10-Q 1 d624142d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

X   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013

OR

 

  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from            to            

Commission file number 333-18053

 

 

Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New Jersey   22-2426091

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (IRS Employer Identification No.)

213 Washington Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(973) 802-6000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of the Regulation S-T ((§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨      Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x      Smaller reporting Company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  ¨    No  x

As of November 13, 2013, 400,000 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock (par value $5) were outstanding.

 

Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey meets the conditions set

forth in General Instruction (H) (1) (a) and (b) on Form 10-Q and

is therefore filing this Form 10-Q in the reduced disclosure format.

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
Number
 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     4   

Item 1.

   Financial Statements:      4   
  

Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position

As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012

     4   
  

Unaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

     5   
  

Unaudited Interim Statements of Equity

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

     6   
  

Unaudited Interim Statements of Cash Flows

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

     7   
   Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements      9   

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      44   

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures      54   

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

     54   

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings      54   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      54   

Item 6.

   Exhibits      55   

SIGNATURES

     56   


Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to those in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “includes,” “plans,” “assumes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “will,” “shall” or variations of such words are generally part of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey will be those anticipated by management. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and there are certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements, including, among others: (1) general economic, market and political conditions, including the performance and fluctuations of fixed income, equity, real estate and other financial markets; (2) the availability and cost of additional debt or equity capital or external financing for our operations; (3) interest rate fluctuations or prolonged periods of low interest rates; (4) the degree to which we choose not to hedge risks, or the potential ineffectiveness or insufficiency of hedging or risk management strategies we do implement, with regard to variable annuity or other product guarantees; (5) any inability to access our credit facilities; (6) reestimates of our reserves for future policy benefits and claims; (7) differences between actual experience regarding mortality, longevity, morbidity, persistency, surrender experience, interest rates or market returns and the assumptions we use in pricing our products, establishing liabilities and reserves or for other purposes; (8) changes in our assumptions related to deferred policy acquisition costs; (9) changes in our financial strength or credit ratings; (10) statutory reserve requirements associated with term and universal life insurance policies under Regulation XXX and Guideline AXXX; (11) investment losses, defaults and counterparty non-performance; (12) competition in our product lines and for personnel; (13) difficulties in marketing and distributing products through current or future distribution channels; (14) changes in tax law; (15) regulatory or legislative changes, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (16) inability to protect our intellectual property rights or claims of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; (17) adverse determinations in litigation or regulatory matters and our exposure to contingent liabilities; (18) domestic or international military actions, natural or man-made disasters including terrorist activities or pandemic disease, or other events resulting in catastrophic loss of life; (19) ineffectiveness of risk management policies and procedures in identifying, monitoring and managing risks; (20) interruption in telecommunication, information technology or other operational systems or failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data on such systems; and (21) changes in statutory or accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), practices or policies. Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey does not intend, and is under no obligation, to update any particular forward-looking statement included in this document. See “Risk Factors” herein and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 for discussion of certain risks relating to our business and investment in our securities.

 

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Table of Contents

Part I—Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey

Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position

As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

       September 30,  
2013
       December 31,  
2012
 

ASSETS

     

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2013–$909,369; 2012–$976,665)

   $ 956,537       $ 1,066,071   

Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost: 2013–$114; 2012–$1,303)

     133         1,381   

Trading account assets, at fair value

     1,415         1,390   

Policy loans

     175,059         173,622   

Short-term investments

     5,894         2,226   

Commercial mortgage and other loans

     283,117         221,728   

Other long-term investments

     34,503         41,312   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

     1,456,658         1,507,730   

Cash and cash equivalents

     24,504         50,596   

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     425,949         327,832   

Accrued investment income

     14,451         15,782   

Reinsurance recoverables

     962,211         870,122   

Receivables from parents and affiliates

     30,461         29,221   

Deferred sales inducements

     86,972         70,728   

Income taxes

            33,557   

Other assets

     8,279         9,131   

Separate account assets

     9,540,093         8,373,780   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 12,549,578       $ 11,288,479   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     

LIABILITIES

     

Policyholders’ account balances

   $ 1,342,949       $ 1,221,932   

Future policy benefits and other policyholder liabilities

     822,426         825,869   

Cash collateral for loaned securities

     8,608         2,134   

Income taxes

     31,266          

Short-term debt to affiliates

     24,000         24,000   

Long-term debt to affiliates

     85,000         85,000   

Payables to parent and affiliates

     5,215         2,383   

Other liabilities

     74,752         83,541   

Separate account liabilities

     9,540,093         8,373,780   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

     11,934,309         10,618,639   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (See Note 6)

     

EQUITY

     

Common stock, ($5 par value; 400,000 shares, authorized, issued and outstanding)

     2,000         2,000   

Additional paid-in capital

     211,147         211,049   

Retained earnings

     379,211         409,342   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     22,911         47,449   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL EQUITY

     615,269         669,840   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

   $     12,549,578       $     11,288,479   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Unaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands)

 

 

       Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended    
     September 30,      September 30,  
     2013      2012      2013      2012  

REVENUES

           

Premiums

   $ 3,210       $ 3,330       $ 9,704       $ 10,081   

Policy charges and fee income

     31,781         34,112         112,042         106,077   

Net investment income

     16,698         22,623         50,696         62,144   

Asset administration fees

     8,414         7,754         24,803         21,250   

Other income

     840         1,970         2,466         3,562   

Realized investment gains (losses), net:

           

Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities

            (3,236)                (3,852)   

Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities transferred to other comprehensive income

            2,276                2,382   

Other realized investment gains (losses), net

     (17,048)         797         10,866         7,045   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total realized investment gains (losses), net

     (17,048)         (163)         10,866         5,575   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL REVENUES

     43,895         69,626         210,577         208,689   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

           

Policyholders’ benefits

     (2,431)         8,201         13,895         30,449   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

     (147)         2,649         10,012         26,332   

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

     (28,981)         (12,309)         (44,994)         12,624   

General, administrative and other expenses

     15,871         16,601         52,192         48,128   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

     (15,688)         15,142         31,105         117,533   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     59,583         54,484         179,472         91,156   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

     20,043         14,191         54,603         24,922   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ 39,540       $ 40,293       $ 124,869       $ 66,234   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:

           

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     44         30         20         (8)   

Net unrealized investment gains (losses):

           

Unrealized investment gains (losses) for the period

     1,194         (10,373)         (32,994)         (4,754)   

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income

     (1,519)         1,307         (4,776)         2,143   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net unrealized investment gains (losses)

     (325)         (9,066)         (37,770)         (2,611)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax

     (281)         (9,036)         (37,750)         (2,619)   

Less: Income tax expense (benefit) related to:

           

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     17         10                (3)   

Net unrealized investment gains (losses)

     (114)         (3,173)         (13,220)         (914)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     (97)         (3,163)         (13,212)         (917)   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

     (184)         (5,873)         (24,538)         (1,702)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

   $             39,356       $             34,420       $             100,331       $             64,532   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Unaudited Interim Statements of Equity

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands)

 

 

           Common  
Stock
           Additional  
Paid-in
Capital
           Retained  
Earnings
        Accumulated
Other
  Comprehensive  
Income
(Loss)
          Total Equity    

Balance, December 31, 2012

     $     2,000        $     211,049        $     409,342       $     47,449       $     669,840  

Dividend to Parent

       -           -           (155,000       -          (155,000

Contributed (distributed) capital-parent/child asset transfers

       -           98          -          -          98  

Comprehensive income (loss):

                      

Net income (loss)

       -           -           124,869         -          124,869  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

       -           -           -          (24,538       (24,538
                      

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

       -           -           -          -          100,331  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2013

     $ 2,000        $ 211,147        $ 379,211       $ 22,911       $ 615,269  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 
           Common  
Stock
           Additional  
Paid-in
Capital
           Retained  
Earnings
        Accumulated
Other
  Comprehensive  
Income
(Loss)
          Total Equity    

Balance, December 31, 2011

     $ 2,000        $ 207,928        $ 305,281       $ 47,124       $ 562,333  

Contributed (distributed) capital-parent/child asset transfers

       -           3,121          -          -          3,121  

Comprehensive income (loss):

                      

Net income (loss)

       -           -           66,234         -          66,234  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

       -           -           -          (1,702       (1,702
                      

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

       -           -           -          -          64,532  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2012

     $     2,000        $     211,049        $     371,515       $     45,422       $     629,986  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Unaudited Interim Statements of Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands)

 

 

     2013      2012  

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

     

Net income

    $ 124,869        $ 66,234   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

     

Policy charges and fee income

     4,266         (14,918)   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

     10,012         26,332   

Realized investment (gains) losses, net

     (10,866)         (5,575)   

Amortization and other non-cash items

     (8,944)         (6,999)   

Change in:

     

Future policy benefits and other insurance liabilities

     105,593         100,060   

Reinsurance recoverables

     (97,246)         (73,427)   

Accrued investment income

     1,331         679   

Receivables from parent and affiliates

     1,001         (6,720)   

Payables to parent and affiliates

     2,208         4,617   

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     (86,735)         (61,487)   

Income taxes payable

     77,984         29,787   

Deferred sales inducements

     (1,561)         (18,340)   

Other, net

     2,963         15,848   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) operating activities

    $ 124,875        $ 56,091   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

     

Proceeds from the sale/maturity/prepayment of:

     

Fixed maturities, available for sale

    $       175,905        $ 117,449   

Short-term investments

     19,218         6,441   

Policy loans

     20,589         14,710   

Ceded policy loans

     (3,401)         (142)   

Commercial mortgage and other loans

     15,083         13,678   

Other long-term investments

     1,788         2,437   

Equity securities, available for sale

     6,630         2,660   

Payments for the purchase/origination of:

     

Fixed maturities, available for sale

     (103,885)         (133,093)   

Short-term investments

     (22,882)         (8,377)   

Policy loans

     (13,051)         (16,763)   

Ceded policy loans

     1,717         6,524   

Commercial mortgage and other loans

     (76,925)         (47,074)   

Other long-term investments

     (3,915)         (7,164)   

Equity securities, available for sale

     (5,253)         (2,508)   

Notes receivable from parent and affiliates, net

     (4,526)         1,370   

Other, net

     90         (54)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) investing activities

    $ 7,182        $ (49,906)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

     

Policyholders’ account deposits

    $ 177,370        $       148,220   

Ceded policyholders’ account deposits

     (100,737)         (39,838)   

Policyholders’ account withdrawals

     (92,821)         (93,262)   

Ceded policyholders’ account withdrawals

     6,057         600   

Net change in securities sold under agreement to repurchase and cash collateral for loaned securities

     6,474         (16,072)   

Dividend to parent

     (155,000)           

Contributed/Distributed capital-parent/child asset transfers

     150           

Net change in financing arrangements (maturities 90 days or less)

             1,010   

Drafts outstanding

     358         (1,273)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) financing activities

    $ (158,149)        $ (615)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (26,092)         5,570   

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR

     50,596         26,723   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

    $ 24,504        $ 32,293   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

 

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Significant Non Cash Transactions

Cash Flows from Investing Activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 Unaudited Interim Statement of Cash Flows excludes $202 million of decreases in fixed maturities, available for sale and commercial mortgages related to the coinsurance transaction between the Company and PAR U, an affiliate. The assets transferred included $156 million of consideration for the initial premium due under the coinsurance agreement with this affiliate and $46 million to Prudential Financial, the Company’s ultimate parent company, to settle tax expenses arising from this coinsurance transaction. See Note 8 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for more information on related party transactions.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

 

1.    BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, or the (“Company”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Pruco Life Insurance Company, or (“Pruco Life”), which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Prudential Insurance Company of America, (“Prudential Insurance”). Prudential Insurance is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc., or (“Prudential Financial”). The Company is a stock life insurance company organized in 1982 under the laws of the State of New Jersey. It is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities, primarily through affiliated and unaffiliated distributors, in New Jersey and New York only.

