer Universe are objectively determined solely by Lipper Inc., independent provider of investment company data.

Fees and Expenses

The Committee considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PI to other funds and accounts and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds provided by Lipper Inc.

The Fund’s management fee of 0.125% ranked in the first quartile in its Peer Group, and was the lowest fee among the funds included in the Peer Group. The Committee concluded that the management and subadvisory fees are reasonable.

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PI

The Committee was provided with information on the profitability of PI and its affiliates in serving as the Fund’s investment manager. The Committee discussed with PI the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Committee 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 Committee did not separately consider the profitability of the subadviser, an affiliate of PI, as its profitability was reflected in the profitability report for PI. Taking these factors into account, the Committee concluded that the profitability of PI and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable.


Economies of Scale

The Committee noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund does not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels. The Committee received and discussed information concerning whether PI realizes economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. In light of the Fund’s current size and expense structure, the Committee concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Fund’s fee schedule is acceptable at this time.

Other Benefits to PI and Jennison

The Committee considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PI and Jennison and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Committee concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PI included brokerage commissions received by affiliates of PI, as well as reputational or other intangible benefits resulting from PI’s association with the Fund. The Committee concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by Jennison included the ability to use soft dollar credits, brokerage commissions received by affiliates of Jennison, 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 reputational benefits. The Committee concluded that the benefits derived by PI and Jennison were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.



The toll-free number shown below can be used to make transfers and reallocations, review how your premiums are being allocated, and receive current investment option values in your contract. Unit values for each investment option are available to all participants from the toll-free number. The phone lines are open each business day during the hours shown below. Please be sure to have your contract number available when you call.

 

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In the past, participants who held several variable contracts at the same address received multiple copies of annual and semiannual reports. In an effort to lessen waste and reduce expenses of postage and printing, we will attempt to mail only one copy of this report based on our current records for participants with the same last name and same address. No action on your part is necessary. Upon request, we will furnish you with additional reports. The toll-free number listed on the inside back cover should be used to request additional copies. Proxy material and tax information will continue to be sent for each account of record.

 

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Newark NJ 07102-3777

 

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Prudential

 

IFS-A105483    LT.RS.001    Ed. 8/2006

LOGO


Item 2  

–  Code of Ethics – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

Item 3  

–  Audit Committee Financial Expert – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

Item 4  

–  Principal Accountant Fees and Services – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

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 – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

   

(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) The Prudential Variable Account Contract -2
By (Signature and Title)*  

/s/ Deborah A. Docs                                 

  Deborah A. Docs
  Secretary
Date  August 25, 2006

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 (Signature and Title)*  

/s/ Judy A. Rice

  Judy A. Rice
  President and Principal Executive Officer
Date  August 25, 2006
By (Signature and Title)*  

/s/ Grace C. Torres

  Grace C. Torres
  Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
Date  August 25, 2006

 


* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.