N-CSR 1 d508509dncsr.htm PRUDENTIAL JENNISON NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC. Prudential Jennison Natural Resources 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- 05206

Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:

   Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc

Address of principal executive offices:

   655 Broad Street, 6th Floor
   Newark, New Jersey 07102

Name and address of agent for service:

   Andrew R. French
   655 Broad Street, 6th Floor
   Newark, New Jersey 07102

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

   800-225-1852

Date of fiscal year end:

   10/31/2023

Date of reporting period:

   10/31/2023

 


Item 1 – Reports to Stockholders [ INSERT REPORT ]


LOGO

PGIM JENNISON NATURAL RESOURCES FUND

 

    

ANNUAL REPORT

OCTOBER 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

LOGO

To enroll in e-delivery, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery


Table of Contents

 

Letter from the President

     3  

Your Fund’s Performance

     4  

Growth of a $10,000 Investment

     5  

Strategy and Performance Overview

     8  

Fees and Expenses

     11  

Holdings and Financial Statements

     13      
   

Approval of Advisory Agreements

        

 

 

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 LLC is a registered investment adviser. Both are Prudential Financial companies. © 2023 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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Letter from the President

 

LOGO        

Dear Shareholder:

 

We hope you find the annual report for the PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund informative and useful. The report covers performance for the 12-month period that ended October 31, 2023.

 

Although central banks raised interest rates aggressively to tame surging inflation during the period, the global economy and financial markets demonstrated resilience. Employers continued hiring, consumers continued spending, home prices rose, and recession fears receded.

 

Early in the period, stocks began a rally that eventually ended a bear market and continued to rise globally for much of 2023 as inflation cooled and the Federal Reserve (the Fed) slowed the pace of its rate hikes. However, stocks

declined late in the period when the Fed signaled that rates may remain elevated longer than investors had expected. For the entire period, large-cap US stocks and equities in international markets posted gains, while small-cap US stocks declined.

Bond markets benefited during the period as the Fed moderated its rate-hiking cycle, and the higher level of interest rates offered investors an additional cushion from fixed income volatility. US and global investment-grade bonds, along with US high yield corporate bonds and emerging market debt, all posted gains.

Regarding your investments with PGIM, we believe it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio of funds consistent with your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals. Your financial advisor can help you create a diversified investment plan that may include funds covering all the basic asset classes and that reflects your personal investor profile and risk tolerance. However, diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

At PGIM Investments, we provide access to active investment strategies across the global markets in the pursuit of consistent outperformance for investors. PGIM is the world’s 14th-largest investment manager with more than $1.3 trillion in assets under management. Our scale and investment expertise allow us to deliver a diversified suite of actively managed solutions across a broad spectrum of asset classes and investment styles.

Thank you for choosing our family of funds.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Stuart S. Parker, President

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund

December 15, 2023

 

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    3


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 pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852.

 

   

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of 10/31/23  

    One Year (%)   Five Years (%)   Ten Years (%)

 Class A

           

 (with sales charges)

      -12.29       9.20       0.19

 (without sales charges)

      -7.18       10.44       0.76

 Class C

           

 (with sales charges)

      -8.73       9.69       0.07

 (without sales charges)

      -7.83       9.69       0.07

 Class R

           

 (without sales charges)

      -7.38       10.21       0.55

 Class Z

           

 (without sales charges)

      -6.84       10.88       1.12

 Class R6

           

 (without sales charges)

      -6.75       10.98       1.24

 Lipper Global Natural Resources Index

           
      -0.83       8.82       2.30

 S&P 500 Index

           
      10.14       11.01       11.18

 MSCI World Net Dividends (ND) Index

           
      10.48       8.27       7.53
                               

 

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Growth of a $10,000 Investment (unaudited)

 

LOGO

The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class Z shares with a similar investment in the Lipper Global Natural Resources Index, S&P 500 Index, and the MSCI World ND Index by portraying the initial account values at the beginning of the 10-year period for Class Z shares (October 31, 2013) and the account values at the end of the current fiscal year (October 31, 2023) as measured on a quarterly basis. For purposes of the graph, and unless otherwise indicated, it has been assumed that (a) all recurring fees (including management fees) were deducted and (b) all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The line graph provides information for Class Z shares only. As indicated in the tables provided earlier, performance for other share classes will vary due to the differing fees and expenses applicable to each share class (as indicated in the following paragraphs). Without waiver of fees and/or expense reimbursements, if any, the 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.

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    5


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 C   Class R   Class Z     Class R6 
         
Maximum initial sales charge   5.50% of the public offering price   None   None   None   None
         
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) (as a percentage of the lower of the original purchase price or the net asset value at redemption)   1.00% on sales of $1 million or more made within 12 months of purchase   1.00% on sales made within 12 months of purchase   None   None   None
         
Annual distribution and service (12b-1) fees (shown as a percentage of average daily net assets)   0.30%   1.00%   0.75% (0.50% currently)   None   None

Benchmark Definitions

Lipper Global Natural Resources Index—The Lipper Global Natural Resources Index is an unmanaged index consisting of approximately the 10 largest global natural resources mutual funds.

S&P 500 Index*—The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of over 500 stocks of large US public companies. It gives a broad look at how large company stocks in the United States have performed.

*The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by PGIM, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Copyright © 2023 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part are prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information on any of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC’s indices please visit www.spdji.com. S&P® is a registered trademark of S&P Global and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC.

MSCI World Net Dividends Index—The MSCI World Net Dividends (ND) Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. The MSCI World Index consists of the following 23 developed market country indexes: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The MSCI World ND Index is unmanaged and the total return includes the reinvestment of all dividends. The ND version of the MSCI World Index reflects the impact of the maximum withholding taxes on reinvested dividends.

 

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Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The returns for the Indexes would be lower if they included the effects of sales charges, operating expenses of a mutual fund, or taxes that may be paid by an investor.

Presentation of Fund Holdings as of 10/31/23

 

 Ten Largest Holdings    Line of Business    Country    % of Net Assets  

 Diamondback Energy, Inc.

   Oil & Gas Exploration & Production    United States    5.6%

 Shell plc

   Integrated Oil & Gas    Netherlands    4.9%

 Halliburton Co.

   Oil & Gas Equipment & Services    United States    4.7%

 TechnipFMC plc

   Oil & Gas Equipment & Services    United Kingdom    4.6%

 Schlumberger NV

   Oil & Gas Equipment & Services    United States    4.6%

 Hess Corp.

   Oil & Gas Exploration & Production    United States    4.0%

 Cheniere Energy, Inc.

   Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation    United States    3.4%

 Cameco Corp.

   Coal & Consumable Fuels    Canada    3.3%

 ConocoPhillips

   Oil & Gas Exploration & Production    United States    3.3%

 Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.

   Gold    Canada    3.1%

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

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund     7


Strategy and Performance Overview* (unaudited)

How did the Fund perform?

The PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund’s Class Z shares returned -6.84% in the 12-month reporting period that ended October 31, 2023, underperforming the -0.83% return of the Lipper Global Natural Resources Index (the Index).

What was the market environment?

 

 

Prior to the start of the reporting period, in June 2022, inflation rose above 9%, the highest level in four decades. Between March 2022 and July 2023, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) raised the federal funds rate 11 times, from near zero to a range of 5.25%–5.50%, reflecting the Fed’s urgency in reestablishing price stability.

 

 

Calendar year 2022 ended with investors uncertain about inflationary pressures and Fed policy, heightened geopolitical tensions, war in Ukraine, and expectations that US economic growth would slow and could enter a recession. Companies took aggressive steps to rationalize costs, expecting a more challenging environment ahead. In this environment, stocks generally continued to underperform, as they had earlier in 2022.

 

 

In the first half of 2023, the economy delivered better-than-expected results, with continued—albeit moderate—growth led by resilient consumer spending amid ongoing labor market strength. As inflationary pressures eased, the Fed slowed the pace of monetary tightening, which encouraged investors, as did stronger-than-expected earnings reports. Investors appeared surprised that many companies were able to effectively cut their costs and stabilize profit margins, enabling them to exceed Wall Street expectations.

 

 

In late summer, markets stumbled again in the face of the increasing likelihood that the Fed would maintain rates at elevated levels for longer than previously expected, due to rising energy prices, sustained wage pressures, and the broad persistence of above-target inflation. By the end of the third quarter, macroeconomic and political developments began adding to investor unease. Threats of a federal government shutdown, strikes at several US auto makers, and tensions with China further stoked recessionary concerns. US consumer confidence ticked down over the summer months, while employment and home prices held firm.

 

 

Energy commodities retreated from 2022’s highs as the initial impact of the Russia/Ukraine war waned, China’s economy proved slow to reaccelerate, and recessionary concerns spiked. While West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices fell more than 6% during the period, Henry Hub (HH) natural gas prices plummeted 95% as a warmer-than-expected winter led to lower demand.

 

 

Industrial metal prices were mixed, with copper rising 8%, while aluminum declined 10%, as China’s reopening drove demand higher, albeit at a slower pace than anticipated, tempered by weakness in the country’s housing market. Later in the period, metals stocks generally outperformed their underlying commodities as a reflection of brighter economic prospects. Copper treaded water for much of the third quarter of 2023, despite signs of low inventories.