Basis of Presentation

The Unaudited Interim Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) on a basis consistent with reporting interim financial information in accordance with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations have been made. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Audited Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The Company has extensive transactions and relationships with Prudential Insurance and other affiliates, (as more fully described in Note 8). Due to these relationships, it is possible that the terms of these transactions are not the same as those that would result from transactions among unrelated parties.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The most significant estimates include those used in determining deferred policy acquisition costs and related amortization; amortization of deferred sales inducements; valuation of investments including derivatives and the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”); future policy benefits including guarantees; provision for income taxes and valuation of deferred tax assets; and reserves for contingent liabilities, including reserves for losses in connection with unresolved legal matters.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

2.    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRONOUNCEMENTS

Investments in Debt and Equity Securities and Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans

The Company’s investments in debt and equity securities include fixed maturities, equity securities, and short-term investments. The accounting policies related to these, as well as commercial mortgage and other loans, are as follows:

Fixed maturities are comprised of bonds, notes and redeemable preferred stock. Fixed maturities classified as “available-for-sale” are carried at fair value. See Note 4 for additional information regarding the determination of fair value. Fixed maturities that the Company has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are carried at amortized cost and classified as “held-to-maturity.” The amortized cost of fixed maturities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Interest income, as well as the related amortization of premium and accretion of discount is included in “Net investment income” under the effective yield method. For mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, the effective yield is based on estimated cash flows, including interest rate and prepayment assumptions based on data from widely accepted third-party data sources or internal estimates. In addition to interest rate and prepayment assumptions, cash flow estimates also vary based on other assumptions regarding the underlying collateral, including default rates and changes in value. These assumptions can significantly impact income recognition and the amount of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings and other comprehensive income. For high credit quality mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities (those rated AA or above), cash flows are provided quarterly, and the amortized cost and effective yield of the security are adjusted as necessary to reflect historical prepayment experience and changes in estimated future prepayments. The adjustments to amortized cost are recorded as a charge or credit to net investment income in accordance with the retrospective method. For mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities rated below AA or those for which an other than temporary impairment has been recorded, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively for any changes in estimated cash flows. See the discussion below on realized investment gains and losses for a description of the accounting for impairments. Unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities classified as “available-for-sale,” net of tax, and the effect on deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements and future policy benefits that would result from the realization of unrealized gains and losses, are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” (“AOCI”).

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Trading account assets, at fair value, represents equity securities held in support of a deferred compensation plan and other fixed maturity securities carried at fair value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses for these investments are reported in “Asset administration fees and other income.” Interest and dividend income from these investments is reported in “Net investment income.”

Equity securities, available-for-sale are comprised of common stock, and non-redeemable preferred stock, and are carried at fair value. The associated unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, and the effect on deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements, and future policy benefits that would result from the realization of unrealized gains and losses, are included in AOCI. The cost of equity securities is written down to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. See the discussion below on realized investment gains and losses for a description of the accounting for impairments. Dividends from these investments are recognized in “Net investment income” when earned.

Commercial mortgage and other loans consist of commercial mortgage loans, agricultural loans and uncollateralized loans. Commercial mortgage and other loans held for investment are generally carried at unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized deferred loan origination fees and expenses and net of an allowance for losses. Commercial mortgage and other loans acquired, including those related to the acquisition of a business, are recorded at fair value when purchased, reflecting any premiums or discounts to unpaid principal balances.

Interest income, as well as prepayment fees and the amortization of the related premiums or discounts, related to commercial mortgage and other loans, are included in “Net investment income.”

Impaired loans include those loans for which it is probable that amounts due will not all be collected according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company defines “past due” as principal or interest not collected at least 30 days past the scheduled contractual due date. Interest received on loans that are past due, including impaired and non-impaired loans as well as loans that were previously modified in a troubled debt restructuring, is either applied against the principal or reported as net investment income based on the Company’s assessment as to the collectability of the principal. See Note 3 for additional information about the Company’s past due loans.

The Company discontinues accruing interest on loans after the loans become 90 days delinquent as to principal or interest payments, or earlier when the Company has doubts about collectability. When the Company discontinues accruing interest on a loan, any accrued but uncollectible interest on the loan and other loans backed by the same collateral, if any, is charged to interest income in the same period. Generally, a loan is restored to accrual status only after all delinquent interest and principal are brought current and, in the case of loans where the payment of interest has been interrupted for a substantial period, or the loan has been modified, a regular payment performance has been established.

The Company reviews the performance and credit quality of the commercial mortgage and other loan portfolio on an on-going basis. Loans are placed on watch list status based on a predefined set of criteria and are assigned one of three categories. Loans are placed on “early warning” status in cases where, based on the Company’s analysis of the loan’s collateral, the financial situation of the borrower or tenants or other market factors, it is believed a loss of principal or interest could occur. Loans are classified as “closely monitored” when it is determined that there is a collateral deficiency or other credit events that may lead to a potential loss of principal or interest. Loans “not in good standing” are those loans where the Company has concluded that there is a high probability of loss of principal, such as when the loan is delinquent or in the process of foreclosure. As described below, in determining the allowance for losses, the Company evaluates each loan on the watch list to determine if it is probable that amounts due will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.

Loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios are measures commonly used to assess the quality of commercial mortgage loans. The loan-to-value ratio compares the amount of the loan to the fair value of the underlying property collateralizing the loan, and is commonly expressed as a percentage. Loan-to-value ratios greater than 100% indicate that the loan amount exceeds the collateral value. A smaller loan-to-value ratio indicates a greater excess of collateral value over the loan amount. The debt service coverage ratio compares a property’s net operating income to its debt service payments. Debt service coverage ratios less than 1.0 times indicate that property operations do not generate enough income to cover the loan’s current debt payments. A larger debt service coverage ratio indicates a greater excess of net operating income over the debt service payments. The values utilized in calculating these ratios are developed as part of the Company’s periodic review of the commercial mortgage loan and agricultural loan portfolio, which includes an internal appraisal of the underlying collateral value. The Company’s periodic review also includes a quality re-rating process, whereby the internal quality rating originally assigned at underwriting is updated based on current loan, property and market information using a proprietary quality rating system. The loan-to-value ratio is the most significant of several inputs used to establish the internal credit rating of a loan which in turn drives the allowance for losses. Other key factors considered in determining the internal credit rating include debt service coverage ratios, amortization, loan term, estimated market value growth rate and volatility for the property type and region. See Note 3 for additional information related to the loan-to-value ratios and debt service coverage ratios related to the Company’s commercial mortgage and agricultural loan portfolios.

The allowance for losses on commercial mortgage and other loans can increase or decrease from period to period based on the factors noted above. “Realized investment gains (losses), net” includes changes in the allowance for losses. “Realized investment gains (losses), net” also includes gains and losses on sales, certain restructurings, and foreclosures.

When a commercial mortgage or other loan is deemed to be uncollectible, any specific valuation allowance associated with the loan is reversed and a direct write down to the carrying amount of the loan is made. The carrying amount of the loan is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in value.

In situations where a loan has been restructured in a troubled debt restructuring and the loan has subsequently defaulted, this factor is considered when evaluating the loan for a specific allowance for losses in accordance with the credit review process noted above.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

See Note 3 for additional information about commercial mortgage and other loans that have been restructured in a troubled debt restructuring.

Short-term investments primarily consist of highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of twelve months or less and greater than three months when purchased. These investments are generally carried at fair value and include certain money market investments, short-term debt securities issued by government sponsored entities and other highly liquid debt instruments.

Realized investment gains (losses) are computed using the specific identification method. Realized investment gains and losses are generated from numerous sources, including the sale of fixed maturity securities, equity securities, investments in joint ventures and limited partnerships and other types of investments, as well as adjustments to the cost basis of investments for net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings. Realized investment gains and losses are also generated from prepayment premiums received on private fixed maturity securities, allowance for losses on commercial mortgage and other loans, and fair value changes on embedded derivatives and free-standing derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. See “Derivative Financial Instruments” below for additional information regarding the accounting for derivatives.

The Company’s available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses are reviewed quarterly to identify other-than-temporary impairments in value. In evaluating whether a decline in value is other-than-temporary, the Company considers several factors including, but not limited to the following: (1) the extent and the duration of the decline; (2) the reasons for the decline in value (credit event, currency or interest-rate related, including general credit spread widening); and (3) the financial condition of and near-term prospects of the issuer. With regard to available-for-sale equity securities, the Company also considers the ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time to allow for a recovery of value. When it is determined that a decline in value of an equity security is other-than-temporary, the carrying value of the equity security is reduced to its fair value, with a corresponding charge to earnings.

An other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in earnings for a debt security in an unrealized loss position when the Company either (a) has the intent to sell the debt security or (b) more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. For all debt securities in unrealized loss positions that do not meet either of these two criteria, the Company analyzes its ability to recover the amortized cost by comparing the net present value of projected future cash flows with the amortized cost of the security. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. The Company may use the estimated fair value of collateral as a proxy for the net present value if it believes that the security is dependent on the liquidation of collateral for recovery of its investment. If the net present value is less than the amortized cost of the investment an other-than-temporary impairment is recognized.

When an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security has occurred, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings depends on whether the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If the debt security meets either of these two criteria, the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings is equal to the entire difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the impairment measurement date. For other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities that do not meet these criteria, the net amount recognized in earnings is equal to the difference between the amortized cost of the debt security and its net present value calculated as described above. Any difference between the fair value and the net present value of the debt security at the impairment measurement date is recorded in “Other comprehensive income (loss)” (“OCI”). Unrealized gains or losses on securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment has been recognized in earnings is tracked as a separate component of AOCI.

For debt securities, the split between the amount of an other-than-temporary impairment recognized in other comprehensive income and the net amount recognized in earnings is driven principally by assumptions regarding the amount and timing of projected cash flows. For mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, cash flow estimates consider the payment terms of the underlying assets backing a particular security, including interest rate and prepayment assumptions based on data from widely accepted third-party data sources or internal estimates. In addition to interest rate and prepayment assumptions, cash flow estimates also include other assumptions regarding the underlying collateral including default rates and recoveries which vary based on the asset type and geographic location, as well as the vintage year of the security. For structured securities, the payment priority within the tranche structure is also considered. For all other debt securities, cash flow estimates are driven by assumptions regarding probability of default and estimates regarding timing and amount of recoveries associated with a default. The Company has developed these estimates using information based on its historical experience as well as using market observable data, such as industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings and other data relevant to the collectability of a security, such as the general payment terms of the security and the security’s position within the capital structure of the issuer.

