Prudential Short Duration High Yield 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:    811-22632
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:    Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.
Address of principal executive offices:    655 Broad Street, 17th Floor
   Newark, New Jersey 07102
Name and address of agent for service:    Deborah A. Docs
   655 Broad Street, 17th Floor
   Newark, New Jersey 07102
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:    973-367-7521
Date of fiscal year end:    5/31/2016
Date of reporting period:    11/30/2015

 

 

 


Item 1 – Reports to Stockholders


LOGO

 

PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS, A PGIM BUSINESS

CLOSED-END FUNDS

 

PRUDENTIAL SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD FUND, INC.

 

SEMIANNUAL REPORT · NOVEMBER 30, 2015

 

Objective

High level of current income

 

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.

 

The accompanying financial statements as of November 30, 2015, were not audited and, accordingly, no auditor’s opinion is expressed on them.

 

Mutual funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC. Prudential Fixed Income is a unit of PGIM, Inc. (PGIM), a registered investment adviser. PIMS and PGIM are Prudential Financial companies. © 2016 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. The Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

 

LOGO

  LOGO


January 15, 2016

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

We hope you find the semiannual report for the Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc. informative and useful. The report covers performance for the six-month period that ended November 30, 2015.

 

Since market conditions change over time, 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. Keep in mind, however, that diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

 

Prudential Investments® is dedicated to helping you solve your toughest investment challenges—whether it’s capital growth, reliable income, or protection from market volatility and other risks. We offer the expertise of Prudential Financial’s affiliated asset managers that strive to be leaders in a broad range of funds to help you stay on course to the future you envision. They also manage money for major corporations and pension funds around the world, which means you benefit from the same expertise, innovation, and attention to risk demanded by today’s most sophisticated investors.

 

Thank you for choosing the Prudential Investments family of funds.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

 

Stuart S. Parker, President

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     1   


Your Fund’s Performance (Unaudited)

 

Performance data quoted represent past performance and assume the reinvestment of all dividends. Past performance does not guarantee future results. An investor may obtain performance data as of the most recent month-end by visiting our website at www.prudentialfunds.com.

 

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide a high level of current income by investing primarily in higher-rated, below-investment-grade fixed income instruments*. The Fund seeks to maintain a weighted average portfolio duration of three years or less and a weighted average maturity of five years or less.

 

*There can be no guarantee the Fund will achieve its objective. Higher-rated high yield bonds, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” are below investment grade and are considered speculative. They are rated Ba, B by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s); BB, B by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) and Fitch, Inc. (Fitch); or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), or if unrated, are considered by PGIM to be of comparable quality.

 

Performance Snapshot as of 11/30/15

  

Price Per Share    Total Return For
Six Months Ended
11/30/15

$16.79 (NAV)

     2.01 %

$14.38 (Market Price)

     4.34 %

Total returns are based on changes in net asset value (NAV) or market price, respectively. NAV total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at NAV. Market Price total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, in additional shares in accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

Source: Prudential Investments LLC.

 

Key Fund Statistics as of 11/30/15

  

    

Duration

     2.7 years     

Average Maturity

     3.5 years   

Duration shown includes the impact of leverage. Duration measures investment risk that takes into account both a bond’s interest payments and its value to maturity. Average Maturity is the average number of years to maturity of the Fund’s bonds.

 

2   Visit our website at www.prudentialfunds.com


Credit Quality expressed as a percentage of total investments as of 11/30/15

  

BBB

     3.6

BB

     47.3   

B

     40.8   

CCC

     5.7   

Cash/Cash Equivalents

     2.6   

Total Investments

     100.0

 

Source: PGIM

Credit ratings reflect the highest rating assigned by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) such as Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (Moody’s), Standard & Poor’s (S&P) or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch). Credit ratings reflect the common nomenclature used by both S&P and Fitch. Where applicable, ratings are converted to the comparable S&P/Fitch rating tier nomenclature. These rating agencies are independent, and are widely used. Credit ratings are subject to change.

 

Yield and Dividends as of 11/30/15

  
Total Monthly Dividends
Paid per Share for Period
   Current Monthly Dividend
Paid per Share
   Yield at Market Price
as of 11/30/15

$0.698

   $0.11    9.18%

Yield at market price is the annualized rate determined by dividing current monthly dividend paid per share by the market price per share as of November 30, 2015.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     3   


Strategy and Performance Overview

 

How did the Fund perform?

For the six-month reporting period that ended November 30, 2015, the Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund returned –4.34% on market price and –2.01% based on NAV. For the same period, the Lipper High Current Yield Funds (Leveraged) Average returned –7.80% and the Barclays US High Yield Ba/B 1-5 Year 1% Issuer Constrained Index (the Index) returned –4.54%. All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends. Please note that Lipper performance returns are based on each fund’s NAV.

 

What were conditions like in the short-term US high yield corporate bond market?

   

High yield corporate bonds struggled at the beginning of the reporting period, pressured by volatile oil prices, concerns about Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate hikes, and uncertainty surrounding Greece’s debt problems.

 

   

In the third quarter of 2015, high yield bond prices declined, as spreads—the amount of extra yield that high yield bonds provide over similar-duration US Treasury securities—widened. Worries about slowing economic growth in China and falling commodity prices weighed on investor sentiment.

 

   

During October, the high yield bond market rebounded sharply, resulting in its first positive monthly return since May and its largest monthly gain in two years. A weak jobs report drove speculation that the Fed would delay a rate increase, which provided a boost to riskier asset classes. Better than expected corporate earnings, respectable economic data from China, and further monetary policy accommodation from non-US central banks also contributed to the improved mood.

 

   

In November, high yield bonds erased most of their October gains, posting their fifth monthly decline of the reporting period. The sell-off was driven by anticipation about a potential Fed rate hike in December, persistent commodity price weakness, and rising risks in a number of non-commodity related sectors such as cable, telecom, health care and retail.

 

   

For the period as a whole, higher quality, shorter duration high yield bonds (as represented by the Fund’s Index) outperformed the broader high yield market.

 

   

According to Lipper, domestic high yield fund flows were negative with $3.5 billion of investment outflows year-to-date.

 

   

New issuance declined. Volume totaled $289 billion in the year-to-date through November, down 17% from the same period in 2014.

 

   

The US speculative grade default rate, as measured by the Moody’s issuer default rate, rose from 1.94% at the beginning of the period to 2.98% at the end of the period.

 

4   Visit our website at www.prudentialfunds.com


What strategies proved most beneficial to the Fund’s performance?

   

The Fund benefited from effective sector and issue selection during the reporting period.

 

   

Within the Fund’s sector allocation, a large underweight position versus the Index in the upstream energy sector was the biggest positive contributor to performance. (The upstream energy sector generally refers to companies engaged in energy exploration and production.)

 

   

Overweight positions versus the Index in the technology; gaming, lodging, and leisure; building materials and home construction; health care and pharmaceutical; and cable and satellite sectors also added to the Fund’s returns during the period.

 

   

Investments in the transportation and environmental services, technology, paper and packaging, and upstream energy sectors contributed positively to the Fund’s relative results.

 

   

The Fund benefited from its lack of exposure to certain issuers within the energy sector. More specifically, the Fund did not own upstream energy names Linn Energy, Chesapeake Energy, Sandridge Energy, and Energy XXI, all of which performed poorly during the reporting period. Underweight positions in transportation and environmental services company Abengoa Yield and in metals and mining name United States Steel also bolstered returns.

 

What strategies detracted most from the Fund’s performance?

   

The Fund’s performance was hurt by its underweight positions in the banking, financials, and telecommunications sectors.

 

   

Issue selection in the health care and pharmaceutical; gaming, lodging and leisure and retailers and restaurants sectors detracted modestly from performance.

 

   

The Fund’s performance was hampered by its overweight positions in metals and mining companies Murray Energy Holdings and Berau Coal. Lack of exposure to banking names Ally Financial and Royal Bank of Scotland also dampened results.

 

How did the Fund’s leverage strategy affect its performance?

   

The Fund’s use of borrowing (leverage) detracted from returns as a result of the negative performance of the holdings as well as the cost of borrowing.

 

   

As of November 30, 2015, the Fund had borrowed $200 million and was about 26.4% leveraged. During the reporting period, the average amount of leverage used by the Fund was approximately 26.2%.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     5   


Strategy and Performance Overview (continued)

 

 

Benchmark Definitions

 

Barclays US High Yield Ba/B 1-5 Year 1% Issuer Constrained Index

The Barclays US High Yield Ba/B 1-5 Year 1% Issuer Constrained Index is an unmanaged index which represents performance of US higher-rated short duration high yield bonds.

 

Source: Barclays.

 

Lipper High Current Yield Funds (Leveraged) Average

The Lipper High Current Yield Funds (Leveraged) Average (Lipper Average) represents returns based on an average return of 35 funds in the Closed-End High Current Yield Funds (Leveraged) category.

 

Investors cannot invest directly in an index or average.

 

Looking for additional information?

The Fund is traded under the symbol “ISD” and its closing market price is available in most newspapers under the NYSE listings. The daily NAV is available online under the symbol “XISDX” on most financial websites. Barron’s and The Wall Street Journal’s Monday edition both carry closed-end fund tables that provide additional information. In addition, the Fund issues press releases that can be found on most major financial websites as well as on www.prudentialfunds.com.

 

In a continuing effort to provide information concerning the Fund, shareholders may go to www.prudentialfunds.com or call (800) 451-6788 (toll free), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, for the Fund’s current NAV, market price, and other information.

 

6   Visit our website at www.prudentialfunds.com


Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

 

Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS    130.3%

       

BANK LOANS(a)    3.1%

       

Chemicals    1.2%

                           

Axalta Coating Systems US Holdings

  3.750%     02/01/20        897      $ 888,140   

MacDermid, Inc.

  4.500     06/07/20        3,250        3,153,312   

MacDermid, Inc.

  5.500     06/07/20        2,450        2,381,094   
       

 

 

 
          6,422,546   

Gaming    0.3%

                           

MGM Resorts International

  3.500     12/20/19        1,945        1,932,358   

Metals    0.5%

                           

Murray Energy Corp.

  7.500     04/16/20        3,990        2,678,287   

Technology    0.7%

                           

BMC Software Finance, Inc.

  5.000     09/10/20        2,238        1,937,156   

Kronos, Inc.

  9.750     04/30/20        1,865        1,882,491   
       

 

 

 
          3,819,647   

Telecommunications    0.4%

                           

Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc.