 

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While inflationary pressure moderated, it remained a factor along with recessionary and geopolitical concerns, driving precious metals higher. Both gold and silver prices gained approximately 15% during the period.

 

 

Toward the end of the period, clearer signals regarding an economic soft landing and continued supply pressures led to an almost-linear price appreciation for important natural resources commodities. Oil prices led the way, starting with an early-summer OPEC+ supply cut. Confirmation that Russia was actually complying by removing volumes from the market, along with a September extension of the planned reductions to the end of the year—despite what had already been a $10/barrel oil-price response—helped fuel the price recovery, as did confirmation of strong demand and in-time inventory reductions. As a result, oil prices rose another $10, and an expected late-year decline in global inventories started early and progressed aggressively.

What worked?

 

 

The Fund’s holdings in energy stocks contributed meaningfully to performance relative to the Index, largely driven by strong gains in energy equipment & services companies, including TechnipFMC plc, Weatherford International plc, Schlumberger Ltd., and Halliburton Co.

 

 

Energy companies in the oil, gas & consumable fuels segment also contributed positively to the Fund’s relative performance. Some of these included Cameco Corp., Shell plc, and TotalEnergies SE.

What didn’t work?

 

 

Overall, the Fund’s holdings in renewables companies hurt absolute performance for the period, specifically Freyr Battery, Enphase Energy Inc., Chart Industries Inc., and Ameresco Inc.

 

 

The Fund’s chemicals holdings also declined during the period, led lower by Corteva Inc., Livent Corp., and Nutrien Ltd.

 

 

Holdings in copper companies Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and Lundin Mining Corp. also hurt performance.

 

 

Despite the strong overall contribution from energy, several companies declined significantly during the period and weighed on performance, namely Devon Energy Corp., Patterson-UTI Energy Inc., and Chevron Corp.

Current outlook

 

 

Although supply increases from Iran and Venezuela have threatened recent oil price increases, surprisingly strong Chinese demand has overwhelmed those fears. US producers have held the line on activity in favor of free-cash generation and shareholder returns of capital. In turn, oil futures prices have given the surest sign that markets are tightening by shifting into backwardation, with prompt prices selling at an increasing premium to future ones.

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    9


Strategy and Performance Overview* (continued)

 

 

While the current supply/demand balance suggests oil prices could rise further, Jennison views what seems to be a higher floor on the perceived normalized price as more important for the equities. As such, Jennison expects what has typically been a hyper-cyclical sector to be less so, which should highlight the valuations for many of the oil and natural gas producers and oil-services providers, particularly those internationally exposed. Accordingly, Jennison has added to the Fund’s positions among international oil-services providers and European integrated energy companies during the reporting period.

 

 

Natural gas prices have risen substantially from their lows at the end of March, as the mild winter faded, and demand for electricity production proved responsive to price, both for the commodity outright and relative to competing fuels. As exploration and production headwinds lifted, expectations for rising returns of capital grew, and share prices increased.

 

 

Residential solar equities have underperformed the broader market for more than a year. Demand has been undermined by unfavorable regulatory conditions and high interest rates, leading to a buildup of equipment inventories at the installer level, which could take several quarters to work off. In contrast, large “utility” scale solar has performed well, as the details of the Inflation Reduction Act have become clearer, allowing developers to restart projects. Accordingly, Jennison has shifted the Fund’s exposure further into the utility area and away from residential-focused solar companies.

*This strategy and performance overview, which discusses what strategies or holdings (including derivatives, if applicable) affected the Fund’s performance, is compiled based on how the Fund performed relative to the Index and is viewed for performance attribution purposes at the aggregate Fund level, which in most instances will not directly correlate to the amounts disclosed in the Statement of Operations which conform to US generally accepted accounting principles.

 

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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 October 31, 2023. 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 PGIM 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 period and the impact of these fees on your ending account value, as these additional expenses are not reflected in the information

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    11


Fees and Expenses (continued)

 

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.

 

   

PGIM Jennison Natural

Resources Fund

 

Beginning

      Account Value      

May 1, 2023

 

Ending

Account Value
      October 31, 2023       

 

Annualized

Expense

Ratio Based on

the

      Six-Month Period       

 

Expenses Paid

During the

      Six-Month Period*       

   
  Class A    Actual   $1,000.00   $   986.50   1.29%   $  6.46
   
     Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,018.70   1.29%   $  6.56
   
  Class C    Actual   $1,000.00   $   983.20   1.98%   $  9.90
   
     Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,015.22   1.98%   $10.06
   
  Class R    Actual   $1,000.00   $   985.50   1.52%   $  7.61
   
     Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,017.54   1.52%   $  7.73
   
  Class Z    Actual   $1,000.00   $   988.40   0.92%   $  4.61
   
     Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,020.57   0.92%   $  4.69
   
  Class R6    Actual   $1,000.00   $   988.90   0.83%   $  4.16
   
      Hypothetical   $1,000.00   $1,021.02   0.83%   $  4.23

*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 October 31, 2023, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 (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 October 31, 2023

 

  Description    Shares              Value        

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS    96.6%

     

COMMON STOCKS

     

Agricultural Products    2.7%

                 

Bunge Ltd.

     113,596      $ 12,038,904  

Darling Ingredients, Inc.*(a)

     176,635        7,823,164  
     

 

 

 
                19,862,068  

Coal & Consumable Fuels    3.3%

                 

Cameco Corp. (Canada)(a)

     600,788        24,578,237  

Construction & Engineering    0.7%

                 

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

     194,810        5,094,282  

Copper    4.7%

                 

ERO Copper Corp. (Brazil)*

     1,193,147        16,192,555  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

     226,919        7,665,324  

Lundin Mining Corp. (Chile)

     1,688,513        10,544,455  
     

 

 

 
        34,402,334  

Diversified Metals & Mining    7.5%

                 

Glencore PLC (Australia)

     3,918,159        20,753,828  

Hudbay Minerals, Inc. (Canada)

     1,218,661        5,316,675  

Ivanhoe Electric, Inc./US*(a)

     500,000        5,120,000  

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (Canada) (Class A Stock)*

     2,180,999        16,073,416  

Lifezone Metals Ltd. (United Kingdom)*

     452,817        4,161,388  

Solaris Resources, Inc. (Canada)*

     1,036,340        4,095,290  
     

 

 

 
        55,520,597  

Electrical Components & Equipment    2.1%

                 

Array Technologies, Inc.*(a)

     475,058        8,232,755  

FREYR Battery SA (Norway)*(a)

     1,217,356        3,907,713  

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

     94,340        3,279,258  
     

 

 

 
        15,419,726  

Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals    2.2%

                 

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

     89,256        7,120,844  

Corteva, Inc.

     195,483        9,410,551  
     

 

 

 
        16,531,395  

Gold    8.5%

                 

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (Canada)

     490,268        22,998,472  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    13


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

as of October 31, 2023

 

  Description    Shares              Value        

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

     

Gold (cont’d.)

                 

Barrick Gold Corp. (Canada)(a)

     1,385,775      $ 22,144,685  

Endeavour Mining PLC (Burkina Faso)

     674,933        13,807,715  

Osisko Mining, Inc. (Canada)*

     1,821,975        3,534,244  
     

 

 

 
                62,485,116  

Heavy Electrical Equipment    0.2%

                 

Alfen N.V. (Netherlands), 144A*

     36,400        1,147,511  

Industrial Machinery    1.1%

                 

Chart Industries, Inc.*(a)

     69,834        8,116,806  

Integrated Oil & Gas    10.2%

                 

Exxon Mobil Corp.

     154,097        16,311,167  

Shell PLC (Netherlands), ADR(a)

     547,232        35,646,693  

TotalEnergies SE (France), ADR(a)

     341,379        22,735,841  
     

 

 

 
        74,693,701  

Oil & Gas Drilling    1.7%

                 

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

     278,066        3,531,438  

Transocean Ltd.*(a)

     1,410,539        9,337,768  
     

 

 

 
        12,869,206  

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services    20.6%

                 

Cactus, Inc. (Class A Stock)

     310,782        14,588,107  

Expro Group Holdings NV*

     332,015        5,229,236  

Halliburton Co.

     882,995        34,737,024  

Schlumberger NV

     601,705        33,490,900  

Technip Energies NV (France)

     488,621        10,705,561  

TechnipFMC PLC (United Kingdom)(a)

     1,572,031        33,830,107  

Weatherford International PLC*

     200,260        18,642,204  
     

 

 

 
        151,223,139  

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production    23.5%

                 

ARC Resources Ltd. (Canada)

     339,161        5,456,414  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.(a)

     229,171        19,727,040  

Chord Energy Corp.

     85,636        14,157,343  

ConocoPhillips

     201,766        23,969,801  

Diamondback Energy, Inc.(a)

     258,482        41,439,834  

EQT Corp.

     213,858        9,063,302  

Hess Corp.

     205,636        29,693,838  

Kosmos Energy Ltd. (Ghana)*

     1,727,871        12,509,786  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14


    

 

  Description    Shares              Value        

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

     

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (cont’d.)