The new cost basis of an impaired security is not adjusted for subsequent increases in estimated fair value. In periods subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment, the impaired security is accounted for as if it had been purchased on the measurement date of the impairment. For debt securities, the discount (or reduced premium) based on the new cost basis may be accreted into net investment income in future periods, including increases in cash flow on a prospective basis. In certain cases where there are decreased cash flow expectations, the security is reviewed for further cash flow impairments.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices, values of securities or commodities, credit spreads, market volatility, expected returns, and liquidity. Values can also be affected by changes in estimates and assumptions, including those related to counterparty behavior and non-performance risk used in valuation models. Derivative financial instruments generally used

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

by the Company include swaps, futures, forwards and options and may be exchange-traded or contracted in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. Derivative positions are carried at fair value, generally by obtaining quoted market prices or through the use of valuation models.

Derivatives are used to manage the interest rate and currency characteristics of assets or liabilities. Additionally, derivatives may be used to seek to reduce exposure to interest rate, credit, foreign currency and equity risks associated with assets held or expected to be purchased or sold, and liabilities incurred or expected to be incurred. As discussed in detail below and in Note 5, all realized and unrealized changes in fair value of derivatives are recorded in current earnings, with the exception of the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Cash flows from derivatives are reported in the operating, investing, or financing activities sections in the Unaudited Interim Statements of Cash Flows based on the nature and purpose of the derivative.

Derivatives are recorded either as assets, within “Other trading account assets, at fair value” or “Other long-term investments,” or as liabilities, within “Other liabilities,” except for embedded derivatives which are recorded with the associated host contract. The Company nets the fair value of all derivative financial instruments with counterparties for which a master netting arrangement has been executed.

The Company designates derivatives as either (1) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow” hedge); or (2) a derivative that does not qualify for hedge accounting.

To qualify for hedge accounting treatment, a derivative must be highly effective in mitigating the designated risk of the hedged item. Effectiveness of the hedge is formally assessed at inception and throughout the life of the hedging relationship. Even if a derivative qualifies for hedge accounting treatment, there may be an element of ineffectiveness of the hedge. Under such circumstances, the ineffective portion is recorded in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.”

The Company formally documents at inception all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives designated as cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions.

When a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge and is determined to be highly effective, changes in its fair value are recorded in AOCI until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows being hedged (e.g., when periodic settlements on a variable-rate asset or liability are recorded in earnings). At that time, the related portion of deferred gains or losses on the derivative instrument is reclassified and reported in the income statement line item associated with the hedged item.

If it is determined that a derivative no longer qualifies as an effective cash flow hedge or management removes the hedge designation, the derivative will continue to be carried on the balance sheet at its fair value, with changes in fair value recognized currently in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” The component of AOCI related to discontinued cash flow hedges is reclassified to the income statement line associated with the hedged cash flows consistent with the earnings impact of the original hedged cash flows.

When hedge accounting is discontinued because the hedged item no longer meets the definition of a firm commitment, or because it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the specified time period, the derivative will continue to be carried on the balance sheet at its fair value, with changes in fair value recognized currently in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” Any asset or liability that was recorded pursuant to recognition of the firm commitment is removed from the balance sheet and recognized currently in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” Gains and losses that were in AOCI pursuant to the hedge of a forecasted transaction are recognized immediately in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.”

If a derivative does not qualify for hedge accounting, all changes in its fair value, including net receipts and payments, are included in “Realized investment gains (losses), net” without considering changes in the fair value of the economically associated assets or liabilities.

The Company is a party to financial instruments that contain derivative instruments that are “embedded” in the financial instruments. At inception, the Company assesses whether the economic characteristics of the embedded instrument are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the remaining component of the financial instrument (i.e., the host contract) and whether a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded instrument would meet the definition of a derivative instrument. When it is determined that (1) the embedded instrument possesses economic characteristics that are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract, and (2) a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the embedded instrument qualifies as an embedded derivative that is separated from the host contract, carried at fair value, and changes in its fair value are included in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” For certain financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative that otherwise would need to be bifurcated and reported at fair value, the Company may elect to classify the entire instrument as a trading account asset and report it within “Trading account assets, at fair value.”

The Company sells variable annuity contracts that include optional living benefit features that may be treated from an accounting perspective as embedded derivatives. The Company has reinsurance agreements to transfer the risk related to certain of these benefit features to an affiliate, Pruco Reinsurance Ltd. (“Pruco Re”). The embedded derivatives related to the living benefit features and the related reinsurance agreements are carried at fair value and included in “Future policy benefits and other policyholder liabilities” and “Reinsurance recoverables,” respectively. Changes in the fair value are determined using valuation models as described in Note 4, and are recorded in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.”

The Company entered into a new coinsurance agreement with an affiliate, PAR U, effective July 1, 2012. The settlement of the initial coinsurance premium occurred subsequent to the effective date of the coinsurance agreement. As a result, the settlement was treated as if settled on the effective date and adjusted for the time elapsed between the effective date and the settlement date. This adjustment to the initial coinsurance premium was equal to the earned interest and changes in market values from the effective date through the settlement date related to fixed maturity and commercial mortgage securities from an asset portfolio within the Company. The settlement feature of this agreement was accounted for as a derivative (See Note 8 for additional information about this agreement).

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Income Taxes

The Company determines its interim tax provision using the annual effective tax rate methodology in accordance with the authoritative guidance. The increase in the income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and change in effective tax rate was primarily driven by an increase in pre-tax income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011 and January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued updated guidance regarding the disclosure of recognized derivative instruments (including bifurcated embedded derivatives), repurchase agreements and securities borrowing/lending transactions that are offset in the statement of financial position or are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement (irrespective of whether they are offset in the statement of financial position). This new guidance requires an entity to disclose information on both a gross and net basis about instruments and transactions within the scope of this guidance. This new guidance is effective for interim or annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and should be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The disclosures required by this guidance are included in Note 5.

In February 2013, the FASB issued updated guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income. Under the guidance, an entity is required to separately present information about significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component as well as changes in accumulated other comprehensive income balances by component in either the financial statements or the notes to the financial statements. The guidance does not change the items that are reported in other comprehensive income, does not change when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income, and does not amend any existing requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income. The guidance is effective for the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2012 and should be applied prospectively. The disclosures required by this guidance are included in Note 3.

In July 2013, the FASB issued new guidance regarding derivatives. The guidance permits the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (or Overnight Index Swap Rate) to be used as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting, in addition to the United States Treasury rate and London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). The guidance also removes the restriction on using different benchmark rates for similar hedges. The guidance is effective for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013 and should be applied prospectively. Adoption of the guidance did not have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and financial statement disclosures.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the FASB issued updated guidance regarding the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when net operating loss carryforwards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exist. This new guidance is effective for interim or annual reporting periods that begin after December 15, 2013, and should be applied prospectively, with early application permitted. This guidance is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and financial statement disclosures.

3.    INVESTMENTS

Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities

The following tables provide information relating to fixed maturities and equity securities (excluding investments classified as trading) as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2013  
     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
     Other-than-
temporary
Impairments
in AOCI (3)
 
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale

  

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies

   $ 25,392      $ 3,698      $ -      $ 29,090      $                 -  

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions

     4,782        6        175        4,613        -  

Foreign government bonds

     11,474        1,004        -        12,478        -  

Public utilities

     100,457        4,504        1,505        103,456        -  

All other corporate securities

             613,250                    37,221        6,246        644,225        (45

Asset-backed securities (1)

     59,159        1,589        133        60,615        (102

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     65,371        4,327        15        69,683        -  

Residential mortgage-backed securities (2)

     29,484        2,943        50        32,377        (296
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale

   $ 909,369      $ 55,292      $               8,124      $             956,537      $ (443
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

     September 30, 2013
     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
     Other-than-
temporary
Impairments
in AOCI (3)
     (in thousands)

Equity securities, available-for-sale

              

Common Stocks:

              

Industrial, miscellaneous & other

   $ -      $ -      $ -      $ -     

Mutual Funds

     61        -        3        58     

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     53        22        -        75     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total equity securities, available-for-sale

   $             114      $             22      $             3      $             133     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(1) Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and other asset types.
(2) Includes publicly-traded agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations.
(3) Represents the amount of other-than-temporary impairment losses in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),” or “AOCI,” which were not included in earnings. Amount excludes $1 million of net unrealized gains on impaired available-for-sale securities relating to changes in the value of such securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.

 

     December 31, 2012  
     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     Fair
Value
     Other-than-
temporary
Impairments
in AOCI (3)
 
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale

              

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies

   $ 25,681      $ 5,627      $ -      $ 31,308      $                   -   

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions

     2,787        162        -        2,949        -  

Foreign government bonds

     11,523        1,627        -        13,150        -  

Public utilities

     96,733        9,761        -        106,494        -  

All other corporate securities

     646,447        58,447        362        704,532        (45

Asset-backed securities (1)

     61,578        1,944        95        63,427        (2,278

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     70,799        7,433        9        78,223        -  

Residential mortgage-backed securities (2)

     61,117        4,871        -        65,988        (331
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale

   $       976,665      $           89,872      $           466      $       1,066,071      $ (2,654
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities, available-for-sale

              

Common Stocks:

              

Industrial, miscellaneous & other (4)

   $ 183      $ 67      $ -      $ 250     

Mutual Funds (4)

     67        2        5        64     

Non-redeemable preferred stocks

     1,053        14        -        1,067     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total equity securities available-for-sale

   $ 1,303      $ 83      $ 5      $ 1,381     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(1) Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and other asset types.
(2) Includes publicly-traded agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations.
(3) Represents the amount of other-than-temporary impairment losses in AOCI, which were not included in earnings. Amount excludes $3 million of net unrealized gains or losses on impaired available-for-sale securities relating to changes in the fair value of such securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.
(4) Prior period has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities by contractual maturities at September 30, 2013, are as follows:

 

     Available-for-Sale  
     Amortized      Fair  
     Cost      Value  
     (in thousands)  

Due in one year or less

   $ 58,357      $ 59,760  

Due after one year through five years

     247,358        267,566  

Due after five years through ten years

     214,827        229,990  

Due after ten years

     234,813        236,546  

Asset-backed securities

     59,159        60,615  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     65,371        69,683  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     29,484        32,377  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $             909,369      $                 956,537  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations. Asset-backed, commercial mortgage-backed, and residential mortgage-backed securities are shown separately in the table above, as they are not due at a single maturity date.