  5.000     10/24/22        2,569        2,392,778   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL BANK LOANS
(cost $18,866,735)

          17,245,616   
       

 

 

 

CORPORATE BONDS    127.2%

       

Airlines    2.6%

                           

Continental Airlines, Inc., Pass-Through Trust, Series 2012-3, Class C, Pass-Through Certificates(b)

  6.125     04/29/18        10,700        11,074,500   

United Airlines, Pass-Through Trust, Series 2007-1, Class A, Pass-Through Certificates

  6.636     07/02/22        3,208        3,424,306   
       

 

 

 
          14,498,806   

Auto Manufacturers    0.5%

                           

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (United Kingdom), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  4.500     04/15/20        1,050        1,055,250   

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC (United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  4.250     11/15/19        1,600        1,632,000   
       

 

 

 
          2,687,250   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     7   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Auto Parts & Equipment    2.6%

                           

American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.,

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  5.125 %     02/15/19        2,650      $ 2,683,125   

Gtd. Notes

  7.750     11/15/19        1,720        1,904,900   

Meritor, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  6.750     06/15/21        1,200        1,165,500   

Schaeffler Holding Finance BV (Germany),

       

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A

  6.250     11/15/19        1,200        1,269,000   

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A

  6.875     08/15/18        6,850        7,081,187   

ZF North America Capital, Inc. (Germany), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  4.000     04/29/20        250        250,938   
       

 

 

 
          14,354,650   

Banks    0.8%

                           

CIT Group, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  4.250     08/15/17        4,175        4,253,281   

Beverages    1.7%

                           

Constellation Brands, Inc.,

       

Gtd. Notes

  3.875     11/15/19        2,025        2,095,875   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.250     09/01/16        3,052        3,166,450   

Cott Beverages, Inc. (Canada), Gtd. Notes(b)

  6.750     01/01/20        3,875        4,020,312   
       

 

 

 
          9,282,637   

Building Materials    4.9%

                           

Cemex Finance LLC (Mexico), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  9.875     04/30/19        5,000        5,312,500   

Unifrax I LLC/Unifrax Holding Co., Gtd. Notes, 144A
(original cost $9,944,030; purchased 05/14/14 - 07/28/14)(c)(d)

  7.500     02/15/19        9,538        9,013,410   

US Concrete, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

  8.500     12/01/18        7,675        7,991,594   

USG Corp.,

       

Gtd. Notes, 144A

  5.875     11/01/21        1,118        1,173,900   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  9.750     01/15/18        3,600        4,041,000   
       

 

 

 
          27,532,404   

Capital Goods    0.6%

                           

Michael Baker International LLC/CDL Acquisition Company, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  8.250     10/15/18        3,575        3,262,188   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

8  


Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Chemicals    3.5%

                           

Axalta Coating Systems US Holdings, Inc./Axalta Coating Systems Dutch Holdings BV, Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

  7.375 %     05/01/21        11,626      $ 12,352,625   

Chemtura Corp., Gtd. Notes

  5.750     07/15/21        1,000        1,005,000   

Hexion, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes

  8.875     02/01/18        1,190        782,425   

Kissner Milling Co., Ltd. (Canada), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $3,650,210; purchased 05/15/14 - 06/18/15)(c)(d)

  7.250     06/01/19        3,601        3,601,000   

Rentech Nitrogen Partners LP/Rentech Nitrogen Finance Corp., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  6.500     04/15/21        1,655        1,642,587   
       

 

 

 
          19,383,637   

Coal    0.3%

                           

Berau Capital Resources Pte. Ltd. (Indonesia), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $4,249,438; purchased 06/27/12)(c)(d)(e)

  12.500     07/08/49        3,850        1,309,000   

Peabody Energy Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

  6.000     11/15/18        1,649        381,414   
       

 

 

 
          1,690,414   

Commercial Services    7.0%

                           

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  3.074(a)     12/01/17        5,340        5,353,350   

Hertz Corp. (The),

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.250     04/01/18        3,875        3,913,750   

Gtd. Notes

  6.750     04/15/19        925        943,500   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.500     10/15/18        2,400        2,448,000   

Igloo Holdings Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A

  8.250     12/15/17        2,450        2,456,125   

Interactive Data Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

  5.875     04/15/19        7,400        7,548,000   

Laureate Education, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

  10.000     09/01/19        3,875        2,964,375   

Safway Group Holding LLC/Safway Finance Corp., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  7.000     05/15/18        7,474        7,548,740   

Service Corp. International, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  7.625     10/01/18        5,403        6,078,375   
       

 

 

 
          39,254,215   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     9   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Computers    0.6%

                           

SunGard Data Systems, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  7.375 %     11/15/18        3,288      $ 3,348,631   

Distribution/Wholesale    2.3%

                           

Brightstar Corp.,

       

Gtd. Notes, 144A
(original cost $7,307,125; purchased 04/27/12 - 11/14/14)(c)(d)

  9.500     12/01/16        6,900        6,917,250   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $3,193,501; purchased 07/26/13 -10/23/13)(c)(d)

  7.250     08/01/18        3,100        3,270,500   

HD Supply, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  11.500     07/15/20        2,500        2,825,000   
       

 

 

 
          13,012,750   

Diversified Financial Services    4.1%

                           

CoreLogic, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.250     06/01/21        4,777        4,968,080   

Denali Borrower LLC/Denali Finance Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  5.625     10/15/20        1,850        1,961,148   

International Lease Finance Corp.,

       

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  3.875     04/15/18        1,350        1,361,812   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  6.250     05/15/19        600        645,090   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  8.875     09/01/17        4,000        4,380,000   

KCG Holdings, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  6.875     03/15/20        1,050        987,000   

Navient Corp.,

       

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN

  8.000     03/25/20        425        431,375   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN(b)

  8.450     06/15/18        3,650        3,830,675   

OneMain Financial Holdings, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

  6.750     12/15/19        4,400        4,609,000   
       

 

 

 
          23,174,180   

Electric    4.0%

                           

AES Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  7.375     07/01/21        1,250        1,287,500   

DPL, Inc.,

       

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  6.500     10/15/16        271        275,742   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  7.250     10/15/21        3,350        3,316,500   

Dynegy, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  6.750     11/01/19        5,375        5,250,730   

GenOn Energy, Inc.,

       

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  7.875     06/15/17        750        710,625   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  9.500     10/15/18        2,625        2,323,125   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

10  


Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Electric (cont’d.)

                           

Mirant Mid Atlantic LLC, Pass-Through Trust, Series B, Pass-Through Certificates

  9.125 %     06/30/17        461      $ 469,975   

NRG Energy, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.625     01/15/18        6,850        7,124,000   

NRG REMA LLC,

       

Series B, Pass-Through Certificates(c)

  9.237     07/02/17        496        517,759   

Series C, Pass-Through Certificates(b)

  9.681     07/02/26        1,100        1,122,000   
       

 

 

 
          22,397,956   

Electrical Components & Equipment    0.8%

                           

Anixter, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  5.625     05/01/19        1,500        1,586,250   

International Wire Group Holdings, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  8.500     10/15/17        1,000        1,040,000   

WireCo WorldGroup, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  9.500     05/15/17        2,350        1,979,875   
       

 

 

 
          4,606,125   

Entertainment    7.8%

                           

CCM Merger, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A
(original cost $3,999,595; purchased 09/04/13 - 11/17/15)(c)(d)

  9.125     05/01/19        3,818        4,008,900   

Cedar Fair LP/Canada’s Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

  5.250     03/15/21        4,350        4,458,750   

Cinemark USA, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  7.375     06/15/21        2,322        2,438,100   

GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.375     11/01/18        3,775        3,874,094   

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.875     06/15/20        5,250        5,617,500   

NAI Entertainment Holdings/NAI Entertainment Holdings Finance Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $4,651,513; purchased 07/30/13 - 08/25/15)(b)(c)(d)

  5.000     08/01/18        4,550        4,601,187   

National CineMedia LLC,

       

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

  6.000     04/15/22        1,310        1,355,850   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  7.875     07/15/21        1,500        1,560,000   

Peninsula Gaming LLC/Peninsula Gaming Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

  8.375     02/15/18        4,000        4,110,000   

Penn National Gaming, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  5.875     11/01/21        1,550        1,542,250   

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.,

       

Gtd. Notes

  7.500     04/15/21        1,050        1,106,438   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.750     05/15/20        4,481        4,682,645   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     11   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Entertainment (cont’d.)

                           

Scientific Games Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.125 %     09/15/18        5,075      $ 4,034,625   
       

 

 

 
          43,390,339   

Environmental Control    0.1%

                           

Clean Harbors, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  5.250     08/01/20        850        861,815   

Food    3.2%

                           

Bertin SA/Bertin Finance Ltd. (Brazil), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  10.250     10/05/16        1,300        1,356,875   

Diamond Foods, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

  7.000     03/15/19        5,000        5,187,500   

JBS Investments GmbH (Brazil), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  7.750     10/28/20        2,000        2,070,000   

JBS USA LLC/JBS USA Finance, Inc. (Brazil), Gtd. Notes, 144A
(original cost $3,784,375; purchased 06/17/14)(b)(c)(d)

  7.250     06/01/21        3,500        3,640,000   

Shearer’s Foods LLC/Chip Finance Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  9.000     11/01/19        2,900        3,074,000   

Smithfield Foods, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  5.250     08/01/18        2,300        2,337,375   
       

 

 

 
          17,665,750   

Food Service    0.2%

                           

ARAMARK Services, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  5.750     03/15/20        950        988,000   

Forest Products & Paper    0.8%

                           

Smurfit Kappa Acquisitions (Ireland), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  4.875     09/15/18        3,450        3,579,375   

Tembec Industries, Inc. (Canada), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  9.000     12/15/19        1,575        1,189,125   
       

 

 

 
          4,768,500   

Gas    0.3%

                           

AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Eagle Finance Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  6.500     05/20/21        1,725        1,746,563   

Healthcare—Products    1.6%

                           

ConvaTec Finance International SA (Luxembourg), Gtd. Notes, PIK, 144A

  8.250     01/15/19        1,235        1,206,447   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12  


Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Healthcare—Products (cont’d.)