                 

Permian Resources Corp.(a)

     875,607      $ 12,757,594  

Sintana Energy, Inc. (Canada)*

     637,992        161,022  

Sintana Energy, Inc. (Canada), Reg D (original cost
$20,701,233; purchased 06/03/11)*(f)

     1,304,999        329,367  

TXO Partners LP

     175,000        3,417,750  
     

 

 

 
        172,683,091  

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing    2.7%

                 

Valero Energy Corp.

     153,704        19,520,408  

Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation    3.7%

                 

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

     151,600        25,229,272  

New Fortress Energy, Inc.(a)

     65,782        1,993,195  
     

 

 

 
        27,222,467  

Precious Metals & Minerals    0.0%

                 

Sedibelo Platinum Mines Ltd. (South Africa) Private Placement
(original cost $4,469,143; purchased 11/27/07)*^(f)

     523,100        69,938  

Semiconductor Equipment    0.3%

                 

Enphase Energy, Inc.*

     26,664        2,121,921  

Silver    0.6%

                 

MAG Silver Corp. (Canada)*

     454,206        4,542,879  

Specialty Chemicals    0.3%

                 

Livent Corp.*(a)

     170,432        2,486,603  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $582,150,532)

                710,591,425  
     

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS    25.3%

     

AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS

     

PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund(wb)

     22,523,834        22,523,834  

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    15


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

as of October 31, 2023

 

  Description    Shares              Value        

AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS (Continued)

     

PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund
(cost $163,203,627; includes $162,643,948 of cash collateral for securities on loan)(b)(wb)

     163,345,676      $ 163,264,003  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $185,727,461)

        185,787,837  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS    121.9%
(cost $767,877,993)

        896,379,262  

Liabilities in excess of other assets (21.9)%

        (161,109,565
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS    100.0%

      $       735,269,697  
     

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a list of the abbreviation(s) used in the annual report:

144A — Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and, pursuant to the requirements of Rule 144A, may not be resold except to qualified institutional buyers.

ADR — American Depositary Receipt

LP — Limited Partnership

Reg D — Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, providing exemption from the registration requirements. Unless otherwise noted, Regulation D securities are deemed to be liquid.

REITs — Real Estate Investment Trust

SOFR — Secured Overnight Financing Rate

*

Non-income producing security.

^

Indicates a Level 3 instrument. The aggregate value of Level 3 instruments is $69,938 and 0.0% of net assets.

(a)

All or a portion of security is on loan. The aggregate market value of such securities, including those sold and pending settlement, is $159,332,109; cash collateral of $162,643,948 (included in liabilities) was received with which the Fund purchased highly liquid short-term investments. In the event of significant appreciation in value of securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the Fund may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities and such shortfall is remedied the following business day.

(b)

Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment.

(f)

Indicates a restricted security that is acquired in unregistered, private sales from the issuing company or from an affiliate of the issuer and is considered restricted as to disposition under federal securities law; the aggregate original cost of such securities is $25,170,376. The aggregate value of $399,305 is 0.1% of net assets.

(wb)

Represents an investment in a Fund affiliated with the Manager.

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.

 

16


    

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of October 31, 2023 in valuing such portfolio securities:

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Investments in Securities

        

Assets

        

Long-Term Investments

        

Common Stocks

        

Australia

   $      $ 20,753,828      $  

Brazil

     16,192,555                

Burkina Faso

     13,807,715                

Canada

     109,230,701                

Chile

     10,544,455                

France

     22,735,841        10,705,561         

Ghana

     12,509,786                

Netherlands

     35,646,693        1,147,511         

Norway

     3,907,713                

South Africa

                   69,938  

United Kingdom

     37,991,495                

United States

     415,347,633                

Short-Term Investments

     

Affiliated Mutual Funds

     185,787,837                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 863,702,424      $ 32,606,900      $ 69,938  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Country Allocation:

The country allocation of portfolio holdings and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of October 31, 2023 were as follows:

 

United States (including 22.1% of collateral for securities on loan)

     81.7

Canada

     14.8  

United Kingdom

     5.2  

Netherlands

     5.1  

France

     4.6  

Australia

     2.8  

Brazil

     2.2  

Burkina Faso

     1.9  

Ghana

     1.7  

Chile

     1.4  

Norway

     0.5

South Africa

     0.0
  

 

 

 
     121.9  

Liabilities in excess of other assets

     (21.9
  

 

 

 
     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.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    17


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

as of October 31, 2023

 

Offsetting of financial instrument/transaction assets and liabilities:

 

         
  Description   

Gross Market

Value of

Recognized

Assets/(Liabilities)

            

Collateral

Pledged/(Received)(1)

   Net
Amount

  Securities on Loan

               $ 159,332,109                           $(159,332,109)    $—

 

(1)

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

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18


Statement of Assets and Liabilities

as of October 31, 2023

 

Assets

        

Investments at value, including securities on loan of $159,332,109:

  

Unaffiliated investments (cost $582,150,532)

   $ 710,591,425  

Affiliated investments (cost $185,727,461)

     185,787,837  

Foreign currency, at value (cost $569)

     561  

Receivable for investments sold

     4,297,056  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     671,776  

Tax reclaim receivable

     629,895  

Dividends receivable

     82,139  

Prepaid expenses

     4,227  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     902,064,916  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Payable to broker for collateral for securities on loan

     162,643,948  

Payable for investments purchased

     1,593,873  

Payable for Fund shares purchased

     1,144,327  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     771,518  

Management fee payable

     484,449  

Distribution fee payable

     109,421  

Affiliated transfer agent fee payable

     46,196  

Directors’ fees payable

     1,487  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     166,795,219  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 735,269,697  
  

 

 

 
  
   

Net assets were comprised of:

  

Common stock, at par

   $ 142,985  

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     944,535,858  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

     (209,409,146
  

 

 

 

Net assets, October 31, 2023

   $ 735,269,697  
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    19


Statement of Assets and Liabilities

as of October 31, 2023

 

Class A

                

Net asset value and redemption price per share,
($310,359,383 ÷ 6,146,597 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

  $ 50.49     

Maximum sales charge (5.50% of offering price)

    2.94     
 

 

 

    

Maximum offering price to public

  $ 53.43     
 

 

 

    

Class C

                

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share,
($18,243,873 ÷ 465,418 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

  $ 39.20     
 

 

 

    

Class R

                

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share,
($25,064,181 ÷ 506,632 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

  $ 49.47     
 

 

 

    

Class Z

                

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share,
($315,667,840 ÷ 5,948,277 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

  $ 53.07     
 

 

 

    

Class R6

                

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share,
($65,934,420 ÷ 1,231,546 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

  $ 53.54     
 

 

 

    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20


Statement of Operations

Year Ended October 31, 2023

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

        

Income

  

Unaffiliated dividend income (net of $812,329 foreign withholding tax)

   $ 20,671,212  

Affiliated dividend income

     397,197  

Income from securities lending, net (including affiliated income of $337,266)

     373,788  
  

 

 

 

Total income

     21,442,197  
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Management fee

     6,099,650  

Distribution fee(a)

     1,500,762  

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses (including affiliated expense of $261,600)(a)

     1,113,212  

Custodian and accounting fees

     85,150  

Shareholders’ reports

     79,748  

Registration fees(a)

     73,274  

Professional fees

     66,450  

Audit fee

     25,440  

Directors’ fees

     21,687  

Miscellaneous

     35,331  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     9,100,704  

Less: Distribution fee waiver(a)

     (75,436
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     9,025,268  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

     12,416,929  
  

 

 

 

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

        

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions (including affiliated of $22,352)

     139,772,472  

Foreign currency transactions

     (47,990
  

 

 

 
     139,724,482  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

  

Investments (including affiliated of $22,817)

     (212,853,117

Foreign currencies

     (506
  

 

 

 
     (212,853,623
  

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (73,129,141
  

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ (60,712,212
  

 

 

 

 

(a)

Class specific expenses and waivers were as follows:

 

     Class A      Class C      Class R     Class Z      Class R6  

Distribution fee

     1,039,645        234,808        226,309              —     

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses

     620,171        34,121        56,714       393,299        8,907     

Registration fees

     21,104        11,629        8,298       18,999        13,244     

Distribution fee waiver

                   (75,436            —     

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    21


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
October 31,
     
     2023      2022      

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

                     

Operations

       

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 12,416,929      $ 17,103,109    

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

     139,724,482        90,997,977      

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

     (212,853,623      61,298,772    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     (60,712,212      169,399,858    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Dividends and Distributions

       

Distributions from distributable earnings

       

Class A

     (9,892,427      (2,538,637  

Class C

     (824,016      (131,087  

Class R

     (896,182      (181,586  

Class Z

     (10,442,935      (3,267,786  

Class R6

     (2,326,122      (929,384  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   
     (24,381,682      (7,048,480  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Fund share transactions (Net of share conversions)

       

Net proceeds from shares sold

     154,050,031        281,118,818    

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

     22,632,122        6,611,112    

Cost of shares purchased

     (258,628,615      (302,688,927  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

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

     (81,946,462      (14,958,997  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total increase (decrease)

     (167,040,356      147,392,381    

Net Assets:

                     

Beginning of year

     902,310,053        754,917,672    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

End of year

   $ 735,269,697      $ 902,310,053    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22


Financial Highlights

 

           