The following table depicts the sources of fixed maturity proceeds, equity security proceeds, and related investment gains (losses), as well as losses on impairments of both fixed maturities and equity securities:

 

       Three Months Ended  
September 30,
       Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
 
     2013      2012      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale

     

Proceeds from sales

   $         12,250       $ 2,942       $ 71,415       $ 8,927   

Proceeds from maturities/repayments

     35,539                 31,180                 104,474                 108,762   

Gross investment gains from sales, prepayments, and maturities

     1,435         10,609         4,899         12,427   

Gross investment losses from sales and maturities

            (1)         (311)         (1)   

Equity securities, available-for-sale

           

Proceeds from sales

   $ 6,342       $ 2,660       $ 6,630       $ 2,660   

Proceeds from maturities/repayments

                           

Gross investment gains from sales

     483         146         587         146   

Gross investment losses from sales

     (393)                (393)          

Fixed maturity and equity security impairments

           

Net writedowns for other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities recognized in earnings (1)

   $      $ (960)       $      $ (1,470)   

Writedowns for impairments on equity securities

     (6)         (31)         (6)         (152)   

 

(1) Excludes the portion of other-than-temporary impairments recorded in “Other comprehensive income (loss),” representing any difference between the fair value of the impaired debt security and the net present value of its projected future cash flows at the time of the impairment.

As discussed in Note 2, a portion of certain other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses on fixed maturity securities are recognized in OCI. For these securities, the net amount recognized in earnings (“credit loss impairments”) represents the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the net present value of its projected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. Any remaining difference between the fair value and amortized cost is recognized in OCI. The following table sets forth the amount of pre-tax credit loss impairments on fixed maturity securities held by the Company as of the dates indicated, for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in OCI, and the corresponding changes in such amounts.

Credit losses recognized in earnings on fixed maturity securities held by the Company for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in OCI

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013
     Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
     (in thousands)  

Balance, beginning of period

     $ 718         $                     2,411   

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period

     (14)         (1,659)   

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities impaired to fair value during the period (1)

               

Credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired

               

Additional credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired

               

Increases due to the passage of time on previously recorded credit losses

     15         36   

Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected

             (69)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

     $                              719         $ 719   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents circumstances where the Company determined in the current period that it intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of the security’s amortized cost.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2012
    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2012
 
     (in thousands)  

Balance, beginning of period

     $                              2,499        $                     3,438   

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period

     (69     (944

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities impaired to fair value during the period

              

Credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired

              

Additional credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired

     70        70   

Increases due to the passage of time on previously recorded credit losses

     16        61   

Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected

     (114     (223
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

     $ 2,402        $ 2,402   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

15


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Trading Account Assets

The following table sets forth the composition of “Trading account assets” as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
     Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
 
Trading account assets    (in thousands)  

Equity securities (1)

   $             1,695      $             1,415      $             1,695      $             1,390  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Included in equity securities are perpetual preferred stock securities that have characteristics of both debt and equity securities.

The net change in unrealized gains (losses) from trading account assets still held at period end, recorded within “Other income” was less than ($0.1) million and ($0.2) million of losses during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and was less than $0.1 million of gains and ($0.2) million of losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans

The Company’s commercial mortgage and other loans are comprised as follows, as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2013     December 31, 2012  
     Amount
(in thousands)
    % of Total     Amount
(in thousands)
    % of Total  

Commercial mortgage and other loans by property type:

        

Industrial

   $             38,999                   14.1   $             36,691                             16.5

Retail

     70,297       25.4       64,591       29.0  

Apartments/Multi-Family

     72,414       26.2       60,663       27.2  

Office

     30,654       11.1       18,534       8.3  

Hospitality

     24,296       8.8       9,742       4.4  

Other

     21,633       7.8       12,211       5.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total commercial mortgage loans

     258,293       93.4       202,432       90.9  

Agricultural property loans

     18,196       6.6       20,458       9.1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total commercial and agricultural mortgage loans by property type

     276,489       100.0     222,890       100.0
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Valuation allowance

     (1,782       (1,162  
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total net commercial and agricultural mortgage loans by property type

     274,707         221,728    
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

Other Loans

        

Uncollateralized loans

     8,410         -    
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total other loans

     8,410         -    
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total commercial mortgage and other loans

   $ 283,117       $ 221,728    
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

The commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans are geographically dispersed throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia with the largest concentrations in Illinois (15%), Texas (14%), and New York (11%) at September 30, 2013.

Activity in the allowance for losses for all commercial mortgage and other loans as of the dates indicated, is as follows:

 

     September 30, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     (in thousands)  

Allowance for losses, beginning of year

   $             1,162       $             1,410   

Addition to / (release of) allowance of losses

     620         (248)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Allowance for losses, end of year (1)

   $ 1,782       $ 1,162   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Agricultural loans represent $0.03 million of the ending allowance at both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

The following tables set forth the allowance for credit losses and the recorded investment in commercial mortgage and other loans as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     (in thousands)  

Allowance for Credit Losses:

     

Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment (1)

   $      $  

Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment (2)

     1,782         1,162   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total ending balance

   $             1,782       $             1,162   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

16


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

     September 30, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     (in thousands)  

Recorded Investment: (3)

     

Ending balance gross of reserves: individually evaluated for impairment (1)

   $      $  

Ending balance gross of reserves: collectively evaluated for impairment (2)

     284,899         222,890   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total ending balance, gross of reserves

   $             284,899       $             222,890   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) There were no agricultural or uncollateralized loans individually evaluated for impairments at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
(2) Agricultural loans collectively evaluated for impairment had a recorded investment of $18 million and $20 million with no related allowances at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Uncollateralized loans collectively evaluated for impairment had a recorded investment of $8 million and $0 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, and no related allowance for both periods.
(3) Recorded investment reflects the balance sheet carrying value gross of related allowance.

Impaired loans include those loans for which it is probable that all amounts due will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. As of both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there were no impaired commercial mortgages identified in management’s specific review.

Impaired commercial mortgage and other loans with no allowance for losses are loans in which the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of the loans’ expected future cash flows equals or exceeds the recorded investment. As of both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company held no such loans. See Note 2 for information regarding the Company’s accounting policies for non-performing loans.

As described in Note 2, loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios are measures commonly used to assess the quality of commercial mortgage and other loans. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 99% of the $276 million recorded investment and 98% of the $218 million recorded investment, respectively, had a loan-to-value ratio of less than 80%. As of both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 98% of the recorded investment had a debt service coverage ratio of 1.0X or greater. As of September 30, 2013, approximately $7 million or 2% of the recorded investment had a loan-to-value ratio greater than 100% or debt service coverage ratio less than 1.0X, reflecting loans where the mortgage amount exceeds the collateral value or where current debt payments are greater than income from property operations; none of which related to agricultural or uncollateralized loans. As of December 31, 2012, approximately $4 million or 2% of the recorded investment had a loan-to-value ratio greater than 100% or debt service coverage ratio less than 1.0X; none of which related to agricultural or uncollateralized loans.

As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all commercial mortgage and other loans were in current status. The Company defines current in its aging of past due commercial mortgage and agricultural loans as less than 30 days past due.

There were no commercial mortgage and other loans in nonaccrual status as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Nonaccrual loans are those on which the accrual of interest has been suspended after the loans become 90 days delinquent as to principal or interest payments, or earlier when the Company has doubts about collectability and loans for which a loan specific reserve has been established. See Note 2 for further discussion regarding nonaccrual status loans.

For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there were no commercial mortgage and other loans sold or acquired.

The Company’s commercial mortgage and other loans may occasionally be involved in a troubled debt restructuring. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there were no additional funds the Company has committed to provide to borrowers involved in a troubled debt restructuring. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, there were no new troubled debt restructurings related to commercial mortgage loans, and no payment defaults on commercial mortgage and other loans that were modified as a troubled debt restructuring within the 12 months preceding each respective period.

Net Investment Income

Net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, were from the following sources:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale

     $             11,285       $             14,460       $             34,947       $             43,717  

Equity securities, available-for-sale

     -       1       -       9  

Trading account assets

     3       4       9       12  

Commercial mortgage and other loans

       3,357         3,790         9,722         10,512  

Policy loans

     2,582       2,340       7,380       7,035  

Short-term investments and cash equivalents

     9       27       56       55  

Other long-term investments

     311       2,919       1,138       3,508  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross investment income

     17,547       23,541       53,252       64,848  

Less: investment expenses

     (849     (918     (2,556     (2,704
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

     $             16,698       $             22,623       $             50,696       $             62,144  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

17


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Net

Realized investment gains (losses), net, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, were from the following sources:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities

     $ 1,435        $ 9,649       $ 4,588       $ 10,956  

Equity securities

     84        114       188       (6

Commercial mortgage and other loans

     (52     3,533       (620     3,613  

Short-term investments and cash equivalents

     1       -        2       -   

Joint ventures and limited partnerships

     (2     -        (11     -   

Derivatives

     (18,514     (13,459     6,719       (8,988
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     $             (17,048     $             (163     $             10,866       $             5,575  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The balance of and changes in each component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:

 

     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)  
          Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustment
         Net Unrealized
Investment Gains
(Losses) (1)
         Total
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
     (in thousands)  

Balance, December 31, 2012

        $ 43          $ 47,406          $ 47,449  

Change in other comprehensive income before reclassifications

        20          (32,995        (32,975

Amounts reclassified from AOCI

        -           (4,776        (4,776

Income tax benefit (expense)

        (7        13,220          13,213  
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2013

        $                 56          $                 22,855          $                 22,911  
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)  
          Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustment
         Net Unrealized
Investment Gains
(Losses) (1)
         Total
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
     (in thousands)  

Balance, December 31, 2011

        $ 22          $ 47,102          $ 47,124  

Change in component during period (2)

        (5        (1,697        (1,702
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2012

        $ 17          $ 45,405          $ 45,422  
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes cash flow hedges of ($2) million and ($1) million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, and $0 million and ($1) million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
(2) Net of taxes.

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”)

 

       Three Months Ended  
September 30, 2013
      Nine Months Ended  
September 30, 2013
 
     (in thousands)  

Amounts reclassified from AOCI (1)(2):

    

Net unrealized investment gains (losses):

    

Cash flow hedges - Currency/Interest rate (3)

     $ (188     $ (153
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities (4)

     1,707       4,929  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net unrealized investment gains (losses)

     1,519       4,776  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reclassifications for the period

     $             1,519       $             4,776  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) All amounts are shown before tax.
(2) Positive amounts indicate gains/benefits reclassified out of AOCI. Negative amounts indicate losses/costs reclassified out of AOCI.

 

18


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

(3) See Note 5 for additional information on cash flow hedges.
(4) See table below for additional information on unrealized investment gains (losses), including the impact on deferred policy acquisition and other costs, future policy benefits and policyholders’ account balances.

Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)

Net unrealized investment gains and losses on securities classified as “available-for-sale” and certain other long-term investments and other assets are included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position as a component of AOCI. Changes in these amounts include reclassification adjustments to exclude from “Other comprehensive income (loss)” those items that are included as part of “Net income” for a period that had been part of “Other comprehensive income (loss)” in earlier periods. The amounts for the periods indicated below, split between amounts related to fixed maturity securities on which an OTTI loss has been recognized, and all other net unrealized investment gains and losses, are as follows:

Net Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses on Fixed Maturity Securities on which an OTTI loss has been recognized

 

        Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investments
        Deferred
Policy
Acquisition
Costs and
Other Costs
        Future Policy
Benefits and
Policy Holder
Account
Balances
        Deferred
Income Tax
(Liability)
Benefit
        Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

Income (Loss)
Related To Net
Unrealized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 
        (in thousands)  

Balance, December 31, 2012

      $ 230         $ 95         $ 164         $ (172       $ 317  

Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period

      78         -          -          (27       51  

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income

      (141       -          -          49         (92

Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income (1)

      -          -          -          -          -   

Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs

      -          (676       -          237         (439

Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and policyholders’ account balances

      -          -          (40       14         (26
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2013

      $                 167         $                 (581       $                 124         $                 101         $                 (189
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents “transfers in” related to the portion of OTTI losses recognized during the period that were not recognized in earnings for securities with no prior OTTI loss.