                           

ConvaTec Healthcare E SA (Luxembourg), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  10.500 %     12/15/18        4,115      $ 4,176,725   

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA/Mallinckrodt CB LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A

  4.875     04/15/20        3,775        3,416,375   
       

 

 

 
          8,799,547   

Healthcare—Services    6.7%

                           

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.000     11/15/19        10,950        11,086,875   

HCA, Inc.,

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.000     10/01/18        1,855        2,082,237   

Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

  3.750     03/15/19        3,075        3,105,750   

Sr. Sec’d. Notes

  4.250     10/15/19        1,625        1,653,438   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  8.000     01/15/20        5,150        4,815,250   

Select Medical Corp., Gtd. Notes

  6.375     06/01/21        3,000        2,422,500   

Tenet Healthcare Corp.,

       

Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

  6.250     11/01/18        5,400        5,697,000   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  5.000     03/01/19        5,700        5,486,250   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  8.000     08/01/20        1,000        1,015,000   
       

 

 

 
          37,364,300   

Home Builders    8.1%

                           

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.,

       

Gtd. Notes

  5.750     06/15/19        3,450        3,260,250   

Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

  6.625     04/15/18        7,275        7,402,312   

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. (Canada), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  6.500     12/15/20        2,765        2,682,050   

CalAtlantic Group, Inc.,

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.375     05/15/18        4,200        4,725,000   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  10.750     09/15/16        3,225        3,434,625   

D.R. Horton, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.750     05/15/17        3,000        3,075,000   

KB Home,

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.750     05/15/19        4,500        4,410,000   

Gtd. Notes

  7.250     06/15/18        2,000        2,115,000   

Lennar Corp.,

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.500     06/15/19        2,600        2,671,500   

Gtd. Notes

  4.500     11/15/19        1,000        1,025,000   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.750     12/15/17        5,075        5,227,250   

M/I Homes, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

  6.750     01/15/21        2,075        2,080,188   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     13   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Home Builders (cont’d.)

                           

Toll Brothers Finance Corp.,

       

Gtd. Notes

  4.000 %     12/31/18        400      $ 414,000   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.910     10/15/17        1,600        1,788,000   

William Lyon Homes, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  8.500     11/15/20        850        905,250   
       

 

 

 
          45,215,425   

Household Products/Wares    0.7%

                           

Jarden Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.500     05/01/17        3,750        4,017,188   

Housewares    0.4%

                           

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), Gtd. Notes

  6.625     12/15/20        2,000        2,069,400   

Internet    1.0%

                           

Ancestry.com, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  11.000     12/15/20        2,800        3,038,000   

Zayo Group LLC/Zayo Capital, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  10.125     07/01/20        2,254        2,445,590   
       

 

 

 
          5,483,590   

Iron/Steel    2.8%

                           

AK Steel Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes(b)

  8.750     12/01/18        3,641        3,094,850   

ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg),

       

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a)

  5.500     02/25/17        3,550        3,515,032   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a)

  6.250     08/05/20        2,000        1,777,500   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a)

  6.500     03/01/21        950        828,875   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a)

  10.850     06/01/19        5,000        5,300,000   

Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(c)

  5.950     01/15/18        1,300        568,750   

United States Steel Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  7.000     02/01/18        1,000        620,000   
       

 

 

 
          15,705,007   

Leisure Time    0.5%

                           

NCL Corp. Ltd.,

       

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

  4.625     11/15/20        1,725        1,729,313   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

  5.250     11/15/19        1,200        1,233,000   
       

 

 

 
          2,962,313   

Lodging    3.6%

                           

Boyd Gaming Corp., Gtd. Notes

  9.000     07/01/20        1,864        1,994,480   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14  


Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Lodging (cont’d.)

                           

MGM Resorts International,

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.625 %     02/01/19        6,280      $ 7,140,234   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  10.000     11/01/16        7,000        7,485,660   

Station Casinos LLC, Gtd. Notes

  7.500     03/01/21        3,516        3,726,960   
       

 

 

 
          20,347,334   

Machinery—Construction & Mining    0.4%

                           

NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul Services, Inc. (Canada), Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  9.500     08/15/19        1,750        857,500   

Terex Corp., Gtd. Notes

  6.500     04/01/20        1,500        1,492,500   
       

 

 

 
          2,350,000   

Machinery—Diversified    1.5%

                           

Cleaver-Brooks, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $1,304,250; purchased 03/21/14 - 10/06/14)(b)(c)(d)

  8.750     12/15/19        1,200        1,164,000   

CNH Industrial America LLC (United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes

  7.250     01/15/16        1,810        1,816,788   

CNH Industrial Capital LLC, Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.375     11/06/20        1,900        1,843,000   

SPX FLOW, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  6.875     09/01/17        3,600        3,807,000   
       

 

 

 
          8,630,788   

Media    11.4%

                           

AMC Networks, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.750     07/15/21        8,815        9,370,698   

Cablevision Systems Corp.,

       

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  7.750     04/15/18        2,250        2,340,000   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  8.625     09/15/17        5,200        5,486,000   

Carlson Travel Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A
(original cost $3,812,250; purchased 06/26/14 - 08/04/14)(b)(c)(d)

  7.500     08/15/19        3,800        3,790,500   

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.,

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  6.500     04/30/21        4,500        4,706,235   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.000     01/15/19        4,648        4,752,580   

Gtd. Notes

  7.375     06/01/20        4,000        4,170,000   

Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC/Cequel Capital Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A

  6.375     09/15/20        1,920        1,876,800   

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Series A, Gtd. Notes

  7.625     03/15/20        215        205,325   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     15   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Media (cont’d.)

                           

DISH DBS Corp.,

       

Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.250 %     04/01/18        4,590      $ 4,567,050   

Gtd. Notes

  4.625     07/15/17        2,000        2,040,000   

Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.875     09/01/19        1,000        1,077,500   

Entercom Radio LLC, Gtd. Notes

  10.500     12/01/19        4,000        4,170,000   

Harron Communications LP/Harron Finance Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $8,110,275; purchased 04/14/15 - 06/24/15)(b)(c)(d)

  9.125     04/01/20        7,406        7,841,102   

Numericable Group SA (France), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  4.875     05/15/19        4,655        4,643,363   

TEGNA, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  5.125     10/15/19        650        676,000   

Univision Communications, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A
(original cost $1,770,711; purchased 08/26/15 - 09/08/15)(b)(c)(d)

  8.500     05/15/21        1,690        1,757,600   
       

 

 

 
          63,470,753   

Mining    2.1%

                           

Alamos Gold, Inc. (Canada), Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  7.750     04/01/20        1,500        1,402,500   

Alcoa, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  6.750     07/15/18        3,000        3,226,860   

Kaiser Aluminum Corp., Gtd. Notes

  8.250     06/01/20        1,200        1,270,500   

Lundin Mining Corp. (Canada), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  7.500     11/01/20        4,525        4,406,219   

New Gold, Inc. (Canada), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  7.000     04/15/20        1,325        1,232,250   
       

 

 

 
          11,538,329   

Miscellaneous Manufacturing    1.5%

                           

Bombardier, Inc. (Canada), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  7.500     03/15/18        2,875        2,860,625   

Koppers, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.875     12/01/19        5,494        5,452,795   
       

 

 

 
          8,313,420   

Oil & Gas    1.9%

                           

EP Energy LLC/Everest Acquisition Finance, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  9.375     05/01/20        1,200        1,020,000   

Pacific Exploration and Production Corp. (Colombia), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  7.250     12/12/21        1,500        468,750   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16  


Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Oil & Gas (cont’d.)

                           

Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

  5.500 %     08/01/20        850      $ 860,625   

Tesoro Corp., Gtd. Notes(b)

  4.250     10/01/17        3,675        3,757,687   

Whiting Canadian Holding Co. ULC, Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.125     12/01/19        3,050        3,184,200   

WPX Energy, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  7.500     08/01/20        1,525        1,437,313   
       

 

 

 
          10,728,575   

Oil & Gas Services    0.4%

                           

PHI, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  5.250     03/15/19        1,225        1,044,570   

SESI LLC, Gtd. Notes

  6.375     05/01/19        1,165        1,132,962   
       

 

 

 
          2,177,532   

Packaging & Containers    4.9%

                           

AEP Industries, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  8.250     04/15/19        5,100        5,214,750   

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC (Ireland), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  9.125     10/15/20        3,000        3,150,000   

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc. (Ireland), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  6.250     01/31/19        650        648,375   

Beverage Packaging Holdings Luxembourg II SA/Beverage Packaging Holdings II IS (New Zealand), Gtd. Notes, 144A

  6.000     06/15/17        1,150        1,144,250   

Greif, Inc.,

       

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  6.750     02/01/17        1,200        1,251,000   

Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(b)

  7.750     08/01/19        5,700        6,405,375   

PaperWorks Industries, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  9.500     08/15/19        2,525        2,474,500   

Plastipak Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $1,691,125; purchased 11/04/15)(b)(c)(d)

  6.500     10/01/21        1,700        1,661,750   

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC/Reynolds Group LU (New Zealand), Gtd. Notes

  9.875     08/15/19        4,000        4,150,000   

Sealed Air Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A

  6.500     12/01/20        1,045        1,159,950   
       

 

 

 
          27,259,950   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     17   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Pharmaceuticals    3.6%

                           

Allergan, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  1.350 %     03/15/18        2,240      $ 2,206,169   

Capsugel SA, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A

  7.000     05/15/19        3,700        3,723,125   

Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a)(b)

  7.500     12/15/20        1,800        1,865,250   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.,

       

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

  5.375     03/15/20        6,875        6,153,125   

Gtd. Notes, 144A

  6.375     10/15/20        2,200        2,015,750   

Gtd. Notes, 144A

  6.750     08/15/18        1,991        1,941,225   

Gtd. Notes, 144A

  7.500     07/15/21        2,250        2,126,430   
       

 

 

 
          20,031,074   

Pipelines    0.4%

                           

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $2,144,688; purchased 01/10/13 - 05/02/13)(b)(c)(d)

  6.000     01/15/19        2,150        2,128,500   

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)    0.4%

                           

DuPont Fabros Technology LP, Gtd. Notes

  5.875     09/15/21        596        616,115   

MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes

  6.375     02/15/22        1,500        1,560,000   
       

 

 

 
          2,176,115   

Retail    3.7%

                           

AmeriGas Finance LLC/AmeriGas Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes

  6.750     05/20/20        300        307,926   

Claire’s Stores, Inc.,

       

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  6.125     03/15/20        400        268,000   

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  9.000     03/15/19        4,200        3,171,000   

Family Tree Escrow LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A

  5.250     03/01/20        700        724,500   

Ferrellgas Partners LP/Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  8.625     06/15/20        1,300        1,261,000   

L Brands, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  8.500     06/15/19        975        1,140,750   

Landry’s, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A
(original cost $9,175,031; purchased 05/27/14 - 05/07/15)(b)(c)(d)

  9.375     05/01/20        8,475        8,994,094   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18  


Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Retail (cont’d.)