Class A Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $55.85       $45.60       $26.93       $29.28       $33.37  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.72       0.95       0.38       0.22       0.43  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions      (4.62     9.67       18.74       (2.00     (4.08

Total from investment operations

     (3.90     10.62       19.12       (1.78     (3.65

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (1.46     (0.37     (0.45     (0.57     (0.44

Net asset value, end of year

     $50.49       $55.85       $45.60       $26.93       $29.28  

Total Return(b):

     (7.18 )%      23.55     71.63     (6.23 )%      (10.97 )% 
                                          

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                                        

Net assets, end of year (000)

   $ 310,359     $ 374,843     $ 315,131     $ 197,683     $ 267,486  

Average net assets (000)

   $ 346,548     $ 343,151     $ 283,488     $ 215,813     $ 302,294  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement      1.27     1.27     1.31     1.38     1.35
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement      1.27     1.27     1.31     1.38     1.35

Net investment income (loss)

     1.36     1.91     0.96     0.83     1.41

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     33     37     35     37     39

 

(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 GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    23


Financial Highlights (continued)

 

           

Class C Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $43.76       $35.89       $21.36       $23.37       $26.71  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.29       0.48       0.06       0.04       0.20  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions      (3.62     7.59       14.85       (1.61     (3.27

Total from investment operations

     (3.33     8.07       14.91       (1.57     (3.07

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (1.23     (0.20     (0.38     (0.44     (0.27

Net asset value, end of year

     $39.20       $43.76       $35.89       $21.36       $23.37  

Total Return(b):

     (7.83 )%      22.66     70.42     (6.86 )%      (11.51 )% 
                                          

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                                        

Net assets, end of year (000)

   $ 18,244     $ 29,723     $ 23,746     $ 20,836     $ 39,853  

Average net assets (000)

   $ 23,481     $ 26,893     $ 22,795     $ 27,652     $ 72,400  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement      1.98     1.99     2.01     2.09     1.99
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement      1.98     1.99     2.01     2.09     1.99

Net investment income (loss)

     0.71     1.22     0.21     0.18     0.82

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     33     37     35     37     39

 

(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 GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24


    

 

           

Class R Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $54.76       $44.75       $26.46       $28.75       $32.75  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.61       0.83       0.28       0.16       0.36  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions      (4.55     9.47       18.42       (1.95     (4.01

Total from investment operations

     (3.94     10.30       18.70       (1.79     (3.65

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (1.35     (0.29     (0.41     (0.50     (0.35

Net asset value, end of year

     $49.47       $54.76       $44.75       $26.46       $28.75  

Total Return(b):

     (7.38 )%      23.24     71.26     (6.37 )%      (11.18 )% 
                                          

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                                        

Net assets, end of year (000)

   $ 25,064     $ 35,475     $ 29,030     $ 19,553     $ 25,050  

Average net assets (000)

   $ 30,175     $ 31,948     $ 27,407     $ 21,242     $ 30,801  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement      1.50     1.50     1.51     1.56     1.59
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement      1.75     1.75     1.76     1.81     1.84

Net investment income (loss)

     1.17     1.68     0.74     0.63     1.18

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     33     37     35     37     39

 

(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 GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    25


Financial Highlights (continued)

 

           

Class Z Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $58.60       $47.81       $28.20       $30.62       $34.88  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     0.95       1.19       0.55       0.35       0.60  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions      (4.84     10.12       19.62       (2.07     (4.28

Total from investment operations

     (3.89     11.31       20.17       (1.72     (3.68

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (1.64     (0.52     (0.56     (0.70     (0.58

Net asset value, end of year

     $53.07       $58.60       $47.81       $28.20       $30.62  

Total Return(b):

     (6.84 )%      24.01     72.26     (5.78 )%      (10.61 )% 
                                          

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                                        

Net assets, end of year (000)

   $ 315,668     $ 373,327     $ 306,985     $ 202,846     $ 296,535  

Average net assets (000)

   $ 341,515     $ 340,172     $ 284,945     $ 240,200     $ 401,185  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement      0.91     0.90     0.93     0.94     0.92
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement      0.91     0.90     0.93     0.94     0.92

Net investment income (loss)

     1.72     2.27     1.33     1.27     1.87

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     33     37     35     37     39

 

(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 GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26


    

 

           

Class R6 Shares

            
      Year Ended October 31,  
   
      2023     2022     2021     2020     2019  
   

Per Share Operating Performance(a):

                                        

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

     $59.10       $48.22       $28.42       $30.85       $35.16  

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                        

Net investment income (loss)

     1.02       1.27       0.65       0.37       0.63  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions      (4.89     10.17       19.73       (2.08     (4.32

Total from investment operations

     (3.87     11.44       20.38       (1.71     (3.69

Less Dividends and Distributions:

                                        

Dividends from net investment income

     (1.69     (0.56     (0.58     (0.72     (0.62

Net asset value, end of year

     $53.54       $59.10       $48.22       $28.42       $30.85  

Total Return(b):

     (6.75 )%      24.12     72.48     (5.71 )%      (10.54 )% 
              

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                                        

Net assets, end of year (000)

   $ 65,934     $ 88,942     $ 80,025     $ 27,355     $ 29,607  

Average net assets (000)

   $ 71,568     $ 81,996     $ 54,795     $ 27,262     $ 40,924  

Ratios to average net assets(c):

                                        
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement      0.82     0.81     0.81     0.85     0.86
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement      0.82     0.81     0.81     0.85     0.86

Net investment income (loss)

     1.82     2.41     1.53     1.32     1.93

Portfolio turnover rate(d)

     33     37     35     37     39

 

(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 GAAP.

(c)

Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(d)

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    27


Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.

Organization

Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc. (the “Registered Investment Company” or “RIC”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The RIC is organized as a Maryland Corporation and PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund (the “Fund”) is the sole series of the RIC. The Fund is classified as a diversified fund for purposes of the 1940 Act.

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

 

2.

Accounting Policies

The Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). 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 as of the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. As described in further detail below, the Fund’s investments are valued daily based on a number of factors, including the type of investment and whether market quotations are readily available. The RIC’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures for security valuation and designated PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or the “Manager”) as the “Valuation Designee,” as defined by Rule 2a-5(b) under the 1940 Act, to perform the fair value determination relating to all Fund investments. Pursuant to the Board’s oversight, the Valuation Designee has established a Valuation Committee to perform the duties and responsibilities as Valuation Designee under Rule 2a-5. 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. Fair value is the estimated 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.

For the fiscal reporting year-end, securities and other assets and liabilities were fair valued at the close of the last U.S. business day. Trading in certain foreign securities may occur when the NYSE is closed (including weekends and holidays). Because such foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the

 

28


Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot purchase or redeem Fund shares.

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 and referred to herein as the “fair value hierarchy” in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820 — Fair Value Measurement.

Common or preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and derivative instruments, if applicable, 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 a 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.

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 up to the time the Fund is valued. 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 funds (other than ETFs) 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 policies and procedures 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. Altering one or more unobservable inputs may result in a significant change to a Level 3 security’s fair value measurement.

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

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    29


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

comparable securities; and any available analyst media or other reports or information deemed reliable by the Valuation Designee 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.

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 exchange rate as of the valuation date;

(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 unrealized and realized foreign currency gains (losses) are included in the reported net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and net realized gains (losses) on investment transactions on the Statements of Operations.

Net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains (losses) from the disposition of holdings of foreign currencies, currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on investment 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) arise from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities (other than investments) at period end exchange rates.

Master Netting Arrangements: The RIC, on behalf of 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 all or a portion 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

 

30


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, 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.

Securities Lending: The Fund lends 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. In the event of significant appreciation in value of the securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the financial statements may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities. Such shortfall is remedied as described above. 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. The remaining open loans of the securities lending transactions are considered overnight and continuous. 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, which are reflected in interest income or unaffiliated dividend income based on the nature of the payment on the Statement of Operations. 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 in the Statement of Operations.

Equity and Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (collectively REITs): The Fund invested in REITs, which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Based on current and historical information, a portion of distributions received from 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 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, or for certain foreign securities, when the Fund becomes aware of such dividends. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual expense amounts. Net investment income or

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    31


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

loss (other than class specific expenses and waivers, which are allocated as noted below) 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. Class specific expenses and waivers, where applicable, are charged to the respective share classes. Such class specific expenses and waivers include distribution fees and distribution fee waivers, shareholder servicing fees, transfer agent’s fees and expenses, registration fees and fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, as applicable.

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: Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified between total distributable earnings (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate. The chart below sets forth the expected frequency of dividend and capital gains distributions to shareholders. Various factors may impact the frequency of dividend distributions to shareholders, including but not limited to adverse market conditions or portfolio holding-specific events.

 

   
  Expected Distribution Schedule to Shareholders*    Frequency  

Net Investment Income

     Annually  

Short-Term Capital Gains

     Annually  

Long-Term Capital Gains

     Annually   

 

*

Under certain circumstances, the Fund may make more than one distribution of short-term and/or long-term capital gains during a fiscal year.

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.

 

3.

Agreements

The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a management agreement with the Manager pursuant to which it has responsibility for all investment advisory services, including supervision of the subadviser’s performance of such services, and for rendering administrative services.