All Other Net Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses in AOCI

 

    Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investments (1)
  Deferred
Policy
Acquisition
Costs and
Other Costs
        Future Policy
Benefits and
Policy Holder
Account
Balances
        Deferred
Income Tax
(Liability)
Benefit
        Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Related To  Net
Unrealized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 
        (in thousands)  

Balance, December 31, 2012

      $ 89,750          $ (26,309       $             9,001         $ (25,354       $             47,088  

Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period

      (39,209        -         -                     13,723         (25,486

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income

      (4,635        -         -         1,622         (3,013

Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income (2)

      -          -         -         -         -  

Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs

      -                      12,493         -         (4,372       8,121  

Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits balances and policyholders’ account balances

      -          -         (5,640       1,974         (3,666
   

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2013

    $             45,906        $ (13,816     $ 3,361       $ (12,407     $ 23,044  
   

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

19


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

 

(1) Includes cash flow hedges. See Note 5 for information on cash flow hedges.
(2) Represents “transfers out” related to the portion of OTTI losses recognized during the period that were not recognized in earnings for securities with no prior OTTI loss.

The table below presents net unrealized gains (losses) on investments by asset class as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30,
2013
    December 31,
2012
 
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturity securities on which an OTTI loss has been recognized

     $ 167       $ 230  

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale—all other

     47,001       89,176  

Equity securities, available-for-sale

     19       78  

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges (1)

     (2,486     (1,327

Other investments

     1,372       1,823  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments

     $             46,073       $             89,980  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) See Note 5 for more information on cash flow hedges.

Duration of Gross Unrealized Loss Positions for Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities

The following table shows the fair value and gross unrealized losses aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual fixed maturity securities and equity securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2013  
     Less than twelve months      Twelve months or more      Total  
       Fair Value        Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
       Fair Value        Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
       Fair Value        Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
 
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale

                 

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions

     $ 2,607        $ 175        $ -        $ -        $ 2,607        $ 175  

Corporate securities

     159,566        7,668        536        83        160,102        7,751  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     398        10        274        5        672        15  

Asset-backed securities

     11,410        71        595        62        12,005        133  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     1,014        50        -        -        1,014        50  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $             174,995        $             7,974        $             1,405        $             150        $             176,400        $             8,124  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities, available-for-sale

     $ 38        $ 3        $ -        $ -        $ 38        $ 3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2012  
     Less than twelve months      Twelve months or more      Total  
       Fair Value        Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
       Fair Value        Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
       Fair Value        Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
 
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale

                 

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions

     $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -  

Corporate securities

     20,938        241        1,014        121        21,952        362  

Asset-backed securities

     2,500        8        569        87        3,069        95  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     -        -        484        9        484        9  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     -        -        -        -        -        -  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $             23,438        $             249        $             2,067        $             217        $             25,505        $             466  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities, available-for-sale

     $ 25        $ 5        $ -        $ -        $ 25        $ 5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The gross unrealized losses, related to fixed maturities at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, are composed of $7.9 million and $0.2 million, respectively, related to high or highest quality securities based on National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or “NAIC”, or equivalent rating and $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, related to other than high or highest quality securities based on NAIC or equivalent rating. At both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, none of the gross unrealized losses represented declines in value of greater than 20%. At both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the $0.2 million of gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more were concentrated in

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

asset-backed securities and corporate securities. In accordance with its policy described in Note 2, the Company concluded that an adjustment to earnings for other-than-temporary impairments for these securities was not warranted at September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012. These conclusions are based on a detailed analysis of the underlying credit and cash flows on each security. The gross unrealized losses are primarily attributable to credit spread widening and increased liquidity discounts. At September 30, 2013, the Company does not intend to sell the securities and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis.

At September 30, 2013, none of the gross unrealized losses related to equity securities, represented declines in value of greater than 20%, all of which have been in that position for less than nine months. At December 31, 2012, none of the gross unrealized losses represented declines of greater than 20%, all of which have been in that position for less than nine months. In accordance with its policy described in Note 2, the Company concluded that an adjustment for other-than-temporary impairments for these equity securities was not warranted at September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012.

4.    FAIR VALUE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Fair Value Measurement – Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The authoritative fair value guidance establishes a framework for measuring fair value that includes a hierarchy used to classify the inputs used in measuring fair value. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 - Fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the Company for identical assets or liabilities. The Company’s Level 1 assets and liabilities primarily include certain cash equivalents, short term investments and equity securities that trade on an active exchange market.

Level 2 - Fair value is based on significant inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability through corroboration with observable market data. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, quoted market prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, and other market observable inputs. The Company’s Level 2 assets and liabilities include: fixed maturities (corporate public and private bonds, most government securities, certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, etc.), certain equity securities (mutual funds, which do not actively trade and are priced based on a net asset value), certain short-term investments and certain cash equivalents (primarily commercial paper), and certain over-the-counter derivatives.

Level 3 - Fair value is based on at least one or more significant unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. The assets and liabilities in this category may require significant judgment or estimation in determining the fair value. The Company’s Level 3 assets and liabilities primarily include: certain private fixed maturities and equity securities, certain manually priced public equity securities and fixed maturities, certain highly structured over-the-counter derivative contracts, certain real estate funds for which the Company is the general partner, and embedded derivatives resulting from certain products with guaranteed benefits.

Assets and Liabilities by Hierarchy Level – The tables below present the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of the dates indicated.

 

     As of September 30, 2013  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Netting (1)     Total  
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities, available for sale:

             

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies

   $ -       $ 29,090      $ -       $ -      $ 29,090  

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions

     -         4,613        -         -        4,613  

Foreign government bonds

     -         12,478        -         -        12,478  

Corporate securities

     -                         743,096        4,585        -                         747,681  

Asset-backed securities

     -         36,646                      23,969        -        60,615  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     -         69,683        -         -        69,683  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     -         32,377        -         -        32,377  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total

     -         927,983        28,554        -        956,537  

Trading account assets:

             

Equity securities

     -         -         1,415        -        1,415  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total

     -         -         1,415        -        1,415  

Equity securities, available for sale:

     -         57        76        -        133  

Short-term investments

     896        4,998        -         -        5,894  

Cash equivalents

                    1,579        7,998        -         -        9,577  

Other long-term investments

     -         8,079        -                       (5,515     2,564  

Reinsurance recoverables

     -         -         22,495        -        22,495  

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

     As of September 30, 2013  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Netting (1)     Total  
     (in thousands)  

Receivables from parents and affiliates

   $ -       $ 7,225      $ 4,128      $ -      $ 11,353  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total excluding separate account assets

     2,475        956,340        56,668        (5,515     1,009,968  

Separate account assets (2)

     34,907        9,498,682        6,504        -        9,540,093  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 37,382      $             10,455,022      $ 63,172      $ (5,515   $             10,550,061  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Future policy benefits

     -         -         41,569        -        41,569  

Other liabilities

     -         5,515        -         (5,515     -   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ -       $ 5,515      $ 41,569      $ (5,515   $ 41,569  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     As of December 31, 2012  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Netting (1)     Total  
     (in thousands)  

Fixed maturities, available for sale:

             

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies

   $ -       $ 31,308      $ -       $ -     $ 31,308  

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions

     -         2,949        -         -        2,949  

Foreign government bonds

     -         13,150        -         -        13,150  

Corporate securities

     -         804,953        6,073        -        811,026  

Asset-backed securities

     -         45,126        18,301        -        63,427  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     -         78,223        -         -        78,223  

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     -         65,988        -         -        65,988  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total

     -         1,041,697        24,374        -        1,066,071  

Trading account assets:

             

Equity securities

     -         -         1,390        -        1,390  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total

     -         -         1,390        -        1,390  

Equity securities, available for sale:

     250        64        1,067        -        1,381  

Short-term investments

     2,226        -         -         -        2,226  

Cash equivalents

     -         49,774        -         -        49,774  

Other long-term investments

     -         24,328        -         (12,090     12,238  

Reinsurance recoverables

     -         -         85,166        -        85,166  

Receivables from parents and affiliates

     -         7,940        998        -        8,938  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total excluding separate account assets

     2,476        1,123,803        112,995        (12,090     1,227,184  

Separate account assets (2)

     21,876        8,345,703        6,201        -        8,373,780  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $             24,352      $ 9,469,506      $             119,196      $             (12,090   $ 9,600,964  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Future policy benefits

     -         -         116,673        -        116,673  

Other liabilities

     -         12,090        -         (12,090     -   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ -       $ 12,090      $ 116,673      $ (12,090   $ 116,673  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

(1) “Netting” amounts represent the impact of offsetting asset and liability positions held within the same counterparty.

(2) Separate account assets represent segregated funds that are invested for certain customers. Investment risks associated with market value changes are borne by the customers, except to the extent of minimum guarantees made by the Company with respect to certain accounts. Separate account assets classified as Level 3 consist primarily of real estate and real estate investment funds. Separate account liabilities are not included in the above table as they are reported at contract value and not fair value in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statement of Financial Position.

The methods and assumptions the Company uses to estimate the fair value of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below.

Fixed Maturity Securities – The fair values of the Company’s public fixed maturity securities are generally based on prices obtained from independent pricing services. Prices for each security are generally sourced from multiple pricing vendors, and a vendor hierarchy is maintained by asset type based on historical pricing experience and vendor expertise. The Company ultimately uses the price from the pricing service highest in the vendor hierarchy based on the respective asset type. Consistent with the fair value hierarchy described above, securities with validated quotes from pricing services are generally reflected within Level 2, as they are primarily based on observable pricing for similar assets and/or other market observable inputs. If the pricing information received from third party pricing services is not reflective of market activity or other inputs observable in the market, the Company may challenge the price through a formal process with the pricing service. If the pricing service updates the price to be more consistent with the presented market observations, the security remains within Level 2.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

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Internally-developed valuations or indicative broker quotes are also used to determine fair value in circumstances where vendor pricing is not available, or where the Company ultimately concludes that pricing information received from the independent pricing service is not reflective of market activity. If the Company concludes the values from both pricing services and brokers are not reflective of market activity, it may over-ride the information with an internally-developed valuation. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, over-rides on a net basis were not material. Pricing service over-rides, internally-developed valuations and indicative broker quotes are generally included in Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of private fixed maturities, which are comprised of investments in private placement securities, originated by internal private asset managers, are primarily determined using a discounted cash flow model. If the fair value is determined using pricing inputs that are observable in the market, the securities have been reflected within Level 2; otherwise a Level 3 classification is used.