                           

Petco Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A
(original cost $348,250; purchased 10/04/12)(c)(d)

  8.500 %     10/15/17        350      $ 357,000   

THOM Europe SAS (France), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  7.375     07/15/19      EUR   4,000        4,474,685   
       

 

 

 
          20,698,955   

Semiconductors    2.4%

                           

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.,

       

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  5.000     05/15/21        1,050        1,085,438   

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  6.000     01/15/22        7,160        7,639,648   

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC (Netherlands), Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

  4.125     06/15/20        4,650        4,632,562   
       

 

 

 
          13,357,648   

Software    5.8%

                           

Audatex North America, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

  6.000     06/15/21        9,825        9,910,968   

Emdeon, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  11.000     12/31/19        8,000        8,400,000   

First Data Corp.,

       

Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  8.250     01/15/21        2,100        2,194,500   

Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  6.750     11/01/20        3,268        3,435,485   

Infor U.S., Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A
(original cost $1,938,000; purchased 08/11/15 - 08/26/15)(b)(c)(d)

  5.750     08/15/20        1,950        1,954,875   

MedAssets, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  8.000     11/15/18        6,351        6,485,959   
       

 

 

 
          32,381,787   

Telecommunications    11.9%

                           

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (France),

       

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

  4.625     07/01/17        2,800        2,870,000   

Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

  6.750     11/15/20        4,170        4,412,861   

Gtd. Notes, 144A

  8.875     01/01/20        4,115        4,408,194   

Clearwire Communications LLC/Clearwire Finance, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  14.750     12/01/16        4,750        5,290,312   

CommScope Holding Co., Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, PIK, 144A(b)

  6.625     06/01/20        4,355        4,409,437   

CommScope, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  4.375     06/15/20        3,975        4,004,812   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     19   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

Description   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    Principal
Amount (000)#
    Value (Note 1)  

CORPORATE BONDS (Continued)

       

Telecommunications (cont’d.)

                           

Eileme 2 AB (Poland), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  11.625 %     01/31/20        750      $ 801,900   

Embarq Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes
(original cost $53,015; purchased 04/11/13)(c)(d)

  7.082     06/01/16        46        47,152   

Frontier Communications Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes

  8.125     10/01/18        1,775        1,857,094   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (Luxembourg),

       

Gtd. Notes

  7.250     04/01/19        6,135        5,356,622   

Gtd. Notes

  7.250     10/15/20        500        417,500   

Level 3 Financing, Inc., Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.000     06/01/20        5,000        5,281,250   

Qwest Capital Funding, Inc., Gtd. Notes

  6.500     11/15/18        1,000        1,035,000   

Sprint Communications, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A

  9.000     11/15/18        2,580        2,786,400   

T-Mobile USA, Inc.,

       

Gtd. Notes

  6.542     04/28/20        1,150        1,187,375   

Gtd. Notes

  6.625     11/15/20        1,000        1,030,000   

Telecom Italia Capital SA (Italy), Gtd. Notes

  6.999     06/04/18        2,060        2,245,400   

Telesat Canada/Telesat LLC (Canada), Gtd. Notes, 144A(b)

  6.000     05/15/17        7,000        7,035,000   

UPCB Finance V Ltd. (Netherlands), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  7.250     11/15/21        1,350        1,437,750   

UPCB Finance VI Ltd. (Netherlands), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  6.875     01/15/22        2,022        2,146,166   

Wind Acquisition Finance SA (Italy), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A

  6.500     04/30/20        2,000        2,100,000   

Windstream Services LLC, Gtd. Notes(b)

  7.875     11/01/17        6,250        6,515,625   
       

 

 

 
          66,675,850   

Transportation    0.8%

                           

XPO Logistics, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(b)

  7.875     09/01/19        4,500        4,561,875   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
(cost $737,324,149)

          710,605,346   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost $756,190,884)

          727,850,962   
       

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20  


Description   Shares     Value (Note 1)  

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT    1.6%

   

AFFILIATED MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND

   

Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Taxable Money Market Fund
(cost $9,015,628) (Note 3)(f)

    9,015,628      $ 9,015,628   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS    131.9%
(cost $765,206,512) (Note 5)

      736,866,590   

Liabilities in excess of other assets(g)    (31.9)%

      (178,406,927
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS    100.0%

    $ 558,459,663   
   

 

 

 

 

The following abbreviations are used in the semi-annual report:

144A—Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be resold subject to that rule except to qualified institutional buyers. Unless otherwise noted, 144A securities are deemed to be liquid.

EUR—Euro

GBP—British Pound

MTN—Medium Term Note

OTC—Over-the-counter

PIK—Payment-in-Kind

# Principal amount is shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
(a) Variable rate instrument. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at November 30, 2015.
(b) Represents security, or a portion thereof, with aggregate value of $404,128,201 segregated as collateral for amount of $200,000,000 borrowed and outstanding as of November 30, 2015. Of such securities, securities in the amount of $163,776,941 have been loaned for which, the amount borrowed serves as collateral. Securities on loan are subject to contractual netting arrangements.
(c) Indicates a security or securities that have been deemed illiquid.
(d) Indicates a restricted security; the aggregate original cost of the restricted securities is $71,127,382. The aggregate value, $66,057,820, is approximately 11.8% of net assets.
(e) Represents issuer in default on interest payments and/or principal repayment; Non-income producing security.
(f) Prudential Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 - Prudential Core Taxable Money Market Fund.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     21   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

(g) Includes net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the following derivative contracts held at reporting period end:

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding at November 30, 2015:

 

Purchase Contracts

  Counterparty   Notional
Amount
(000)
    Value at
Settlement
Date
    Current
Value
    Unrealized
Depreciation
 

OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts:

  

British Pound,

         

Expiring 12/02/15

  JPMorgan Chase     GBP 1,551      $ 2,337,612      $ 2,336,514      $ (1,098

Euro,

         

Expiring 12/02/15

  Goldman Sachs & Co.     EUR 4,213        4,482,473        4,450,863        (31,610
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 6,820,085      $ 6,787,377      $ (32,708
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sale Contracts

  Counterparty   Notional
Amount
(000)
    Value at
Settlement
Date
    Current
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts:

  

British Pound,

         

Expiring 12/02/15

  JPMorgan Chase     GBP 1,551      $ 2,375,101      $ 2,336,514      $ 38,587   

Expiring 02/02/16

  JPMorgan Chase     GBP 1,551        2,338,209        2,336,936        1,273   

Euro,

         

Expiring 12/02/15

  Goldman Sachs & Co.     EUR 4,213        4,656,835        4,450,863        205,972   

Expiring 02/02/16

  Goldman Sachs & Co.     EUR 4,213        4,491,110        4,459,801        31,309   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 13,861,255      $ 13,584,114      $ 277,141   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $ 244,433   
         

 

 

 

 

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—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.

 

22  


The following is a summary of the inputs used as of November 30, 2015 in valuing such portfolio securities:

 

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Investments in Securities

     

Bank Loans

  $      $ 17,245,616      $   —   

Corporate Bonds

           710,605,346          

Affiliated Money Market Mutual Fund

    9,015,628                 

Other Financial Instruments*

     

OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

           244,433          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 9,015,628      $ 728,095,395      $   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of assets in which unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

 

    Corporate
Bonds
 

Balance as of 5/31/15

  $ 12,888,346   

Realized gain (loss)

      

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

      

Purchases

      

Sales

      

Accrued discount/premium

      

Transfers into Level 3

      

Transfers out of Level 3

    (12,888,346
 

 

 

 

Balance as of 11/30/15

  $   
 

 

 

 

 

* Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in the Portfolio of Investments, such as futures, forwards and exchange-traded swap contracts, which are recorded at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument, and OTC swap contracts which are recorded at fair value.

 

It is the Fund’s policy to recognize transfers in and transfers out at the fair value as of the beginning of period. At the reporting period end, securities transferred levels as follows:

 

Investments in Securities

  Amount
Transferred
    Level
Transfer
   

Logic

Corporate Bonds

  $ (12,888,346     L3 to L2      Single Broker Indicative Quote to Multiple Broker Quotes
 

 

 

     

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     23   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

 

The industry classification of investments and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of November 30, 2015 were as follows:

 

Telecommunications

    12.3

Media

    11.4   

Home Builders

    8.1   

Entertainment

    7.8   

Commercial Services

    7.0   

Healthcare—Services

    6.7   

Software

    5.8   

Building Materials

    4.9   

Packaging & Containers

    4.9   

Chemicals

    4.7   

Diversified Financial Services

    4.1   

Electric

    4.0   

Retail

    3.7   

Lodging

    3.6   

Pharmaceuticals

    3.6   

Food

    3.2   

Iron/Steel

    2.8   

Airlines

    2.6   

Auto Parts & Equipment

    2.6   

Semiconductors

    2.4   

Distribution/Wholesale

    2.3   

Mining

    2.1   

Oil & Gas

    1.9   

Beverages

    1.7   

Affiliated Money Market Mutual Fund

    1.6   

Healthcare—Products

    1.6   

Machinery—Diversified

    1.5   

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

    1.5  

Internet

    1.0   

Forest Products & Paper

    0.8   

Electrical Components & Equipment

    0.8   

Transportation

    0.8   

Banks

    0.8   

Household Products/Wares

    0.7   

Technology

    0.7   

Computers

    0.6   

Capital Goods

    0.6   

Leisure Time

    0.5   

Auto Manufacturers

    0.5   

Metals

    0.5   

Machinery—Construction & Mining

    0.4   

Oil & Gas Services

    0.4   

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

    0.4   

Pipelines

    0.4   

Housewares

    0.4   

Gaming

    0.3   

Gas

    0.3   

Coal

    0.3   

Food Service

    0.2   

Environmental Control

    0.1   
 

 

 

 
    131.9   

Liabilities in excess of other assets

    (31.9
 

 

 

 
    100.0
 

 

 

 

 

The Fund invested in derivative instruments during the reporting period. The primary type of risk associated with these derivative instruments is foreign exchange risk. The effect of such derivative instruments on the Fund’s financial position and financial performance as reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations is presented in the summary below.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24  


Fair values of derivative instruments as of November 30, 2015 as presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Derivatives not accounted for
as hedging instruments,
carried at fair value

  

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 
  

Balance Sheet
Location

   Fair
Value
    

Balance Sheet
Location

   Fair
Value
 
Foreign exchange contracts    Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward
foreign currency
exchange contracts
   $ 277,141       Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward
foreign currency
exchange contracts
   $ 32,708   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

The effects of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the six months ended November 30, 2015 are as follows:

 

Amount of Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Derivatives not accounted for as hedging
instruments, carried at fair value

     Forward
Currency
Contracts*
 

Foreign exchange contracts

     $ (34,219
    

 

 

 

 

* Included in net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions in the Statement of Operations.