 

32


The Manager has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison” or the “subadviser”). The Manager pays for the services of Jennison.

Fees payable under the management agreement are computed daily and paid monthly. For the reporting period ended October 31, 2023, the contractual and effective management fee rates were as follows:

 

   
  Contractual Management Rate   

Effective Management Fee, before any waivers  

and/or expense reimbursements

 

0.75% of average daily net assets to $1 billion;

     0.75%  

0.70% of average daily net assets over $1 billion.

        

Where applicable, the Manager agrees to waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class. In addition, total annual operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual operating expenses for Class Z shares. Fees and/or expenses waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager for the purpose of preventing the expenses from exceeding a certain expense ratio limit may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver and/or reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for that fiscal year.

The RIC, on behalf of the Fund has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), which acts as the distributor of the Class A, Class C, Class R, Class Z and Class R6 shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates PIMS for distributing and servicing the Fund’s Class A, Class C and Class R shares, pursuant to the plans of distribution (the “Distribution Plans”), regardless of expenses actually incurred by PIMS.

Pursuant to the Distribution Plans, the Fund compensates PIMS for distribution related activities at an annual rate based on average daily net assets per class. PIMS has contractually agreed through February 28, 2025 to limit such fees on certain classes based on the average daily net assets. The distribution fees are accrued daily and payable monthly.

The Fund’s annual gross and net distribution rates, where applicable, are as follows:

 

     
  Class    Gross Distribution Fee    Net Distribution Fee  

A

   0.30%    0.30%

C

   1.00       1.00   

R

   0.75       0.50   

Z

   N/A      N/A  

R6

   N/A      N/A  

For the year ended October 31, 2023, PIMS received front-end sales charges (“FESL”) resulting from sales of certain class shares and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) imposed upon redemptions by certain shareholders. From these fees, PIMS paid such sales

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    33


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

charges to broker-dealers, who in turn paid commissions to salespersons and incurred other distribution costs. The sales charges are as follows where applicable:

 

     
  Class    FESL      CDSC  

A

   $ 211,465       $  73   

C

     —         1,179   

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

 

4.

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 and shareholder servicing 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 invest its overnight sweep cash in the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund (the “Core Government Fund”), a series of the Prudential Government Money Market Fund, Inc., and its securities lending cash collateral in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund (the “Money Market Fund”), a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, each registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. PGIM Investments and/or its affiliates are paid fees or reimbursed for providing their services to the Core Government Fund and the Money Market Fund. In addition to the realized and unrealized gains on investments in the Core Government Fund and the Money Market Fund, earnings from such investments are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income” and “Income from securities lending, net”, respectively.

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, subject to certain conditions, 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/trustees, and/or common officers. For the year ended October 31, 2023, no Rule 17a-7 transactions were entered into by the Fund.

 

34


5.

Portfolio Securities

The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) for the reporting period ended October 31, 2023, were as follows:

 

   
Cost of Purchases    Proceeds from Sales

$267,548,439

   $373,908,324

A summary of the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of shares of affiliated mutual funds for the year ended October 31, 2023, is presented as follows:

 

   
Value,
Beginning of
Year
   Cost of
Purchases
               Proceeds
from Sales
               Change in
Unrealized
Gain
(Loss)
               Realized
Gain
(Loss)
              

Value,

End of Year

              

Shares,
End

of Year

               Income  
   

Short-Term Investments - Affiliated Mutual Funds:

 

 

 

PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund(1)(wb)

 

$                —

   $ 119,811,417         $ 97,287,583         $         $         $ 22,523,834           22,523,834         $ 397,197  

 

 

PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund(1)(b)(wb)

 

                 

 

 

  112,371,070

     912,843,765           861,996,001           22,817           22,352           163,264,003           163,345,676           337,266 (2) 

 

 

$112,371,070

   $ 1,032,655,182         $ 959,283,584         $ 22,817         $ 22,352         $ 185,787,837               $ 734,463  

 

 

 

(1)

The Fund did not have any capital gain distributions during the reporting period.

(2)

The amount, or a portion thereof, represents the affiliated securities lending income shown on the Statement of Operations.

(b)

Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment.

(wb)

Represents an investment in a Fund affiliated with the Manager.

 

6.

Distributions and Tax Information

Distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date.

For the year ended October 31, 2023, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

 

Long-Term

Capital Gains

 

Tax Return

of Capital

 

Total Dividends

and Distributions

$24,381,682

  $—   $—   $24,381,682

For the year ended October 31, 2022, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:

 

       

Ordinary

Income

 

Long-Term

Capital Gains

 

Tax Return

of Capital

 

Total Dividends

and Distributions

$7,048,480

  $—   $—   $7,048,480

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    35


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

For the year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund had the following amounts of accumulated undistributed earnings on a tax basis:

 

   

Undistributed

Ordinary

Income

  

Undistributed

Long-Term

Capital Gains

$14,790,792

   $—

The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized appreciation as of October 31, 2023 were as follows:

 

             
    Tax Basis         

Gross

Unrealized

Appreciation

        

Gross

Unrealized

Depreciation

        

Net

Unrealized

Appreciation

  $778,088,739

        $203,077,417         $(84,786,894)         $118,290,523

The difference between GAAP and tax basis of investments were primarily attributable to deferred losses on wash sales, investments in passive foreign investment companies and other GAAP to tax adjustments.

For federal income tax purposes, the Fund had an approximated capital loss carryforward as of October 31, 2023 which can be carried forward for an unlimited period. No capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such losses.

 

   

Capital Loss

Carryforward

 

Capital Loss

Carryforward Utilized

$342,473,000

  $131,633,000

The Manager 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 provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. Since tax authorities can examine previously filed tax returns, the Fund’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for each of the four fiscal years up to the most recent fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 are subject to such review.

 

7.

Capital and Ownership

The Fund offers Class A, Class C, Class R, Class Z and Class R6 shares. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.50%. Investors who purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares and sell these shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a CDSC of 1%, although they are not subject to an initial sales charge. The Class A CDSC is waived for certain retirement and/or benefit plans. A special exchange privilege is also available for shareholders who qualified to purchase Class A shares at net asset

 

36


value. Class C shares are sold with a CDSC of 1% on sales made within 12 months of purchase. Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares on a monthly basis approximately eight years (ten years prior to January 22, 2021) after purchase. Class R, Class Z and Class R6 shares are not subject to any sales or redemption charges 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, below.

There are 500,000,000 shares of common stock authorized, $0.01 par value per share, designated as shares of the Fund. The authorized shares of the Fund are further classified and designated as follows:

 

   
  Class    Number of Shares    

A

     50,000,000        

B

     10,000,000        

C

     50,000,000        

R

     50,000,000        

Z

     145,000,000        

T

     90,000,000        

R6

     105,000,000        

As of October 31, 2023, Prudential, through its affiliated entities, including affiliated funds (if applicable), owned shares of the Fund as follows:

 

     
  Class    Number of Shares    Percentage of Outstanding Shares  

Z

     14,840    0.2%

R6

   149,674    12.2    

At the reporting period end, the number of shareholders holding greater than 5% of the Fund are as follows:

 

     
      Number of Shareholders   Percentage of Outstanding Shares  

Affiliated

          

Unaffiliated

     4             50.4        

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    37


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:

 

       
  Share Class    Shares             Amount  

Class A

 

Year ended October 31, 2023:

 

Shares sold

     609,029              $ 32,742,524  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     171,651                9,389,304  

Shares purchased

     (1,411,312              (74,150,191

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (630,632              (32,018,363

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     147,380                7,864,564  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (81,804              (4,320,898

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (565,056            $  (28,474,697

Year ended October 31, 2022:

 

Shares sold

     1,289,790              $ 66,116,060  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     57,317                2,403,891  

Shares purchased

     (1,582,146              (78,368,177

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (235,039              (9,848,226

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     105,073                5,317,612  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (68,601              (3,486,137

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (198,567            $ (8,016,751

Class C

 

Year ended October 31, 2023:

 

Shares sold

     66,613              $ 2,738,417  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     18,501                790,566  

Shares purchased

     (150,165              (6,043,845

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (65,051              (2,514,862

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (148,802              (6,207,078

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (213,853            $ (8,721,940

Year ended October 31, 2022:

 

Shares sold

     242,526              $ 9,827,256  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     3,823                126,435  

Shares purchased

     (134,025              (5,188,112

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     112,324                4,765,579  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (94,751              (3,740,275

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     17,573              $ 1,025,304  

 

38


       
  Share Class    Shares             Amount  

Class R

                         

Year ended October 31, 2023:

                         

Shares sold

     147,327              $ 7,714,642  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     16,539                888,161  

Shares purchased

     (305,003              (15,681,238

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (141,137            $ (7,078,435

Year ended October 31, 2022:

                         

Shares sold

     519,664              $ 26,033,224  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     4,363                179,828  

Shares purchased

     (524,957              (25,657,093

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (930              555,959  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (34              (1,516

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (964            $ 554,443  

Class Z

                         

Year ended October 31, 2023:

                         

Shares sold

     1,351,038              $ 75,096,833  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     162,247                9,296,748  

Shares purchased

     (1,936,705              (106,632,209

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (423,420              (22,238,628

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     83,483                4,631,065  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (82,795              (4,727,172

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (422,732            $ (22,334,735

Year ended October 31, 2022:

                         

Shares sold

     2,417,803              $ 127,812,453  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     68,144                2,988,779  

Shares purchased

     (2,551,206              (135,330,927

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (65,259              (4,529,695

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     71,785                3,810,571  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (55,983              (3,019,072

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (49,457            $ (3,738,196

Class R6

                         

Year ended October 31, 2023:

                         

Shares sold

     635,095              $ 35,757,615  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     39,255                2,267,343  

Shares purchased

     (994,761              (56,121,132

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (320,411              (18,096,174

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     50,703                2,974,921  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (3,708              (215,402

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (273,416            $ (15,336,655

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    39


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

       
  Share Class    Shares             Amount  

Year ended October 31, 2022:

 

Shares sold

     942,207              $ 51,329,825  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

     20,637                912,179  

Shares purchased

     (1,137,794              (58,144,618

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion

     (174,950              (5,902,614

Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es)

     20,380                1,119,839  

Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es)

     (19              (1,022

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

     (154,589            $ (4,783,797

 

8.