Private fixed maturities also include debt investments in funds that, pay a stated coupon and, a return based upon the results of the underlying portfolios. The fair values of these securities are determined by reference to the funds’ net asset value (“NAV”). Since the NAV at which the funds trade can be observed by redemption and subscription transactions between third parties, the fair values of these investments have been reflected within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Trading Account Assets – Trading account assets are comprised of perpetual preferred stock whose fair values are determined consistent with similar instruments described below under “Equity Securities.”

Equity Securities – Equity securities consist principally of investments in common and preferred stock of publicly traded companies, perpetual preferred stock, privately traded securities, as well as mutual fund shares. The fair values of most publicly traded equity securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and are classified within Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Estimated fair values for most privately traded equity securities are determined using discounted cash flow, earnings multiple and other valuation—models that require a substantial level of judgment around inputs and therefore are classified within Level 3. The fair values of mutual fund shares that transact regularly (but do not trade in active markets because they are not publicly available) are based on transaction prices of identical fund shares and are classified within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of perpetual preferred stock are based on inputs obtained from independent pricing services that are primarily based on indicative broker quotes. As a result, the fair values of perpetual preferred stock are classified as Level 3.

Derivative Instruments – Derivatives are recorded at fair value either as assets, within “Other long-term investments,” or as liabilities, within “Other liabilities,” except for embedded derivatives which are recorded with the associated host contract. The fair values of derivative contracts can be affected by changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, credit spreads, market volatility, expected returns, non-performance risk, liquidity and other factors. Liquidity valuation adjustments are made to reflect the cost of exiting significant risk positions, and consider the bid-ask spread, maturity, complexity, and other specific attributes of the underlying derivative position.

The majority of the Company’s derivative positions are traded in the OTC derivative market and are classified within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. OTC derivatives classified within Level 2 are valued using models that utilize actively quoted or observable market input values from external market data providers, third-party pricing vendors and/or recent trading activity. The Company’s policy is to use mid-market pricing in determining its best estimate of fair value. The fair values of most OTC derivatives, including interest rate, cross currency swaps, currency forward contracts and single name credit default swaps are determined using discounted cash flow models. The fair values of European style option contracts are determined using Black-Scholes option pricing models. These models’ key inputs include the contractual terms of the respective contract, along with significant observable inputs, including interest rates, currency rates, credit spreads, equity prices, index dividend yields, non-performance risk, volatility and other factors.

The Company’s cleared interest rate swaps and credit derivatives linked to an index are valued using models that utilize actively quoted or observable market inputs obtained from external market data providers, third-party pricing vendors and/or recent trading activity. These derivatives are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

To reflect the market’s perception of its own and the counterparty’s non-performance risk, the Company incorporates additional spreads over LIBOR into the discount rate used in determining the fair value of OTC derivative assets and liabilities that are not otherwise collateralized.

Derivatives classified as Level 3 include structured products. These derivatives are valued based upon models, such as Monte Carlo simulation models and other techniques that utilize significant unobservable inputs. Level 3 methodologies are validated through periodic comparison of the Company’s fair values to external broker-dealer values. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all derivatives were classified within Level 2. See Note 5 for more details on the fair value of derivative instruments by primary underlying.

Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments – Cash equivalents and short-term investments include money market instruments, commercial paper and other highly liquid debt instruments. Certain money market instruments are valued using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible for identical assets and are primarily classified as Level 1. The remaining instruments in this category are generally fair valued based on market observable inputs and, these investments have primarily been classified within Level 2.

Separate Account Assets – Separate account assets include fixed maturity securities, treasuries, equity securities and real estate investments for which values are determined consistent with similar instruments described above under “Fixed Maturity Securities,” “Equity Securities” and “Other Long-Term Investments.”

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Receivables from Parent and Affiliates – Receivables from parent and affiliates carried at fair value include affiliated bonds within our legal entity whose fair value are determined consistent with similar securities described above under “Fixed Maturity Securities” managed by affiliated asset managers.

Reinsurance Recoverables – Reinsurance recoverables carried at fair value include the reinsurance of our living benefit guarantees on certain of our variable annuities. These guarantees are accounted for as embedded derivatives and are recorded in “Reinsurance Recoverables” or “Other Liabilities” when fair value is in an asset or liability position, respectively. The methods and assumption used to estimate the fair value are consistent with those described below in “Future Policy Benefits.” The reinsurance agreements covering these guarantees are derivatives with fair value determined in the same manner as the living benefit guarantee.

Future Policy Benefits – The liability for future policy benefits primarily includes general account liabilities for the optional living benefit features of the Company’s variable annuity contracts, including guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”), guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”) and guaranteed minimum income and withdrawal benefits (“GMIWB”), accounted for as embedded derivatives. The fair values of the GMAB, GMWB, and GMIWB liabilities are calculated as the present value of future expected benefit payments to contractholders less the present value of assessed rider fees attributable to the optional living benefit feature. This methodology could result in either a liability or contra-liability balance, given changing capital market conditions and various contractholder behavior assumptions. Since there is no observable active market for the transfer of these obligations, the valuations are calculated using internally developed models with option pricing techniques. The models are based on a risk neutral valuation framework and incorporate premiums for risks inherent in valuation techniques, inputs, and the general uncertainty around the timing and amount of future cash flows. The determination of these risk premiums requires the use of management judgment.

The significant inputs to the valuation models for these embedded derivatives include capital market assumptions, such as interest rate and implied volatility assumptions, the Company’s market-perceived risk of its own NPR, as well as actuarially determined assumptions, including contractholder behavior, such as lapse rates, benefit utilization rates, withdrawal rates, and mortality rates. Since many of these assumptions are unobservable and are considered to be significant inputs to the liability valuation, the liability included in future policy benefits has been reflected within Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Capital market inputs and actual contractholders’ account values are updated each quarter based on capital market conditions as of the end of the quarter, including interest rates, equity markets, and implied volatility. In the risk neutral valuation, interest rates are used to both grow the contractholders’ account values and discount all projected future cash flows. The Company’s discount rate assumption is based on the LIBOR swap curve adjusted for an additional spread over LIBOR to reflect NPR.

Actuarial assumptions, including contractholder behavior and mortality, are reviewed at least annually, and updated based upon emerging experience, future expectations and other data, including any observable market data, such as available industry studies or market transactions such as acquisitions and reinsurance transactions. These assumptions are generally updated in the third quarter of each year unless a material change that the Company feels is indicative of a long term trend is observed in an interim period.

Transfers between Levels 1 and 2 – There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, $2.7 million of equity securities, available for sale transferred from Level 1 to Level 2. The assets that transferred were mutual funds that were priced on a net asset value. This transfer was the result of an ongoing monitoring assessment of pricing inputs to ensure appropriateness of the level classification in the fair value hierarchy. During the three months ended September 30, 2012, there were no transfers between level 1 and 2. Transfers between levels are generally reported at the values as of the beginning of the period in which the transfers occur.

Level 3 Assets and Liabilities by Price Source – The tables below present the balances of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value with their corresponding pricing sources.

 

     As of September 30, 2013  
     Internal (1)          External (2)          Total  
     (in thousands)  

Corporate securities

   $ 4,585      $ -       $ 4,585  

Asset-backed securities

     53        23,916        23,969  

Equity securities

     76        1,415        1,491  

Reinsurance recoverables

     22,495        -         22,495  

Receivables from parents and affiliates

     -         4,128        4,128  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Sub-total excluding separate account assets

     27,209        29,459        56,668  

Separate account assets

     6,504        -         6,504  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $           33,713      $           29,459      $ 63,172  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future policy benefits

   $ 41,569      $ -       $           41,569  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 41,569      $ -       $ 41,569  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

     As of December 31, 2012  
     Internal (1)          External (2)          Total  
     (in thousands)  

Corporate securities

   $ 5,157      $ 916      $ 6,073  

Asset-backed securities

     56        18,245        18,301  

Equity securities

     1,067        1,390        2,457  

Reinsurance recoverables

     85,166        -         85,166  

Receivables from parents and affiliates

     -         998        998  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Sub-total excluding separate account assets

     91,446        21,549        112,995  

Separate account assets

     6,201        -         6,201  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 97,647      $           21,549      $           119,196  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future policy benefits

   $ 116,673      $ -       $ 116,673  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $           116,673      $ -       $ 116,673  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents valuations which could incorporate both internally-derived and market inputs. See below for additional information related to internally-developed valuation for significant items in the above table.
(2) Represents unadjusted prices from independent pricing services and independent non-binding broker quotes where pricing inputs are not readily available.

Quantitative Information Regarding Internally Priced Level 3 Assets and Liabilities – The tables below present quantitative information on significant internally-priced Level 3 assets and liabilities.

 

    As of September 30, 2013
    Fair Value     Valuation Techniques   Unobservable Inputs  

Minimum

 

Maximum

  Weighted
Average
   

Impact of Increase
in Input on Fair
Value (1)

    (in thousands)

Assets:

             

Corporate securities

  $ 4,585     Discounted cash flow   Discount rate   11.2%   15.0%     12.23%      Decrease
            Market comparables   EBITDA multiples (2)   6.0X   7.5X     6.09X     Increase

Reinsurance recoverables

  $ 22,495     Fair values are determined in the same manner as future policy benefits

Liabilities:

   

Future policy benefits (3)

  $ 41,569     Discounted cash flow   Lapse rate (4)   0%   11%     Decrease
      NPR spread (5)   0.08%   1.32%     Decrease
      Utilization rate (6)   70%   94%     Increase
      Withdrawal rate (7)   86%   100%     Increase
      Mortality rate (8)   0%   13%     Decrease
                Equity Volatility curve   16%   28%           Increase
    As of December 31, 2012
    Fair Value     Valuation Techniques   Unobservable Inputs  

Minimum

 

Maximum

  Weighted
Average
   

Impact of Increase
in Input on Fair
Value (1)

    (in thousands)

Assets:

             

Corporate securities

  $ 5,157     Discounted cash flow   Discount rate   11.50%   17.50%     13.39%      Decrease

Reinsurance recoverables

  $ 85,166     Fair values are determined in the same manner as future policy benefits

Liabilities:

             

Future policy benefits (3)

  $ 116,673     Discounted cash flow   Lapse rate (4)   0%   14%     Decrease
      NPR spread (5)   0.20%   1.60%     Decrease
      Utilization rate (6)   70%   94%     Increase
      Withdrawal rate (7)   85%   100%     Increase
      Mortality rate (8)   0%   13%     Decrease
                Equity Volatility curve   19%   34%           Increase

 

(1) Conversely, the impact of a decrease in input would have the opposite impact for the fair value as that presented in the table.
(2) EBITDA multiples represent multiples of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and are amounts used when the reporting entity has determined that market participants would use such multiples when pricing the investments.
(3) Future policy benefits primarily represent general account liabilities for the optional living benefit features of the Company’s variable annuity contracts which are accounted for as embedded derivatives. Since the valuation methodology for these liabilities uses a range of inputs that vary at the contract level over the cash flow projection period, presenting a range, rather than weighted average, is a more meaningful representation of the unobservable inputs used in the valuation.
(4) Base lapse rates are adjusted at the contract level based on a comparison of the benefit amount and the current contractholder account value as well as other factors, such as the applicability of any surrender charges. A dynamic lapse adjustment reduces the base lapse rate when the benefit amount is greater than the account value, as in-the-money contracts are less likely to lapse. Lapse rates are also generally assumed to be lower for the period where surrender charges apply.