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Derivatives not accounted for as hedging
instruments, carried at fair value

     Forward
Currency
Contracts*
 

Foreign exchange contracts

     $ 293,920   
    

 

 

 

 

* Included in net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currencies in the Statement of Operations.

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2015, the Fund’s average volume of derivative activities is as follows:

 

Forward Foreign
Currency Exchange
Contracts—Purchased(1)
    Forward Foreign
Currency Exchange
Contracts—Sold(1)
 
$ 6,974,158      $ 13,908,500   

 

(1) Value at Settlement Date.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     25   


 

Portfolio of Investments

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited) continued

 

 

Offsetting of OTC derivative assets and liabilities:

 

The Fund invested in OTC derivatives 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 OTC derivatives, where the legal right to set-off exists, is presented in the summary below.

 

Counterparty

  Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets(1)
    Gross
Amounts
Available
for Offset
    Collateral
Received(3)
    Net
Amount
 

Goldman Sachs & Co.

  $ 237,281      $ (31,610   $   —      $ 205,671   

JPMorgan Chase

    39,860        (1,098            38,762   
 

 

 

       
  $ 277,141         
 

 

 

       

Counterparty

  Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities(2)
    Gross
Amounts
Available
for Offset
    Collateral
Pledged(3)
    Net
Amount
 

Goldman Sachs & Co.

  $ (31,610   $ 31,610      $   —      $   —   

JPMorgan Chase

    (1,098     1,098                 
 

 

 

       
  $ (32,708      
 

 

 

       

 

(1) Includes unrealized appreciation on swaps and forwards, premiums paid on swap agreements and market value of purchased options.
(2) Includes unrealized depreciation on swaps and forwards, premiums received on swap agreements and market value of written options.
(3) Amounts shown reflect actual collateral received or pledged by the Fund. Such amounts are applied up to 100% of the Fund’s OTC derivative exposure by counterparty.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26  


 

Statement of Assets & Liabilities

 

as of November 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

        

Investments at value, including securities on loan of $163,776,941:

  

Unaffiliated investments (cost $756,190,884)

   $ 727,850,962   

Affiliated investments (cost $9,015,628)

     9,015,628   

Cash

     6,833,627   

Foreign currency, at value (cost $2,457,873)

     2,434,236   

Dividends and interest receivable

     13,499,169   

Receivable for investments sold

     4,832,603   

Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     277,141   

Prepaid expenses

     4,670   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     764,748,036   
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Loan payable

     200,000,000   

Payable for investments purchased

     5,212,875   

Management fee payable

     504,315   

Loan interest payable

     375,691   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     137,349   

Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     32,708   

Deferred directors’ fees

     25,435   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     206,288,373   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 558,459,663   
  

 

 

 
          

Net assets were comprised of:

  

Common stock, at par

   $ 33,257   

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     633,874,484   
  

 

 

 
     633,907,741   

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     (91,049

Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (47,232,362

Net unrealized depreciation on investments and foreign currencies

     (28,124,667
  

 

 

 

Net assets, November 30, 2015

   $ 558,459,663   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value per share
($558,459,663 ÷ 33,256,724 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)

   $ 16.79   
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     27   


 

Statement of Operations

 

Six Months Ended November 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

 

 

Net Investment Income

        

Income

  

Interest income (net of foreign withholding taxes of $2,033)

   $ 22,822,734   

Affiliated dividend income

     12,520   

Other income

     6,932   
  

 

 

 

Total income

     22,842,186   
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Management fee

     3,112,911   

Loan interest expense

     1,079,839   

Custodian and accounting fees

     45,000   

Shareholders’ reports

     35,000   

Legal fees and expenses

     32,000   

Directors’ fees

     24,000   

Audit fee

     21,000   

Registration fees

     17,000   

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses

     8,000   

Insurance expenses

     3,000   

Miscellaneous

     6,961   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     4,384,711   
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     18,457,475   
  

 

 

 

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

        

Net realized loss on:

  

Investment transactions

     (4,733,433

Foreign currency transactions

     (82,103
  

 

 

 
     (4,815,536
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

  

Investments

     (25,416,532

Foreign currencies

     265,678   
  

 

 

 
     (25,150,854
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (29,966,390
  

 

 

 

Net Decrease In Net Assets Resulting From Operations

   $ (11,508,915
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28  


 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

    

Six Months

Ended
November 30, 2015

    

Year

Ended

May 31, 2015

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

                 

Operations

     

Net investment income

   $ 18,457,475       $ 39,764,071   

Net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (4,815,536      (6,951,976

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

     (25,150,854      (12,935,914
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     (11,508,915      19,876,181   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends from net investment income (Note 1)

     (23,196,565      (52,731,862
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total decrease

     (34,705,480      (32,855,681

Net Assets:

                 

Beginning of period

     593,165,143         626,020,824   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of period(a)

   $ 558,459,663       $ 593,165,143   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(a) Includes undistributed net investment income of:

   $       $ 4,648,041   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     29   


 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

For Six Months Ended November 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

 

 

Increase (Decrease) in Cash

        

Cash flows from operating activities:

  

Interest and dividends paid (excluding discount and premium amortization of $(4,358,565))

   $ 27,966,547   

Operating expenses paid

     (3,305,387

Loan interest paid

     (714,223

Purchases of long-term portfolio investments

     (203,076,132

Proceeds from disposition of long-term portfolio investments

     191,612,311   

Net purchases and sales of short-term investments

     (1,996,424

Decrease in receivable for investments sold

     8,643,099   

Decrease in payable for investments purchased

     (11,571,074

Increase in prepaid expenses

     (3,302

Net cash paid from foreign currency transactions

     (82,103

Effect of exchange rate changes

     (28,242
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided from operating activities

     7,445,070   
  

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

  

Cash dividends paid

     (23,321,523

Decrease in payable to custodian

     (38,510

Increase in borrowing

     25,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     1,639,967   
  

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash

     9,085,037   

Cash at beginning of period, including foreign currency

     182,826   
  

 

 

 

Cash at end of period, including foreign currency

     9,267,863   
  

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Net Decrease in Net Assets to Net Cash Provided from Operating Activities

        

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   $ (11,508,915
  

 

 

 

Decrease in investments

     (9,101,680

Net realized loss on investment transactions

     4,815,536   

Decrease in net unrealized depreciation on investments

     25,150,854   

Net cash paid from foreign currency transactions

     (82,103

Effect of exchange rate changes

     (28,242

Decrease in interest and dividends receivable

     765,796   

Decrease in receivable for investments sold

     8,643,099   

Increase in prepaid expenses

     (3,302

Decrease in payable for investments purchased

     (11,571,074

Increase in loan interest payable

     365,616   

Decrease in management fee payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (3,715

Increase in deferred directors’ fees

     3,200   
  

 

 

 

Total adjustments

     18,953,985   
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided from operating activities

   $ 7,445,070   
  

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

30  


Notes to Financial Statements

 

(Unaudited)

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Fund was incorporated as a Maryland corporation on November 14, 2011. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of current income.

 

Note 1. Accounting Policies

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Common and preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds, and derivative instruments, such as futures or options, that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     31   


 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

(Unaudited) continued

 

NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

In the event that no sale or official closing price on valuation date exists, these securities are generally valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price in absence of an ask price. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Common and preferred stocks traded on foreign securities exchanges are 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. Such securities are valued using model prices to the extent that the valuation meets the established confidence level for each security. If the confidence level is not met or the vendor does not provide a model price, securities are valued in accordance with exchange-traded common and preferred stocks discussed above.

 

Participatory Notes (P-notes) are generally valued based upon the value of a related underlying security that trades actively in the market and are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

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

 

Fixed income securities traded in the OTC market are generally valued at prices provided by approved independent pricing vendors. The pricing vendors provide these prices after evaluating observable inputs including, but not limited to yield curves, yield spreads, credit ratings, deal terms, tranche level attributes, default rates, cash flows, prepayment speeds, broker/dealer quotations, and reported trades. Securities valued using such vendor prices are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

OTC derivative instruments are generally valued using pricing vendor services, which derive the valuation based on inputs such as underlying asset prices, indices, spreads,

 

32  


interest rates, and exchange rates. These instruments are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are generally valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, as the daily settlement price is not public.

 

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

 

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

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities: Subject to guidelines adopted by the Board, the Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities, including those which are restricted as to disposition under securities law (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities are valued pursuant to the valuation procedures noted above. Illiquid securities are those that, because of the absence of a readily available market or due to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, cannot be sold within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the investment. Therefore, the Fund may find it difficult to sell illiquid securities at the time considered most advantageous by its subadviser and may incur expenses that would not be incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. Certain securities that would otherwise be considered illiquid because of legal restrictions on resale to the general public may be traded among qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These Rule 144A securities, as well as commercial paper that is sold in private placements under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, may be deemed liquid by the Fund’s subadviser under the guidelines adopted by the Directors of the Fund. However, the liquidity of

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     33   


 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

(Unaudited) continued

 

the Fund’s investments in Rule 144A securities could be impaired if trading does not develop or declines.

 

Forward Currency Contracts: A forward currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The Fund enters into forward currency contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings or specific receivables and payables denominated in a foreign currency. The contracts are valued daily at current exchange rates and any unrealized gain or loss is included in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on foreign currencies. Gain or loss is realized on the settlement date of the contract equal to the difference between the settlement value of the original and negotiated forward contracts. This gain or loss, if any, is included in net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions. Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. Forward currency contracts involve risks from currency exchange rate and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty at the end of the contract’s life.

 

Swap Agreements: The Fund may enter into credit default, interest rate, total return and other forms of swap agreements. A swap agreement is an agreement to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. Swap agreements are negotiated in the over-the-counter market and may be executed either directly with counterparty (“OTC-traded”) or through a central clearing facility, such as a registered commodities exchange (“Exchange-traded”). Swap agreements are valued daily at current market value and any change in value is included in the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments. Exchange-traded swaps pay or receive an amount known as “variation margin”, based on daily changes in the valuation of the swap contract. Payments received or paid by the Fund are recorded as realized gains or losses upon termination or maturity of the swap. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Swap agreements outstanding at period end, if any, are listed on the Portfolio of Investments.

 

Credit Default Swaps: Credit default swaps (“CDS”) involve one party (the protection buyer) making a stream of payments to another party (the protection seller) in

 

34  


exchange for the right to receive a specified payment in the event of a default or as a result of a default (collectively a “credit event”) for the referenced entity (typically corporate issues or sovereign issues of an emerging country) on its obligation; or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index.