Borrowings

The RIC, on behalf of the Fund along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Participating 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 table below provides details of the current SCA in effect at the reporting period-end as well as the prior SCA.

 

       
      Current SCA          Prior SCA

Term of Commitment

   9/29/2023 - 9/26/2024       9/30/2022 – 9/28/2023

Total Commitment

   $ 1,200,000,000         $ 1,200,000,000

Annualized Commitment Fee on the

Unused Portion of the SCA

   0.15%       0.15%

Annualized Interest Rate on Borrowings

   1.00% plus the higher of (1)
the effective federal funds
rate, (2) the daily SOFR
rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero
percent
               1.00% plus the higher of
(1) the effective federal
funds rate, (2) the daily
SOFR rate plus 0.10%
or (3) zero percent

Certain 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 these portfolios. Consequently, these 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 Manager to allocate available funding per a Board-approved methodology designed to treat the Participating Funds in the SCA equitably.

The Fund did not utilize the SCA during the year ended October 31, 2023.

 

40


9.

Risks of Investing in the Fund

The Fund’s risks include, but are not limited to, some or all of the risks discussed below. For further information on the Fund’s risks, please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.

Asset-Based Securities Risk: Asset-based securities are fixed income securities whose value is related to the market price of a certain natural resource, such as a precious metal. Although the market price of these securities is expected to follow the market price of the related resource, there may not be perfect correlation. There are special risks associated with certain types of natural resource assets that will also affect the value of asset-based securities related to those assets. For example, precious metal prices historically have been very volatile, which may adversely affect the financial condition of companies involved with precious metals. The production and sale of precious metals by governments or central banks or other larger holders can be affected by various economic, financial, social and political factors, which may be unpredictable and may have a significant impact on the prices of precious metals. Other factors that may affect the prices of precious metals and securities related to them include changes in inflation, the outlook for inflation and changes in industrial and commercial demand for precious metals.

Commodity Risk: The values of commodities and commodity-linked investments are affected by events that might have less impact on the value of stocks and bonds. Such investments may be speculative. Prices of commodities and related contracts may fluctuate significantly over short periods for a variety of reasons, including weather, crop or livestock disease, investment speculation, resource availability, fluctuations in industrial and commercial supply and demand, U.S. agricultural, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs, embargoes, tariffs, and international political, economic, military and regulatory developments. These risks may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional instruments or securities. In addition, the commodities markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to a variety of factors, including participation of speculators, government intervention and regulation, and certain lack of liquidity in the markets.

Convertible Securities Risk: The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock.

Credit Risk: This is the risk that the issuer, the guarantor or the insurer of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. Additionally, fixed income securities could lose value due to a loss of confidence in the ability of the issuer,

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    41


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

guarantor, insurer or counterparty to pay back debt. The lower the credit quality of a bond, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth or the functioning of the securities markets, or otherwise reduce inflation, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Governmental efforts to curb inflation often have negative effects on the level of economic activity. Relatively reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Energy Company Investment Risks: The value of securities issued by companies in the energy sector may decline for many reasons, including, among others, changes in energy prices, energy supply and demand, government regulations, energy conservation efforts and potential civil liabilities.

Equity and Equity-Related Securities Risk: Equity and equity-related securities may be subject to changes in value, and their values may be more volatile than those of other asset classes. In addition to an individual security losing value, the value of the equity markets or a sector in which the Fund invests could go down. Different parts of a market can react differently to adverse issuer, market, regulatory, political and economic developments.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers (including those denominated in U.S. dollars) may involve more risk than investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign political, economic and legal systems, especially those in developing and emerging market countries, may be less stable and more volatile than in the United States. Foreign legal systems generally have fewer regulatory requirements than the U.S. legal system, particularly those of emerging markets. In general, less information is publicly available with respect to non-U.S. companies than U.S. companies. Non-U.S. companies generally are not subject to the same accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards as are U.S. companies. Additionally, the changing value of foreign currencies and changes in exchange rates could also affect the value of the assets the Fund holds and the Fund’s performance. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the ability of issuers of foreign securities to make payment of principal and interest or dividends to investors located outside the country, due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise. Investments in emerging markets are subject to greater volatility and price declines.

In addition, the Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currency, confiscatory taxation and adverse diplomatic developments. Special U.S. tax considerations may apply.

 

42


Increase in Expenses Risk: Your actual cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the expenses shown in the expense table in the Fund’s prospectus for a variety of reasons. For example, expense ratios may be higher than those shown if average net assets decrease. Net assets are more likely to decrease and Fund expense ratios are more likely to increase when markets are volatile. Active and frequent trading of Fund securities can increase expenses.

Interest Rate Risk: The value of your investment may go down when interest rates rise. A rise in rates tends to have a greater impact on the prices of longer term or duration debt securities. Similarly, a rise in interest rates may also have a greater negative impact on the value of equity securities whose issuers expect earnings further out in the future. For example, a fixed income security with a duration of three years is expected to decrease in value by approximately 3% if interest rates increase by 1%. This is referred to as “duration risk.” When interest rates fall, the issuers of debt obligations may prepay principal more quickly than expected, and the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate. This is referred to as “prepayment risk.” When interest rates rise, debt obligations may be repaid more slowly than expected, and the value of the Fund’s holdings may fall sharply. This is referred to as “extension risk.” The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply or in a manner not anticipated by the subadviser.

Large Shareholder and Large Scale Redemption Risk: Certain individuals, accounts, funds (including funds affiliated with the Manager) or institutions, including the Manager and its affiliates, may from time to time own or control a substantial amount of the Fund’s shares. There is no requirement that these entities maintain their investment in the Fund. There is a risk that such large shareholders or that the Fund’s shareholders generally may redeem all or a substantial portion of their investments in the Fund in a short period of time, which could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s NAV, liquidity, and brokerage costs. Large redemptions could also result in tax consequences to shareholders and impact the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy. The Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective after one or more large scale redemptions may be impaired and, as a result, the Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalents.

Management Risk: Actively managed funds are subject to management risk. The subadviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but the subadviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry or sector or about market movements may be incorrect. Additionally, the investments selected for the Fund may underperform the markets in general, the Fund’s benchmark and other funds with similar investment objectives.

Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risks: Market disruption can be caused by economic, financial or political events and factors, including but not limited to, international wars or conflicts (including Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine), geopolitical developments (including trading and tariff arrangements, sanctions and cybersecurity attacks), instability

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    43


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

in regions such as Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, terrorism, natural disasters and public health epidemics (including the outbreak of COVID-19 globally).

The extent and duration of such events and resulting market disruptions cannot be predicted, but could be substantial and could magnify the impact of other risks to the Fund. These and other similar events could adversely affect the U.S. and foreign financial markets and lead to increased market volatility, reduced liquidity in the securities markets, significant negative impacts on issuers and the markets for certain securities and commodities and/or government intervention. They may also cause short- or long-term economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively impacted. Further, due to closures of certain markets and restrictions on trading certain securities, the value of certain securities held by the Fund could be significantly impacted, which could lead to such securities being valued at zero.

Market Risk: Securities markets may be volatile and the market prices of the Fund’s securities may decline. Securities fluctuate in price based on changes in an issuer’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. If the market prices of the securities owned by the Fund fall, the value of your investment in the Fund will decline.

Master Limited Partnerships Risk: The risks of investing in an MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in an MLP than investors in a corporation. Investments held by MLPs may be relatively illiquid, limiting the MLPs’ ability to vary their portfolios promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. MLPs may have limited financial resources, their securities may trade infrequently and in limited volume, and they may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than securities of larger or more broadly-based companies. The Fund’s investment in MLPs also subjects the Fund to the risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the MLPs invest, risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP’s general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner’s right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns. Since MLPs generally conduct business in multiple states, the Fund may be subject to income or franchise tax in each of the states in which the partnership does business. The additional cost of preparing and filing the tax returns and paying the related taxes may adversely impact the Fund’s return on its investment in MLPs.