 

25


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

(5) To reflect NPR, the Company incorporates an additional spread over LIBOR into the discount rate used in the valuation of individual living benefit contracts in a liability position and generally not to those in a contra-liability position. In determining the NPR spread, the Company reflects the financial strength ratings of the Company and its affiliates as these are insurance liabilities and senior to debt. The additional spread over LIBOR is determined by utilizing the credit spreads associated with issuing funding agreements, adjusted for any illiquidity risk premium.
(6) The utilization rate assumption estimates the percentage of contracts that will utilize the benefit during the contract duration, and begin lifetime withdrawals at various time intervals from contract inception. The remaining contractholders are assumed to either begin lifetime withdrawals immediately or never utilize the benefit. These assumptions vary based on the product type, the age of the contractholder and the age of the contract. The impact of changes in these assumptions is highly dependent on the contract type and age of the contractholder at the time of the sale and the timing of the first lifetime income withdrawal.
(7) The withdrawal rate assumption estimates the magnitude of annual contractholder withdrawals relative to the maximum allowable amount under the contract. The fair value of the liability will generally increase the closer the withdrawal rate is to 100%.
(8) Range reflects the mortality rate for the vast majority of business with living benefits, with contractholders ranging from 35 to 90 years old. While the majority of living benefits have a minimum age requirement, certain benefits do not have an age restriction. This results in contractholders for certain benefits with mortality rates approaching 0%. Based on historical experience, the Company applies a set of age and duration specific mortality rate adjustments compared to standard industry tables. A mortality improvement assumption is also incorporated into the overall mortality table.

Interrelationships Between Unobservable Inputs – In addition to the sensitivities of fair value measurements to changes in each unobservable input in isolation, as reflected in the table above, interrelationships between these inputs may also exist, such that a change in one unobservable input may give rise to a change in another, or multiple, inputs. Examples of such interrelationships for significant internally-priced Level 3 assets and liabilities are as follows:

Corporate Securities – The rate used to discount future cash flows reflects current risk free rates plus credit and liquidity spread requirements that market participants would use to value an asset. The discount rate may be influenced by many factors, including market cycles, expectations of default, collateral, term, and asset complexity. Each of these factors can influence discount rates, either in isolation, or in response to other factors.

Future Policy Benefits – The unobservable contractholder behavior inputs related to the liability for the optional living benefit features of the Company’s variable annuity contracts included in future policy benefits are generally based on emerging experience, future expectations and other data. While experience for these products is still emerging, the Company expects efficient benefit utilization and withdrawal rates to generally be correlated with lapse rates. However, contractholder behavior is generally highly dependent on the facts and circumstances surrounding the individual contractholder, such as their liquidity needs or tax situation, which could drive lapse behavior independent of other contractholder behavior assumptions. The dynamic lapse adjustment assumes lower lapses when the benefit amount is greater than the account value, as in-the-money contracts are less likely to lapse. Therefore, to the extent more efficient contractholder behavior results in greater in-the-moneyness at the contract level, the dynamic lapse function will reduce lapse rates for those contracts. Similarly, to the extent that increases in equity volatility are correlated with overall declines in the capital markets, the dynamic lapse function will lower overall lapse rates as contracts become more in-the-money.

Separate Account Assets – In addition to the significant internally-priced Level 3 assets and liabilities presented and described above, the Company also has internally-priced separate account assets reported within Level 3. Changes in the fair value of separate account assets are borne by customers and thus are offset by changes in separate account liabilities on the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statement of Financial Position. As a result, changes in value associated with these investments do not impact the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statement of Operations. In addition, fees earned by the Company related to the management of most separate account assets classified as Level 3 do not change due to changes in the fair value of these investments. Quantitative information about significant internally-priced Level 3 separate account assets is as follows:

Other Invested Assets – Separate account assets include $6.5 million and $6.2 million of investments in real estate fund as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, that are classified as Level 3 and reported at fair value which is determined by the Company’s equity in net assets of the entities. Fair value estimates of real estate are based on property appraisal reports prepared by independent real estate appraisers. Key inputs and assumptions to the appraisal process include rental income and expense amounts, related growth rates, discount rates and capitalization rates. Because of the subjective nature of inputs and the judgment involved in the appraisal process, real estate investments are typically included in the Level 3 Classification. Key unobservable inputs to real estate valuation include capitalization rates, which ranged from 5.00% to 9.50% (7.08% weighted average) as of September 30, 2013 and 5.50% to 9.50% (7.30% weighted average) as of December 31, 2012 and discount rates which ranged from 7.00% to 11.00% (8.17% weighted average) as of September 30, 2013 and 7.00% to 11.50% (8.30% weighted average) as of December 31, 2012.

Valuation Process for Fair Value Measurements Categorized within Level 3 – The Company has established an internal control infrastructure over the valuation of financial instruments that requires ongoing oversight by its various Business Groups. These management control functions are segregated from the trading and investing functions. For invested assets, the Company has established oversight teams, often in the form of Pricing Committees within each asset management group. The teams, which typically include representation from investment, accounting, operations, legal and other disciplines are responsible for overseeing and monitoring the pricing of the Company’s investments and performing periodic due diligence reviews of independent pricing services. An actuarial valuation team oversees the valuation of optional living benefit features of the Company’s variable annuity contracts.

The Company has also established policies and guidelines that require the establishment of valuation methodologies and consistent application of such methodologies. These policies and guidelines govern the use of inputs and price source hierarchies and provide controls around the valuation processes. These controls include appropriate review and analysis of investment prices against market activity or indicators of reasonableness, approval of price source changes, price overrides, methodology changes and classification of fair value hierarchy levels. For optional living benefit features of the Company’s variable annuity products, the actuarial valuation unit periodically performs baseline testing of contract input data and

 

26


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

actuarial assumptions are reviewed at least annually, and updated based upon emerging experience, future expectations and other data, including any observable market data, such as available industry studies. The valuation policies and guidelines are reviewed and updated as appropriate.

Within the trading and investing functions, the Company has established policies and procedures that relate to the approval of all new transaction types, transaction pricing sources and fair value hierarchy coding within the financial reporting system. For variable annuity product changes or new launches of optional living benefit features, the actuarial valuation unit validates input logic and new product features and agrees new input data directly to source documents.

Changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities – The following tables provide summaries of the changes in fair values of Level 3 assets and liabilities as of the dates indicated, as well as the portion of gains or losses included in income attributable to unrealized gains or losses related to those assets and liabilities still held at the end of their respective periods.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Fixed Maturities Available For Sale              
     Corporate
Securities
    Asset-Backed
Securities
    Trading
Account Assets-
Equity
Securities
    Equity Securities,
Available for
Sale
 
     (in thousands)  

Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)

   $                 4,650     $                 26,572     $                 1,440     $                 1,073  

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     -        -        -        483  

Asset management fees and other income

     -        -        (25     -   

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     (115     71       -        2  

Net investment income

     9       48       -        -   

Purchases

     53       (1     -        -   

Sales

     (1     -        -        (1,482

Issuances

     -        -        -        -   

Settlements

     (11     (724     -        -   

Transfers into Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -        -   

Transfers out of Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -        -   

Other (4)

     -        (1,997     -        -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 4,585     $ 23,969     $ 1,415     $ 76  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period relating to those

        

Level 3 assets that were still held at the end of the period (3):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

   $ -      $ -      $ -      $ -   

Asset management fees and other income

   $ -      $ -      $ (25   $ -   
     Three Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Receivables from
Parents and
Affiliates
    Separate
Account Assets (1)
    Future Policy
Benefits
    Reinsurance
Recoverables
 
     (in thousands)  

Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)

   $                     2,149     $                 6,429     $                 35,400     $                 (37,310

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     -        -        (64,380     49,371  

Asset management fees and other income

     -        -        -        -   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

     -        75       -        -   

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     (18     -        -        -   

Net investment income

     -        -        -        -   

Purchases

     1,997       -        -        10,434  

Sales

     (1,997     -        -        -   

Issuances

     -        -        (12,589     -   

Settlements

     -        -        -        -   

Transfers into Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -        -   

Transfers out of Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -        -   

Other (4)

     1,997       -          -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 4,128     $ 6,504     $ (41,569   $ 22,495  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

27


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Receivables from
Parents and
Affiliates
    Separate
Account Assets (1)
    Future Policy
Benefits
    Reinsurance
Recoverables
 
     (in thousands)  

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period relating to those

        

Level 3 assets that were still held at the end of the period (3):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

   $ -      $ -      $ (64,766   $ 49,559  

Asset management fees and other income

   $ -      $ -      $ -      $ -   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

   $ -      $ 75     $ -      $ -   
     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Fixed Maturities - Available For  Sale              
     Corporate
Securities
    Asset-Backed
Securities
    Trading
Account Assets-
Equity
Securities
    Equity
Securities,
Available for
Sale
 
     (in thousands)  

Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)

   $                   6,073     $                 18,301     $                 1,390     $ 1,067  

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     (86     -        -        483  

Asset management fees and other income

     -        -        25       -   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

     -        -        -        -   

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     19       129       -        8  

Net investment income

     25       206       -        -   

Purchases

     323       12,016       -        -   

Sales

     (1     -        -                       (1,482

Issuances

     -        -        -        -   

Settlements

     (827     (4,686     -        -   

Transfers into Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -        -   

Transfers out of Level 3 (2)

     (941     -        -        -   

Other (4)

     -        (1,997     -        -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 4,585     $ 23,969     $ 1,415     $ 76  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period relating to those

        

Level 3 assets that were still held at the end of the period (3):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

   $ -      $ -      $ -      $ -   

Asset management fees and other income

   $ -      $ -      $ 25     $ -   
     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Receivables from
Parents and
Affiliates
    Separate
Account Assets (1)
    Future Policy
Benefits
    Reinsurance
Recoverables
 
     (in thousands)  

Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 998     $             6,201     $                 (116,673     85,164  

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     -        -        111,505                       (92,634

Asset management fees and other income

     -        -        -        -   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

     -        303       -        -   

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     (18     -        -        -   

Net investment income

     -        -        -        -   

Purchases

     3,648       -        -        29,965  

Sales

                     (2,497     -        -        -   

Issuances

     -        -        (36,401     -   

Settlements

     -        -        -        -   

Transfers into Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -        -   

Transfers out of Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -        -   

Other (4)

     1,997       -        -        -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 4,128     $ 6,504     $ (41,569     22,495  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013  
     Receivables from
Parents and
Affiliates
     Separate
Account Assets (1)
     Future Policy
Benefits
     Reinsurance
Recoverables
 
     (in thousands)  

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period relating to those

           

Level 3 assets that were still held at the end of the period (3):

           

Included in earnings:

           

Realized investment gains (losses), net

   $ -       $ -       $ 110,445        (92,005

Asset management fees and other income

   $ -       $ -       $ -         -   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

   $ -       $ 302      $ -         -   

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2012  
     Fixed Maturities Available For Sale              
     Corporate
Securities
    Asset-Backed
Securities
    Commercial
Mortgage-
Backed
Securities
    Equity
Securities,
Available for
Sale
    Other Trading
Account Assets-
Equity Securities
 