 

The Fund is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund may enter into CDS contracts to provide a measure of protection against defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be short the credit as the value of the contract rises the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases. The Fund sold protection using credit default swaps to take an active short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk for purchased credit default swaps is the inability of the counterparty to honor the contract up to the notional value due to a credit event.

 

As a seller of protection on credit default swap agreements, the Fund generally receives an agreed upon payment from the buyer of protection throughout the term of the swap, provided no credit event occurs. As the seller, the Fund effectively increases its investment risk because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund may be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

 

The maximum amount of the payment that the Fund, as a seller of protection, could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be equal to the notional amount of the underlying security or index contract as a result of a credit event. This potential amount will be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements which the Fund entered into for the same referenced entity or index. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.

 

Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate or sovereign issues of an emerging country as of period end are disclosed in the footnotes to the Portfolio of Investments, if applicable. These spreads serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood of default risk for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     35   


 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

(Unaudited) continued

 

the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. For credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk. Wider credit spreads and increased market value in absolute terms, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement.

 

Master Netting Arrangements: The Fund is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received; and by the receipt of collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily enforceable. 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. During the reporting period, there were no instances where the right of set-off existed and management has not elected to offset.

 

The Fund is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements with certain counterparties that govern over-the-counter derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the Fund is held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian and with respect to those amounts which can be sold or re-pledged, is presented in the Portfolio of Investments. Collateral pledged by the Fund is segregated by the Fund’s custodian and identified in the Portfolio of Investments. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the Fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the Fund’s net position with each counterparty. Termination events applicable to

 

36  


the Fund may occur upon a decline in the Fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the Fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the Fund’s future derivative activity.

 

In addition to each instrument’s primary underlying risk exposure (e.g. interest rate, credit, equity or foreign exchange, etc.), swap agreements involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk. Such risks involve the possibility that no liquid market for these agreements will exist, the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree on the contractual terms of the agreement, and changes in net interest rates will be unfavorable. In connection with these agreements, securities in the portfolio may be identified or received as collateral from the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide or receive assets of value and to serve as recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency of either party. Such OTC derivative agreements include conditions which, when materialized, give the counterparty the right to cause an early termination of the transactions under those agreements. Any election by the counterparty for early termination of the contract(s) may impact the amounts reported on financial statements.

 

As of November 30, 2015, the Fund has not met conditions under such agreements which give the counterparty the right to call for an early termination.

 

Forward currency contracts, forward rate agreements, written options, short sales, swaps and financial futures contracts involve elements of both market and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks may be mitigated by engaging in master netting arrangements.

 

Loan Participations: The Fund may invest in loan participations. When the Fund purchases a loan participation, the Fund typically enters into a contractual relationship with the lender or third party selling such participations (“Selling Participant”), but not the borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower.

 

The Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the senior loan in which it has purchased the loan participation.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     37   


 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

(Unaudited) continued

 

 

Payment In Kind Securities: The Fund may invest in open market or receive pursuant to debt restructuring, securities that pay in kind (PIK) the interest due on such debt instruments. The PIK interest, computed at the contractual rate specified, is added to the existing principal balance of the debt when issued bonds have same terms as the bond or recorded as a separate bond when terms are different from the existing debt, and is recorded as interest income. The interest rate on PIK debt is paid out over time.

 

Cash Flow Information: The Fund invests in securities and distributes dividends from net investment income, which are paid in cash or are reinvested at the discretion of stockholders. These activities are reported in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets and additional information on cash receipts and cash payments is presented in the Statement of Cash Flows.

 

Accounting practices that do not affect reporting activities on a cash basis include carrying investments at value, accruing income on PIK (payment-in-kind) securities and accreting discounts and amortizing premiums on debt obligations.

 

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

 

Dividends and Distributions: The Fund intends to make a level dividend distribution each month to the holders of Common Stock. The level dividend rate may be modified by the Board from time to time, and will be based upon the past and projected performance and expenses of the Fund. The Fund intends to also make a distribution during or with respect to each calendar year (which may be combined with a regular monthly distribution), which will generally include any net investment income and net realized capital gain for the year not otherwise distributed.

 

PI has received an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission granting the Fund an exemption from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder to permit certain closed-end funds managed by PI to include realized long-term capital gains as a part of their respective regular distributions to the holders of Common

 

38  


Stock more frequently than would otherwise be permitted by the 1940 Act (generally once per taxable year). The Fund intends to rely on this exemptive order. The Board may, at the request of PI, adopt a managed distribution policy.

 

Dividends and distributions to stockholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gains are reclassified amongst undistributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gain or loss and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate.

 

Organization and Offering Costs: PI paid all of the Fund’s organizational costs and such amount of the Fund’s offering costs (other than sales load) that exceeded $0.04 per share of common stock. Organizational costs were expensed by the Fund as incurred.

 

Taxes: For federal income tax purposes, 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 income and capital gains, if any, to its stockholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. However, due to the timing of when distributions are made by the Fund, the Fund may be subject to an excise tax of 4% of the amount by which 98% of the Fund’s annual taxable income for the calendar year and 98.2% of its net capital gains for a one-year period ending on October 31 exceed the distributions from such taxable income and net capital gains for the calendar year.

 

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

 

Note 2. Agreements

 

The Fund has a management agreement with PI. Pursuant to this agreement, PI has responsibility for all investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser’s performance of such services. PI has entered into a subadvisory agreement with PGIM, Inc. The subadvisory agreement provides that PGIM, Inc. will furnish investment advisory services in connection with the management of the Fund. In connection therewith, PGIM, Inc. is obligated to keep certain books and records of the Fund. PI pays for the services of PGIM, Inc., the cost of compensation of officers of the Fund, occupancy and certain clerical and bookkeeping costs of the Fund. The Fund bears all other cost and expenses. On January 4, 2016, PIM was renamed PGIM, Inc.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     39   


Notes to Financial Statements

 

(Unaudited) continued

 

 

The management fee paid to PI is computed daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of .80% of the average daily value of the Fund’s investable assets. “Investable assets” refers to the net assets attributable to the outstanding Common Stock of the Fund plus the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock issued by the Fund, the principal amount of any borrowings and the principal on any debt securities issued by the Fund.

 

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

 

Note 3. Other Transactions with Affiliates

 

The Fund invests in the Prudential Core Taxable Money Market Fund (the “Core Fund”), a portfolio of the Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, registered under 1940 Act, and managed by PI. Earnings from the Core Fund are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as affiliated dividend income.

 

Note 4. Portfolio Securities

 

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities, other than short-term investments, for the six months ended November 30, 2015, aggregated $203,076,132 and $191,124,711, respectively.

 

Note 5. Distributions and Tax Information

 

The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized depreciation as of November 30, 2015 were as follows:

 

Tax Basis

   $ 778,247,503   
  

 

 

 

Appreciation

     1,570,584   

Depreciation

     (42,951,497
  

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Depreciation

   $ (41,380,913
  

 

 

 

 

40  


The difference between book basis and tax basis was primarily attributable to deferred losses on wash sales and differences in the treatment of premium amortization for book and tax purposes.

 

For federal income tax purposes, the Fund had a capital loss carryforward as of May 31, 2015 of approximately $18,399,000 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.

 

In accordance with the provision of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and the excise tax requirements, the Fund elected to treat post-October capital losses of approximately $12,017,000 as having been incurred in the following fiscal year (May 31, 2016).

 

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

 

Note 6. Capital

 

There are 1 billion shares of $0.001 par value common stock authorized. Prior to commencement of operations on April 30, 2012, the Fund issued 5,240 shares of common stock to Prudential at an aggregate purchase price of $100,084. As of November 30, 2015, Prudential owned 7,048 shares of the Fund.

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2015, the Fund did not issue shares in connection with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

 

On June 13, 2012, an additional 2,575,000 shares were issued in connection with the exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option. An amount of $49,182,500 (net of sales load of $2,317,500) was received pursuant to this allotment. An amount of $103,000 ($0.04 per share of the common stock) was used to offset any offering costs as described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

During the period ended May 31, 2012, the Fund issued 30,500,000 shares of common stock in its initial public offering. These shares were all issued at $20.00 per share before a sales load of $0.90 per share. Offering costs of $1,220,000

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     41   


Notes to Financial Statements

 

(Unaudited) continued

 

(representing $0.04 per share) were offset against the proceeds of the offering and have been charged to paid-in capital in excess of par.

 

Note 7. Borrowings and Re-hypothecation

 

The Fund currently is a party to a committed credit facility (the “credit facility”) with a financial institution. The credit facility provides for a maximum commitment of $300 million. Interest on any borrowings under the credit facility is payable at the negotiated rates. The Fund’s obligations under the credit facility are secured by the assets of the Fund segregated for the purpose of securing the amount borrowed. The purpose of the credit facility is to provide the Fund with portfolio leverage and meet its general cash flow requirements.

 

During the six months ended November 30, 2015, the Fund utilized the credit facility and had an average daily outstanding loan balance of $203,907,104 during the 183 day period that the facility was utilized, at an average interest rate of 1.06%. The maximum amount of loan outstanding during the period was $210,000,000. There was a balance of $200,000,000 outstanding at November 30, 2015.

 

Re-hypothecation: The credit facility agreement permits, subject to certain conditions, the financial institution to re-hypothecate, up to the amount outstanding under the facility, portfolio securities segregated by the Fund as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest on re-hypothecated securities. The Fund also has the right under the agreement to recall the re-hypothecated securities from the financial institution on demand. If the financial institution fails to deliver the recalled security in a timely manner, the Fund will be compensated by the financial institution for any fees or losses related to the failed delivery or, in the event a recalled security will not be returned by the financial institution, the Fund, upon notice to the financial institution, may reduce the loan balance outstanding by the value of the recalled security failed to be returned plus accrued interest. The Fund will receive a portion of the fees earned by the financial institution in connection with the re-hypothecation of portfolio securities. Such earnings are disclosed in the statement of operations under Other Income.

 

42  


Note 8. Subsequent Event

 

Dividends and Distributions: On November 24, 2015 the Fund declared monthly dividends of $0.11 per share payable on December 31, 2015, January 11, 2016 and February 29, 2016, respectively, to shareholders of record on December 18, 2015, December 30, 2015 and February 19, 2016, respectively. The ex-dividend dates were December 16, 2015, December 28, 2015 and February 17, 2016, respectively.