 

44


Natural Resource Company Investment Risk: The market value of securities of natural resource companies may be affected by numerous factors, including events occurring in nature, inflationary pressures and international politics. Because the Fund invests primarily in companies with natural resource assets, there is the risk that the Fund will perform poorly during a downturn in natural resource companies. For example, events occurring in nature (such as earthquakes or fires in prime natural resource areas) and political events (such as coups, military confrontations or acts of terrorism) can affect the overall supply of a natural resource and the value of companies involved in such natural resource. Political risks and the other risks to which foreign securities are subject may also affect U.S. companies in the Fund’s portfolio if they have significant operations or investments in foreign countries. In addition, rising interest rates and general economic conditions may affect the demand for natural resources.

Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock can experience sharp declines in value over short or extended periods of time, regardless of the success or failure of a company’s operations. A redemption by the issuer may negatively impact the return of the security held by the Fund. Preferred stockholders’ liquidation rights are subordinate to the company’s debt holders and creditors. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive and the price of preferred stocks may decline. Preferred stock usually does not require the issuer to pay dividends and may permit the issuer to defer dividend payments. Deferred dividend payments could have adverse tax consequences for the Fund and may cause the preferred security to lose substantial value. Preferred stock also may have substantially lower trading volumes and less market depth than many other securities, such as common stock or U.S. Government securities.

Warrants and Rights Risk: If the underlying stock price does not rise above the exercise price before the warrant expires, a warrant generally expires without value and the Fund loses any amount paid for the warrant. Warrants may trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of a warrant may not move with the price of the underlying stock. Failing to exercise subscription rights to purchase common stock would dilute the Fund’s interest in the issuing company. The market for such rights is not well developed, and the Fund may not always realize full value on the sale of rights.

 

10.

Recent Regulatory Developments

Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information deemed important for retail investors to assess and monitor their fund investments (the “Rule”). Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in the funds’ streamlined shareholder reports but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The Rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the Rule and its impact to the Fund.

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    45


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors of Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc. and Shareholders of PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund (the “Fund”) as of October 31, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year ended October 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period ended October 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2023 and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period ended October 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended October 31, 2019 and the financial highlights for the period ended October 31, 2019 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated December 19, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

December 18, 2023

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the PGIM Retail Funds complex since 2020.

 

46


Tax Information (unaudited)

For the year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowable under Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, but not less than, the following percentages of the ordinary income dividends paid as 1) qualified dividend income (QDI); and 2) eligible for corporate dividends received deduction (DRD):

 

       

Fund

     QDI                 DRD  

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund

     98.90                     69.73

In January 2024, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute 1099-DIV, as to the federal tax status of dividends and distributions received by you in calendar year 2023.

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund    47


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

     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

 

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

 

Length of

Board Service

     

Ellen S. Alberding

1958

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 100

 

Chief Executive Officer and President, The Joyce Foundation (charitable foundation) (since 2002); formerly Vice Chair, City Colleges of Chicago (community college system) (2011-2015); formerly Trustee, National Park Foundation (charitable foundation for national park system) (2009-2018); formerly Trustee, Economic Club of Chicago (2009-2016); Trustee, Loyola University (since 2018).

  None.   Since September 2013
     

Kevin J. Bannon

1952

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 101

 

Retired; formerly 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; formerly President (May 2003-May 2007) of BNY Hamilton Family of Mutual Funds.

 

Director of Urstadt Biddle Properties (equity real estate investment trust) (September 2008-August 2023).

  Since July 2008

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund


 

Independent Board Members

     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

 

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

 

Length of

Board Service

     

Linda W. Bynoe

1952

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 98

 

President and Chief Executive Officer (since March 1995) and formerly Chief Operating Officer (December 1989-February 1995) of Telemat Limited LLC (formerly Telemat Ltd) (management consulting); formerly Vice President (January 1985-June 1989) at Morgan Stanley & Co. (broker-dealer).

 

Trustee of Equity Residential (residential real estate) (since December 2009); Director of Northern Trust Corporation (financial services) (since April 2006); formerly Director of Anixter International, Inc. (communication products distributor) (January 2006-June 2020).

  Since March 2005
     

Barry H. Evans

1960

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 101

 

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 (asset management).

 

Formerly Director, Manulife Trust Company (2011-2018); formerly Director, Manulife Asset Management Limited (2015-2017); 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).

  Since September 2017
     

Keith F. Hartstein

1956

Board Member &

Independent Chair

Portfolios Overseen: 101

 

Retired; formerly Member (November 2014-September 2022) of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC) (organization of independent mutual fund directors); formerly Executive Committee of the IDC Board of Governors (October 2019-December 2021); 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); formerly Chairman, Investment Company Institute’s Sales Force Marketing Committee (2003-2008).

  None.   Since September 2013

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


 

Independent Board Members

     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

 

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

 

Length of

Board Service

     

Laurie Simon Hodrick

1962

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 98

 

A. Barton Hepburn Professor Emerita of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (since 2018); Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University (since 2015); Sole Member, ReidCourt LLC (since 2008) (a consulting firm); formerly Visiting Professor of Law, Stanford Law School (2015-2021); formerly A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (1996-2017); formerly Managing Director, Global Head of Alternative Investment Strategies, Deutsche Bank (2006-2008).

 

Independent Director, Andela (since January 2022) (global talent network); Independent Director, Roku (since December 2020) (communication services); formerly Independent Director, Synnex Corporation (2019-2021) (information technology); formerly Independent Director, Kabbage, Inc. (2018-2020) (financial services); formerly Independent Director, Corporate Capital Trust (2017-2018) (a business development company).

  Since September 2017
     

Brian K. Reid

1961

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 101

 

Retired; formerly Chief Economist for the Investment Company Institute (ICI) (2005-2017); formerly Senior Economist and Director of Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1998-2004); formerly Senior Economist, Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1996-1998); formerly Staff Economist at the Federal Reserve Board (1989-1996); formerly Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company (2012-2017).

 

None.

  Since March 2018

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund


 

Independent Board Members

     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

 

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

 

Length of

Board Service

     

Grace C. Torres

1959

Board Member

Portfolios Overseen: 101

 

Retired; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the PGIM 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 January 2018) of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and OceanFirst Bank; formerly Director (July 2015-January 2018) of Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. and Sun National Bank.

  Since November 2014

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


 

Interested Board Members

     

Name

Year of Birth

Position(s)

Portfolios Overseen

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

 

Other Directorships

Held During

Past Five Years

 

Length of

Board Service

     

Stuart S. Parker

1962

Board Member & President

Portfolios Overseen: 101

 

President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Officer in Charge of PGIM Investments LLC (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC) (since January 2012); President and Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; President and PEO (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; President and PEO (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Executive Vice President of Jennison Associates LLC and Head of Retail Distribution of PGIM Investments LLC (June 2005-December 2011); Investment Company Institute - Board of Governors (since May 2012).

  None.   Since January 2012
     

Scott E. Benjamin

1973

Board Member & Vice President

Portfolios Overseen: 101

 

Executive Vice President (since May 2009) of PGIM Investments LLC; 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 (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Vice President (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Vice President (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President of Product Development and Product Management, PGIM Investments LLC (2003-2006).

  None.   Since March 2010

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund


 

Fund Officers(a)

     

Name

Year of Birth

Fund Position

  Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years  

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

     

Claudia DiGiacomo

1974

Chief Legal Officer

 

Chief Legal Officer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Chief Legal Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Chief Legal Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of PIFM Holdco, LLC (since August 2020); Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since August 2020); formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (2005-2020); formerly Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1999-2004).

  Since December 2005
     

Andrew Donohue

1972

Chief Compliance Officer

 

Chief Compliance Officer (since May 2023) of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since October 2022); Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer of PGIM Investments LLC (since September 2022); Chief Compliance Officer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; formerly various senior compliance roles within Principal Global Investors, LLC., global asset management for Principal Financial (2011-2022), most recently as Global Chief Compliance Officer (2016-2022).

  Since May 2023
     

Andrew R. French

1962

Secretary

 

Vice President (since December 2018) of PGIM Investments LLC; Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President and Corporate Counsel (2010-2018) 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 October 2006

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


 

Fund Officers(a)

     

Name

Year of Birth

Fund Position

  Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years  

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

     

Melissa Gonzalez

1980

Assistant Secretary

 

Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2018) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (March 2014-September 2018) of Prudential.

  Since March 2020
     

Patrick E. McGuinness

1986

Assistant Secretary

 

Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Director and Corporate Counsel (since February 2017) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.

  Since June 2020
     

Debra Rubano

1975

Assistant Secretary

 

Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since November 2020) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc; formerly Director and Senior Counsel of Allianz Global Investors U.S. Holdings LLC (2010-2020) and Assistant Secretary of numerous funds in the Allianz fund complex (2015-2020).

  Since December 2020
     

George Hoyt

1965

Assistant Secretary

 

Vice President and Corporate Counsel of Prudential (since September 2023); formerly Associate General Counsel of Franklin Templeton and Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of certain funds in the Franklin Templeton complex (2020- 2023) and Managing Director (2016-2020) and Associate General Counsel for Legg Mason, Inc. and its predecessors (2004-2020).