 

Note 9. New Accounting Pronouncement

 

In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-07 regarding “Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share”. The amendments in this update are effective for the Fund for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU No. 2015-07 will eliminate the requirement to categorize investments in the fair value hierarchy if their fair value is measured at net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent) using the practical expedient in the FASB’s fair value measurement guidance. Management has evaluated the implications of ASU No. 2015-07 and it has been determined that there is no impact on the financial statement disclosures.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     43   


Financial Highlights

 

(Unaudited)

 

    

Six Months
Ended
November 30,

        

Year Ended May 31,

         April 30,
2012(a)
through
May 31,
 
     2015(b)          2015(b)     2014(b)     2013(b)       2012  
Per Share Operating Performance:                                                
Net Asset Value, Beginning Of Period     $17.84            $18.82        $19.18        $18.75            $19.10
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                
Net investment income     .55            1.20        1.22        1.24            .07   
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions     (.90         (.59     .02        .74            (.38
Total from investment operations     (.35         .61        1.24        1.98            (.31
Less Dividends:                                                
Dividends from net investment income     (.70         (1.59     (1.60     (1.57         -   
Fund share transactions:                                                
Common stock offering costs charged to paid-in capital in excess of par     -            -        -        - (g)          (.04
Accretion to net asset value from the exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option (Note 6)     -            -        -        .02            -   
Total of share transactions     -            -        -        .02            (.04
Net asset value, end of period     $16.79            $17.84        $18.82        $19.18            $18.75   
Market price, end of period     $14.38            $15.75        $17.84        $19.45            $20.09   
Total Return(c):     (4.34)%            (2.92)%        .24%        4.97%            .35%   
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets, end of period (000)     $558,460            $593,165        $626,021        $637,704            $571,884   
Average net assets (000)     $574,513            $602,489        $630,017        $635,754            $576,384   
Ratios to average net assets(d):                                                
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.53% (e)(f)          1.58% (e)      1.52% (e)      1.47% (e)          1.16% (e)(f) 
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement     1.53% (e)(f)          1.58% (e)      1.52% (e)      1.53% (e)          1.20% (e)(f) 
Net investment income     6.43% (f)          6.60%        6.45%        6.45%            4.20% (f) 
Portfolio turnover rate     25% (h)          58%        75%        74%            12% (h) 
Asset coverage     379%            439%        363%        405%            524%   
Total debt outstanding at period-end (000)     $200,000            $175,000        $238,000        $209,000            $135,000   

 

* Initial public offering price of $20.00 per share less sales load of $.90 per share.

(a) Commencement of operations.

(b) Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.

(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of common stock at the current market price on the first day and a sale at the closing market price on the last day for the period reported. Dividends are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtainable under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. This amount does not reflect brokerage commissions or sales load. Total returns for periods less than a full year are not annualized.

(d) Does not include expenses of the underlying portfolio in which the Fund invests.

(e) Includes interest expense of ..38% for the six months ended November 30, 2015, .41% for the year ended May 31, 2015, .36% for the year ended May 31, 2014, .35% for the year ended May 31, 2013 and .08% for the period ended May 31, 2012.

(f) Annualized.

(g) Less than $.005 per share.

(h) Not annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

44  


Other Information

 

(Unaudited)

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Unless a holder of Common Stock elects to receive cash by contacting Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Plan Administrator”), all dividends declared on Common Stock will be automatically reinvested by the Plan Administrator pursuant to the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), in additional Common Stock. The holders of Common Stock who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends and other distributions (together, a “Dividend”) in cash paid by check mailed directly to the stockholder of record (or, if the Common Stock is held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by the Plan Administrator as dividend disbursing agent. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Plan Administrator prior to the Dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared Dividend. Such notice will be effective with respect to a particular Dividend. Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on behalf of the holders of Common Stock and may re-invest that cash in additional Common Stock.

 

The Plan Administrator will open an account for each common stockholder under the Plan in the same name in which such common stockholder’s Common Stock is registered. Whenever the Fund declares a Dividend payable in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in Common Stock. The Common Stock will be acquired by the Plan Administrator for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized Common Stock from the Fund (“Newly Issued Common Stock”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Stock on the open market (“Open-Market Purchases”) on the NYSE or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price of the Common Stock plus per share fees (as defined below) is equal to or greater than the NAV per share of Common Stock (such condition being referred to as “market premium”), the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Stock on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Stock to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the NAV per share of Common Stock on the payment date, provided that, if the NAV per share of Common Stock is less than or equal to 95% of the closing market price per share of Common Stock on the payment date, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the closing market price per Common Stock on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the NAV per share of Common Stock is greater than the closing market value per share of Common Stock plus per share fees (such condition being referred to as “market discount”), the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in shares of

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     45   


Other Information

 

(Unaudited) continued

 

Common Stock acquired on behalf of the participants in Open-Market Purchases. “Per share fees” include any applicable brokerage commissions the Plan Administrator is required to pay.

 

In the event of a market discount on the payment date for any Dividend, the Plan Administrator will have until the last business day before the next date on which the Common Stock trades on an “ex-dividend” basis or 30 days after the payment date for such Dividend, whichever is sooner (the “Last Purchase Date”), to invest the Dividend amount in Common Stock acquired in Open-Market Purchases on behalf of participants. If, before the Plan Administrator has completed its Open-Market Purchases, the market price per share of Common Stock exceeds the NAV per share of Common Stock, the average per share purchase price paid by the Plan Administrator for Common Stock may exceed the NAV per share of the Common Stock, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares of Common Stock than if the Dividend had been paid in Newly Issued Common Stock on the Dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to Open-Market Purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Administrator is unable to invest the full Dividend amount in Open-Market Purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Administrator may cease making Open-Market Purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Stock at the NAV per share of Common Stock at the close of business on the Last Purchase Date, provided that, if the NAV is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per share of Common Stock, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date for purposes of determining the number of shares issuable under the Plan.

 

The Plan Administrator maintains all stockholder accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by stockholders for tax records. Common Stock in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Administrator on behalf of the Plan participant, and each stockholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Administrator will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held under the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants.

 

In the case of the holders of Common Stock such as banks, brokers or nominees that hold shares of Common Stock for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Administrator will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of shares of

 

46  


Common Stock certified from time to time by the record stockholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.

 

The Plan Administrator’s service fee, if any, and expenses for administering the plan will be paid for by the Fund. If a participant elects by written, Internet or telephonic notice to the Plan Administrator to have the Plan Administrator sell part or all of the shares held by the Plan Administrator in the participant’s account and remit the proceeds to the participant, the Plan Administrator is authorized to deduct a $15.00 transaction fee plus a $0.12 per share fee. If a participant elects to sell his or her shares of Common Stock, the Plan Administrator will process all sale instructions received no later than five business days after the date on which the order is received by the Plan Administrator, assuming the relevant markets are open and sufficient market liquidity exists (and except where deferral is required under applicable federal or state laws or regulations). Such sale will be made through the Plan Administrator’s broker on the relevant market and the sale price will not be determined until such time as the broker completes the sale. In every case the price to the participant shall be the weighted average sale price obtained by the Plan Administrator’s broker net of fees for each aggregate order placed by the participant and executed by the broker. To maximize cost savings, the Plan Administrator will seek to sell shares in round lot transactions. For this purpose the Plan Administrator may combine a participant’s shares with those of other selling participants.

 

There will be no brokerage charges with respect to shares of Common Stock issued directly by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with Open-Market Purchases. Each participant will be charged a per share fee (currently $0.05 per share) on all Open-Market Purchases. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends. See “Tax Matters.” Participants that request a sale of Common Stock through the Plan Administrator are subject to brokerage commissions.

 

Each participant may terminate the participant’s account under the Plan by so notifying the Plan Administrator via the Plan Administrator’s website at www.computershare.com/investor, by filling out the transaction request form located at the bottom of the participant’s Statement and sending it to the Plan Administrator or by calling the Plan Administrator. Such termination will be effective immediately if the participant’s notice is received by the Plan Administrator prior to any dividend or distribution record date. Upon any withdrawal or termination, the Plan Administrator will cause to be delivered to each terminating participant a statement of holdings for the appropriate number of the Fund’s whole book-entry shares of Common Stock and

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.     47   


Other Information

 

(Unaudited) continued

 

a check for the cash adjustment of any fractional share at the market value of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock as of the close of business on the date the termination is effective less any applicable fees. In the event a participant’s notice of termination is on or after a record date (but before payment date) for an account whose dividends are reinvested, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may either distribute such dividends in cash or reinvest them in shares of Common Stock on behalf of the terminating participant. In the event reinvestment is made, the Plan Administrator will process the termination as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five business days after the reinvestment is completed. The Plan may be terminated by the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to each participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Fund.

 

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.

 

All correspondence or questions concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Administrator, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078 or by calling (toll free) 800-451-6788.

 

48  


Approval of Advisory Agreements (Unaudited)

 

The Fund’s Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) consists of ten individuals, seven 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 three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Dryden Investment Committee. Each committee is chaired by an Independent Director.

 

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 Prudential Investments LLC (“PI”) and the Fund’s subadvisory agreement with Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (“PIM”)1. In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, met on June 9-11, 2015 and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2016, 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 PI and PGIM. Also, the Board considered comparisons with other 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 PI and PGIM, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PI and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders 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 PI throughout the year at regular Board

 

 

1 

Note: Effective January 4, 2016, PIM changed its name to PGIM, Inc.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.


Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)

 

meetings, presentations from portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the meetings on June 9-11, 2015.

 

The Directors determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PI, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PI and PGIM, which serves as the Fund’s subadviser pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PI, 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 PI and PGIM. The Board considered the services provided by PI, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadviser for the Fund, as well as the provision of fund recordkeeping, compliance, and other services to the Fund. With respect to PI’s oversight of the subadviser, the Board noted that PI’s Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PI, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PI’s senior management on the performance and operations of the subadviser. The Board also considered that PI 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 PGIM, 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 PI’s evaluation of the subadviser, as well as PI’s recommendation, based on its review of the subadviser, to renew the subadvisory agreement.

 

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

 

Visit our website at www.prudentialfunds.com


The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PI and the subadvisory services provided to the Fund by PGIM, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that the Fund benefits from the services provided by PI and PGIM under the management and subadvisory agreements.

 

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PI

 

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

 

Economies of Scale

 

PI and the Board previously retained an outside business consulting firm to review management fee breakpoint usage and trends in management fees across the mutual fund industry. The consulting firm presented its analysis and conclusions as to the Funds’ management fee structures to the Board and PI. The Board and PI have discussed these conclusions extensively since that presentation.

 

The Board noted that the management fee schedule for the Fund does not contain breakpoints that would reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels. The Board received and discussed information concerning whether PI realizes economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. The Board considered that, as a closed-end fund, the Fund would not be expected to have inflows of capital that might produce increasing economies of scale.

 

The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of PI’s costs are not specific to any individual funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services. In light of the Fund’s current size, performance and expense structure, the Board concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Fund’s fee schedule is acceptable at this time.

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.


Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)

 

 

Other Benefits to PI and PGIM

 

The Board considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PI and PGIM and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PI included fees received by affiliates of PI for serving as the Fund’s securities lending agent, as well as benefits to its reputation or other intangible benefits resulting from PI’s association with the Fund. The Board concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by PGIM included the ability to use soft dollar credits, as well as the potential benefits consistent with those generally resulting from an increase in assets under management, specifically, potential access to additional research resources and benefits to its reputation. The Board concluded that the benefits derived by PI and PGIM were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.

 

Performance of the Fund / Fees and Expenses

 

The Board considered certain additional specific factors and made related conclusions relating to the historical performance of the Fund for the one-year period ended December 31, 2014. The Board considered that the Fund commenced operations on April 26, 2012 and that longer-term performance was not yet available.

 

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 May 31, 2014. The Board considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PI to other funds and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable 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 funds included in the Peer Universe (the Lipper Closed End High Yield Leveraged Funds Performance Universe) and the Peer Group were objectively determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of fund data. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles, with the first quartile being the best 25% of the funds (for performance, the best performing funds and, for expenses, the lowest cost 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 gross performance comparisons (which do not reflect the impact on performance of fund expenses, or any subsidies, expense caps or waivers that may be applicable) with the Peer Universe, actual management fees with the Peer Group (which reflect the impact of any subsidies or fee waivers), and net total expenses with the Peer Group, each of which were key factors considered by the Board.

 

Visit our website at www.prudentialfunds.com


Performance    1 Year    3 Years    5 Years    10 Years
  

3rd Quartile

   N/A    N/A    N/A
Actual Management Fees: 2nd Quartile
Net Total Expenses: 1st Quartile

 

   

The Board noted that the Fund outperformed its benchmark index for the one-year period.

   

The Board noted that the Fund does not yet have a three-year performance record and that, therefore, the subadviser should have more time to develop that record.

   

The Board concluded that, in light of the above, it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to allow the Fund’s performance record to develop and to renew the agreements.

   

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

 

*     *     *

 

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

 

Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.


Privacy Notice

 

Prudential values your business and your trust. We respect the privacy of your personal information and take our responsibility to protect it seriously. This privacy notice is provided on behalf of the Prudential family of companies listed at the end of this notice (Prudential), and applies to our current and former customers. This notice describes new ways in which we will share your personal information within Prudential and your right to opt out of such sharing.

 

Protecting Your Personal Information

We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your personal information. The people who are authorized to have access to your personal information need it to do their jobs, and we require them to keep that information secure and confidential.

 

Personal Information We Collect

We collect your personal information when you fill out applications and other forms, when you enter personal details on our websites, when you respond to our emails, and when you provide us information over the telephone. We also collect personal information that others give us about you. This information includes, for example:

   

name

   

address, email address, telephone number, and other contact information

   

income and financial information

   

Social Security number

   

transaction history

   

medical information for insurance applications

   

consumer reports from consumer reporting agencies

   

participant information from organizations that purchase products or services from us for the benefit of their members or employees

 

Using Your Information

We use your personal information for various business purposes, including:

   

normal everyday business purposes, such as providing service to you and administrating your account or policy

   

processing transactions and claims

   

business research and analysis

   

marketing products and services of Prudential and other companies in which you may be interested

   

compliance with laws

 

Sharing Your Information

We may share your personal information, including information about your transactions and experiences, within Prudential and with other companies who perform services for us or on our behalf, for our everyday business purposes, such as providing services to you and administering your account or policy. We may also share your personal information with another financial institution if you agree that your account or policy can be transferred to that financial company.

 

We may share your personal information within Prudential so that the Prudential companies can market their products and services to you. We may also share consumer report information within Prudential which may include information about you from credit reports and certain information that we receive from you and from consumer reporting agencies or other third parties. For those customers who have one of our products through a plan sponsored by an employer or other organization, we will share


your personal information either in a manner consistent with the terms of the plan agreement or in a manner consistent with our agreement with you.

 

We may also share your personal information as permitted or required by law, including, for example, to law enforcement officials and regulators, in response to subpoenas, and to prevent fraud.

 

Unless you agree otherwise, we do not share your personal information with other companies for them to market their products or services to you. We may tell you about a product or service that other companies offer and, if you respond, that company will know that we selected you to receive the information.

 

Limiting Our Sharing – Opt Out/Privacy Choice

You may tell us not to share your personal information within Prudential for marketing purposes, and not to share consumer report information within Prudential, by “opting out” of such sharing. To limit our sharing for these purposes:

   

visit us online at: www.prudential.com/privacyoptout

   

call us at: 1-877-248-4019

 

If you previously told us not to share your personal information within Prudential for marketing purposes, or not to share your consumer report information, you must renew your “opt out” of such sharing through the methods noted above. If you are no longer our customer, we will continue to share your information as described in this notice.

 

You are not able to limit our ability to share your personal information within Prudential and other companies for servicing and administration purposes.

 

Questions and Corrections

We will send notices at least once a year, as federal and state laws require. If you have any questions about how we protect, use, and share your personal information or about this privacy notice, please call us. The toll-free number is 1-877-248-4019.

 

We reserve the right to modify this notice at any time. This notice is also available anytime at www.prudential.com.

 

This notice is being provided to customers and former customers of the Prudential companies listed below. If we acquire a company prior to delivery of the next annual notice, we may share your information with the acquired company in the same manner as other Prudential companies described in this notice.

 

Insurance Companies and Insurance Company Separate Accounts

The Prudential Insurance Company of America; Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation; Pruco Life Insurance Company; Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey; Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (PRIAC); PRIAC Variable Contract Account A; CG Variable Annuity Account I & II (Connecticut General); Pruco Insurance Company of Iowa; All insurance company separate accounts that include the following names: Prudential, Pruco, or PRIAC

 

Insurance Agencies

Prudential Insurance Agency, LLC; Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services, LLC; MC Insurance Agency Services, LLC

 

Broker-Dealers and Registered Investment Advisers

AST Investment Services, Inc.; Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc.; Global Portfolio Strategies, Inc.; Pruco Securities, LLC; Prudential Investment Management, Inc.;


Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; Prudential Investments LLC; Prudential Private Placement Investors, L.P.

 

Bank and Trust Companies

Prudential Bank & Trust, FSB; Prudential Trust Company

 

Investment Companies and Other Investment Vehicles

The Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.; Prudential Investments Mutual Funds; Prudential Capital Partners, L.P.; Target Asset Allocation Funds; The Target Portfolio Trust; Advanced Series Trust; The Prudential Series Fund; Private Placement Trust Investors, LLC; All funds that include the following names: Prudential, PCP, or PCEP

 

Vermont Residents: We will comply with Vermont law when sharing information we collect from or about Vermont residents. Consequently, we will automatically treat all customers who are Vermont residents as having told us not to share their personal information for marketing purposes and not to share consumer report information.

 

LOGO

 

 

Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

 

Privacy 0019 Ed. 1/2016

D6021


n    MAIL   n    MAIL (OVERNIGHT)   n    TELEPHONE

Computershare

P.O. Box 30170

College Station, TX 77842-3170

  Computershare

211 Quality Circle

Suite 210

College Station, TX 77845

  (800) 451-6788
    n    WEBSITE
    www.prudentialfunds.com

 

PROXY VOTING
The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated to the Fund’s investment subadviser the responsibility for voting any proxies and maintaining proxy recordkeeping with respect to the Fund. A description of these proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 451-6788 or by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.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  Keith F. Hartstein Michael S. Hyland Stuart S. Parker Richard A. Redeker  Stephen G. Stoneburn Grace C. Torres

 

OFFICERS
Stuart S. Parker, President Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President M. Sadiq Peshimam, Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Raymond A. O’Hara, Chief Legal Officer Deborah A. Docs, Secretary  Chad A. Earnst, Chief Compliance Officer Theresa C. Thompson, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer Jonathan D. Shain, Assistant Secretary Claudia DiGiacomo, Assistant Secretary Amanda S. Ryan, Assistant Secretary Andrew R. French, Assistant Secretary Peter Parrella, Assistant Treasurer Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer Linda McMullin, Assistant Treasurer

 

MANAGER   Prudential Investments LLC    655 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102

 

INVESTMENT SUBADVISER   PGIM, Inc.    655 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

 

CUSTODIAN   The Bank of New York Mellon    One Wall Street
New York, NY 10286

 

TRANSFER AGENT   Computershare Trust
Company, N.A.
   PO Box 30170
College Station, TX
77842-3170

 

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

 

FUND COUNSEL   Sidley Austin LLP    787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019


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

 

AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO SCHEDULE
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation and location of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (202) 551-8090. The Fund’s schedule of portfolio holdings is also available on the Fund’s website as of the end of each month.

 

CERTIFICATIONS
The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer has submitted to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) the required annual certifications and the Fund has also included the certifications of the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, on the Fund’s Form N-CSR filed with the Commission, for the period of this report.

 

This report is transmitted to shareholders of the Fund for their information. This is not a prospectus, circular, or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund or any securities mentioned in this report.

 

An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing.

 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may purchase, from time to time, shares of its common stock at market prices.


LOGO

 

 

 

PRUDENTIAL SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD FUND, INC.

 

NYSE   ISD
CUSIP   74442F107

 

PICE1000E2    0287138-00001-00


Item 2 –    Code of Ethics – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

Item 3 –

   Audit Committee Financial Expert – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.
Item 4 –    Principal Accountant Fees and Services – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.
Item 5 –    Audit Committee of Listed Registrants – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.
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 required, as this is not an annual filing.
Item 8 –    Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.
Item 9 –    Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – There have been no purchases of equity securities by the registrant or any affiliated purchasers during the period covered by this report.
Item 10 –    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – Not applicable.
Item 11 –    Controls and Procedures

 

  (a) It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

  (b) There has been no significant change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12 – Exhibits

 

  (a) (1)      Code of Ethics – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.

 

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

 

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

 

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


SIGNATURES

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

 

Registrant:   Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Deborah A. Docs

  Deborah A. Docs
  Secretary
Date:   January 19, 2016

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:            January 19, 2016
By:  

/s/ M. Sadiq Peshimam

  M. Sadiq Peshimam
  Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
Date:   January 19, 2016