  Since December 2023
     

Devan Goolsby

1991

Assistant Secretary

 

Vice President and Corporate Counsel of Prudential (since May 2023); formerly Associate at Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP (2021-2023); Compliance Officer at Bloomberg LP (2019-2021); and an Examiner at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (2015-2019).

  Since December 2023
     

Kelly A. Coyne

1968

Assistant Secretary

 

Director, Investment Operations of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since 2010); Assistant Secretary (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.

  Since March 2015

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund


 

Fund Officers(a)

     

Name

Year of Birth

Fund Position

  Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years  

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

     

Christian J. Kelly

1975

Chief Financial Officer

 

Vice President, Global Head of Fund Administration of PGIM Investments LLC (since November 2018); Chief Financial Officer (since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Chief Financial Officer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Credit Fund (since September 2022); Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. (since July 2022); formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (January 2019- March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director of Fund Administration of Lord Abbett & Co. LLC (2009-2018), Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Lord Abbett Family of Funds (2017-2018); Director of Accounting, Avenue Capital Group (2008-2009); Senior Manager, Investment Management Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP (1998-2007).

  Since January 2019
     

Russ Shupak

1973

Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer

 

Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since March 2023); Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; formerly Assistant Treasurer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since October 2019); formerly Director (2013-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration.

  Since October 2019
     

Lana Lomuti

1967

Assistant Treasurer

 

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

  Since April 2014
     

Deborah Conway

1969

Assistant Treasurer

 

Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Director (2007-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration.

  Since October 2019

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


     

Fund Officers(a)

       
     

Name

Year of Birth

Fund Position

  Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years  

Length of

Service as Fund

Officer

     
Elyse M. McLaughlin
1974
Assistant Treasurer
  Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Advanced Series Trust, the Prudential Series Fund and the Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since March 2023); Assistant Treasurer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since October 2019); formerly Director (2011-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration.   Since October 2019
     
Robert W. McCormack
1973
Assistant Treasurer
  Vice President (since 2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds, ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since December 2023) of the PGIM Credit Income Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2016-2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Vice President within Goldman, Sachs & Co. Investment Management Controllers (2008-2016), Assistant Treasurer of Goldman Sachs Family of Funds (2015-2016).   Since March 2023
     
Kelly Florio
1978
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer
  Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Global Compliance Programs and Compliance Risk Management (since December 2021) of Prudential; formerly Head of Fraud Risk Management (October 2019-December 2021) at New York Life Insurance Company; formerly Head of Key Risk Area Operations (November 2018-October 2019), Director of the US Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (2009-2018) and Bank Loss Prevention Associate (2006-2009) at MetLife.   Since June 2022

 

(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 all 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.

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund


 

“Portfolios Overseen” includes such applicable investment companies managed by PGIM Investments LLC and overseen by the Board Member. The investment companies for which PGIM Investments LLC serves as manager include the PGIM Mutual Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM Credit Income Fund, PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. and the Advanced Series Trust.

 

As used in the Fund Officers table “Prudential” means The Prudential Insurance Company of America.

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


Approval of Advisory Agreements (unaudited)

The Fund’s Board of Directors

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund (the “Fund”)1 consists of ten individuals, eight 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 five standing committees: the Audit Committee,the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Compliance 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, met on May 25 and June 6-8, 2023 (the “Board Meeting”) and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2024, 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 Board Meeting.

The Directors determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PGIM Investments, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a

 

1PGIM

Jennison Natural Resources Fund is the sole series of Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc.

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund


Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)

 

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 noted that Jennison is affiliated with PGIM Investments. 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, and PGIM Investments’ role as administrator for the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. 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, including investment research and security selection, 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 concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PGIM Investments 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 PGIM Investments and Jennison under the management and subadvisory agreements.

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


    

 

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. 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. During the course of time, the Board has considered information regarding the launch date of the Fund, the management fees of the Fund compared to those of similarly managed funds and PGIM Investments’ investment in the Fund over time. 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 arising 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, 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 transfer agency fees received by the Fund’s transfer agent (which is affiliated with PGIM Investments), and benefits to its reputation as well as other intangible benefits resulting from PGIM Investments’ association with the Fund. The Board concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by Jennison included its 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

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund


Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)

 

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 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, 2022.

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 October 31, 2022. 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, which was used to consider performance, and the Peer Group, which was used to consider fees and expenses, were objectively determined by Broadridge, an independent provider of mutual fund data. In certain circumstances, PGIM Investments also provided supplemental Peer Universe or Peer Group information for reasons addressed with the Board. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles over various periods, 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).

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 net performance comparisons (which 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.

 

Visit our website at pgim.com/investments


    

 

         

Net Performance            

   1 Year    3 Years    5 Years    10 Years
         
     2nd Quartile            1st Quartile            1st Quartile            2nd Quartile        
 

Actual Management Fees: 3rd Quartile

 

Net Total Expenses: 2nd Quartile

 

 

The Board noted that the Fund outperformed its benchmark index over the one-, three-, and five-year periods, though it underperformed its benchmark index over the ten-year period.

 

 

The Board concluded that, in light of the above, it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders 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 approval of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund


     

  MAIL

 

   655 Broad Street

 

   Newark, NJ 07102

 

  TELEPHONE

 

   (800) 225-1852

 

  WEBSITE

 

   pgim.com/investments

 

PROXY VOTING

The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated to the Fund’s 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 or by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. 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 Stuart S. Parker Brian K. Reid Grace C. Torres

 

OFFICERS

Stuart S. Parker, President Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President Christian J. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer Claudia DiGiacomo, Chief Legal Officer  Andrew Donohue, Chief Compliance Officer Russ Shupak, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer Kelly Florio, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer Andrew R. French, Secretary Melissa Gonzalez, Assistant Secretary Kelly A. Coyne, Assistant Secretary  Patrick E. McGuinness, Assistant Secretary Debra Rubano, Assistant Secretary George Hoyt, Assistant Secretary Devan Goolsby, Assistant Secretary  Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer Elyse M. McLaughlin, Assistant Treasurer Deborah Conway, Assistant Treasurer  Robert W. McCormack, Assistant Treasurer

 

MANAGER

   PGIM Investments LLC   

655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

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   

240 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10286

TRANSFER AGENT

   Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC   

PO Box 534432

Pittsburgh, PA 15253

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

   PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP   

300 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10017

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 the prospectus and summary prospectus by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments 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 pgim.com/investments/resource/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, PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund, PGIM Investments, Attn: Board of Directors, 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Director by writing to that Director at the same address. Communications are not screened before being delivered to the addressee.

 

AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

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 as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT filings are available on the Commission’s website at sec.gov.

 

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

 

 

 

PGIM JENNISON NATURAL RESOURCES FUND

 

 SHARE CLASS           A    C    R    Z    R6

 NASDAQ

                   PGNAX    PNRCX    JNRRX    PNRZX    PJNQX

 CUSIP

      74441K107    74441K305    74441K404    74441K503    74441K602

MF135E


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 Ms. Grace C. Torres, member of the Board’s Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert,” and that she is “independent,” for purposes of this item.

Item 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services –

(a) Audit Fees

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), the Registrant’s principal accountant, billed the Registrant $25,440 and $24,350, 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 October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022: none.

(c) Tax Fees

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022: none.

(d) All Other Fees

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022: none.

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

THE PGIM MUTUAL FUNDS

AUDIT COMMITTEE POLICY

on

Pre-Approval of Services Provided by the Independent


Accountants

 

The Audit Committee of each PGIM 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:

 

   

Annual Fund financial statement audits

 

   

Seed audits (related to new product filings, as required)

 

   

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:

 

   

Accounting consultations

 

   

Fund merger support services

 

   

Agreed Upon Procedure Reports

 

   

Attestation Reports

 

   

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:

 

   

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

 

   

Timely RIC qualification reviews

 

   

Tax distribution analysis and planning

 

   

Tax authority examination services

 

   

Tax appeals support services

 

   

Accounting methods studies

 

   

Fund merger support services

 

   

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:

 

   

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

 

   

Financial information systems design and implementation

 

   

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

 

   

Actuarial services

 

   

Internal audit outsourcing services

 

   

Management functions or human resources

 

   

Broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services

 

   

Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit

 

   

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 PGIM Fund Complex

Certain non-audit services provided to PGIM Investments LLC or any of its affiliates that also provide ongoing services to the PGIM 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 and its affiliates.

 

(e) (2)

Percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X

 

  

Fiscal Year Ended October 31,

2023

          

Fiscal Year Ended October 31,

2022

4(b)    Not applicable.       Not applicable.
4(c)    Not applicable.       Not applicable.
4(d)    Not applicable.       Not applicable.

(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 the Registrant’s principal accountant 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 October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022 was $0 and $0, respectively.

(h) Principal Accountant’s Independence

Not applicable as the Registrant’s principal accountant 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.

(i) Not applicable.

(j) Not applicable.

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 – There have been no material changes to these procedures.

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 (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12 – Controls and Procedures - Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.

Item 13 – Exhibits

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

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

      (a)(2)(1) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 – Not applicable.

      (a)(2)(2) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant – 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 Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
By:   /s/ Andrew R. French
  Andrew R. French
  Secretary
Date:   December 18, 2023

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:   December 18, 2023
By:   /s/ Christian J. Kelly
  Christian J. Kelly
  Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Date:   December 18, 2023