     (in thousands)  

Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)

   $                 7,346     $                 16,129     $                 2,666     $                 1,086                       1,564  

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

          

Included in earnings:

          

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     (218     -       -       (31     -  

Asset management fees and other income

     -       -       -       -       (173

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

     -       -       -       -       -  

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     122       46       (170     9       -  

Net investment income

     7       77       -       -       -  

Purchases

     14       -       -       -       -  

Sales

     -       -       -       -       -  

Issuances

     -       -       -       -       -  

Settlements

     (785     (2,119     (2,496     -       -  

Transfers into Level 3 (2)

     -       200       -       -       -  

Transfers out of Level 3 (2)

     -       -       -       -       -  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 6,486     $ 14,333     $ -     $ 1,064       1,391  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period relating to those

          

Level 3 assets that were still held at the end of the period (3):

          

Included in earnings:

          

Realized investment gains (losses), net

   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -       -  

Asset management fees and other income

   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -       (173

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2012  
     Reinsurance
Recoverables
     Separate
Account
Assets (1)
     Future Policy
Benefits
 
     (in thousands)  

Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 66,642      $ 6,039      $ (90,556

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     23,057        -        (31,375

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

     -        47        -  

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     -        -        -  

Net investment income

     -        -        -  

Purchases

     7,687        -        -  

Sales

     -        -        -  

Issuances

     -        -        (9,726

Settlements

     -        -        -  

Transfers into Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -  

Transfers out of Level 3 (2)

     -        -        -  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 97,386      $             6,086        (131,657
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period relating to those

        

Level 3 assets that were still held at the end of the period (3):

        

Included in earnings:

        

Realized investment gains (losses), net

   $             23,505      $ -      $             (31,923

Asset management fees and other income

   $ -      $ -      $ -  

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

   $ -      $ 46      $ -  

 

29


Table of Contents

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012  
     Fixed Maturities Available For Sale              
     Corporate
Securities
    Asset-Backed
Securities
    Commercial
Mortgage-
Backed
Securities
    Equity
Securities,
Available
for Sale
    Other Trading
Account Assets-
Equity Securities
 
     (in thousands)  

Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 1,755     $ 18,627     $ -      $ 1,144     $ 1,569  

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

          

Included in earnings:

          

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     (718     76       -        (63     -   

Asset management fees and other income

     -        -        -        -        (178

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     119       316       (127     (17     -   

Net investment income

     4       275       -        -        -   

Purchases

     4,636       -        -        -        -   

Sales

     (30     -        -        -        -   

Issuances

     -        -        -        -        -   

Settlements

     (1,082     (4,897     (2,496     -        -   

Transfers into Level 3 (2)

     4,826       200       2,623       -        -   

Transfers out of Level 3 (2)

     (3,024     (264     -        -        -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ 6,486     $ 14,333     $ -      $           1,064     $           1,391  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period relating to those

          

Level 3 assets that were still held at the end of the period (3):

          

Included in earnings:

          

Realized investment gains (losses), net

   $                     -      $             -      $             -      $ -      $ -   

Asset management fees and other income

   $ -      $ -      $ -      $ -      $ (179

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012  
     Other
Long-Term
Investments
    Reinsurance
Recoverables
     Separate
Account Assets (1)
     Future Policy
Benefits
 
     (in thousands)  

Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)

   $                 18     $                 53,677      $                 5,995      $ (76,996

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

          

Included in earnings:

          

Realized investment gains (losses), net

     (18     22,842        -         (27,839

Asset management fees and other income

     -        -         -                                 -   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

     -        -         91        -   

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     -        -         -         -   

Net investment income

     -        -         -         -   

Purchases

     -        20,867        -         -   

Sales

     -        -         -         -   

Issuances

     -        -         -         (26,822

Settlements

     -        -         -         -   

Transfers into Level 3 (2)

     -        -         -         -   

Transfers out of Level 3 (2)

     -        -         -         -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)

   $ -      $ 97,386      $ 6,086        (131,657
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period relating to those

          

Level 3 assets that were still held at the end of the period (3):

          

Included in earnings:

          

Realized investment gains (losses), net

   $ -      $ 23,273      $ -       $ (28,616

Asset management fees and other income

   $ -      $ -       $ -       $ -   

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

   $ -      $ -       $ 90      $ -   

 

(1) Separate account assets represent segregated funds that are invested for certain customers. Investment risks associated with market value changes are borne by the customers, except to the extent of minimum guarantees made by the Company with respect to certain accounts. Separate account liabilities are not included in the above table as they are reported at contract value and not fair value in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position.
(2) Transfers into or out of Level 3 are generally reported as the value as of the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurs.
(3) Unrealized gains or losses related to assets still held at the end of the period do not include amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts.
(4) Other primarily represents reclasses of certain assets between reporting categories.

Transfers – Transfers into Level 3 are generally the result of unobservable inputs utilized within valuation methodologies and the use of indicative broker quotes for assets that were previously valued using observable inputs. Transfers out of Level 3 are generally due to the use of observable inputs in valuation methodologies as well as the utilization of pricing service information for certain assets that the Company is able to validate.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The table below presents the carrying amount and fair value by fair value hierarchy level of certain financial instruments that are not reported at fair value. However, in some cases, as described below, the carrying amount equals or approximates fair value.

 

     September 30, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     Fair Value      Carrying
Amount (1)
     Fair Value      Carrying
Amount
 
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total      Total      Total      Total  
     (in thousands)  

Assets:

                    

Commercial mortgage and other loans

   $ -      $ -      $ 291,123      $ 291,123      $ 283,117      $ 237,932      $ 221,728  

Policy loans

     -        -        220,412        220,412        175,059        254,824        173,622  

Cash and cash equivalents

             2,083        12,844        -        14,927        14,927        822        822  

Accrued investment income

     -        14,451        -        14,451        14,451        15,782        15,782  

Receivables from parents and affiliates

     -        19,189        -        19,189        19,109        20,462        20,284  

Other assets

     -        3,960        -        3,960        3,960        4,886        4,887  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,083      $ 50,444      $     511,535      $     564,062      $     510,623      $     534,708      $     437,125  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

                    

Policyholders’ Account Balances - Investment Contracts

   $ -      $     125,080      $ 10,961      $ 136,041      $ 138,559      $ 133,268      $ 134,119  

Cash collateral for loaned securities

     -        8,608        -        8,608        8,608        2,134        2,134  

Short-term debt

     -        24,243        -        24,243        24,000        24,377        24,000  

Long-term debt

     -        87,340        -        87,340        85,000        86,785        85,000  

Payables to parent and affiliates

     -        5,215        -        5,215        5,215        2,470        2,470  

Other liabilities

     -        38,039        -        38,039        38,039        35,792        35,792  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ -      $ 288,525      $ 10,961      $ 299,486      $ 299,421      $ 284,826      $ 283,515  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Carrying values presented herein differ from those in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position because certain items within the respective financial statement captions are not considered financial instruments or out of scope under authoritative guidance relating to disclosures of the fair value of financial instruments. Financial statement captions excluded from the above table are not considered financial instruments.

The fair values presented above have been determined by using available market information and by applying market valuation methodologies, as described in more detail below.

Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans

The fair value of most commercial mortgage loans is based upon the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the appropriate U.S. Treasury rate plus an appropriate credit spread for similar quality loans. The quality ratings for these loans, a primary determinant of the credit spreads and a significant component of the pricing process, are based on an internally-developed methodology.

Policy Loans

The fair value of policy loans is calculated using a discounted cash flow model based upon current U.S. Treasury rates and historical loan repayment patterns.

Cash, Accrued Investment Income, Receivables from Parent and Affiliates and Other Assets

The Company believes that due to the short-term nature of certain assets, the carrying value approximates fair value. These assets include: cash, accrued investment income, and other assets that meet the definition of financial instruments, including receivables, such as unsettled trades and accounts receivable. Also included in receivables from parents and affiliates is an affiliated note whose fair value is determined in the same manner as the underlying debt described below under “Short-Term and Long-Term Debt”.

Policyholders’ Account Balances - Investment Contracts

Only the portion of policyholders’ account balances related to products that are investment contracts (those without significant mortality or morbidity risk) are reflected in the table above. For fixed deferred annuities, payout annuities and other similar contracts without life contingencies, fair values are derived using discounted projected cash flows based on interest rates that are representative of the Company’s financial strength ratings, and hence reflect the Company’s own non-performance risk. For those balances that can be withdrawn by the customer at any time without prior notice or penalty, the fair value is the amount estimated to be payable to the customer as of the reporting date, which is generally the carrying value.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Cash Collateral for Loaned Securities

This represents the collateral received or paid in connection with loaning or borrowing securities, similar to the securities sold under agreement to repurchase below. For these transactions, the carrying value of the related asset/liability approximates fair value as they equal the amount of cash collateral received/paid.

Short-Term and Long-Term Debt

The fair value of short-term and long-term debt is generally determined by either prices obtained from independent pricing services, which are validated by the Company, or discounted cash flow models. These fair values consider the Company’s own non-performance risk. Discounted cash flow models predominately use market observable inputs such as the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for debt and financial instruments with similar terms and remaining maturities. For commercial paper issuances and other debt with a maturity of less than 90 days, the carrying value approximates fair value.

Other Liabilities and Payables to Parent and Affiliates

Other liabilities and Payables to parent and affiliates are primarily payables, such as unsettled trades, drafts, escrow deposits and accrued expense payables. Due to the short term until settlement of most of these liabilities, the Company believes that carrying value approximates fair value.

5.    DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

Types of Derivative Instruments and Derivative Strategies

Interest Rate Contracts

Interest rate swaps are used by the Company to reduce risks from changes in interest rates, manage interest rate exposures arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities (including duration mismatches) and to hedge against changes in the value of assets it owns or anticipates acquiring or selling. Swaps may be attributed to specific assets or liabilities or may be used on a portfolio basis. Under interest rate swaps, the Company agrees with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional principal amount. Generally, no cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract and no principal payments are made by either party. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made by one counterparty at each due date.

Equity Contracts

Equity index options are contracts which will settle in cash based on differentials in the underlying indices at the time of exercise and the strike price. The Company uses combinations of purchases and sales of equity index options to hedge the effects of adverse changes in equity indices within a predetermined range. These hedges do not qualify for hedge accounting.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Currency derivatives, including currency swaps, are used by the Company to reduce risks from changes in currency exchange rates with respect to investments denominated in foreign currencies that the Company either holds or intends to acquire or sell.

Under currency swaps, the Company agrees with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between one currency and another at an exchange rate and calculated by reference to an agreed principal amount. Generally, the principal amount of each currency is exchanged at the beginning and termination of the currency swap by each party. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made by one counterparty for payments made in the same currency at each due date.

Credit Contracts

Credit derivatives are used by the Company to enhance the return on the Company’s investment portfolio by creating credit exposure similar to an investment in public fixed maturity cash instruments. With credit derivatives the Company can sell credit protection on an identified name, and in return receive a quarterly premium. With credit default derivatives, this premium or credit spread generally corresponds to the difference between the yield on the referenced name’s public fixed maturity cash instruments and swap rates, at the time the agreement is executed. If there is an event of default by the referenced name, as defined by the agreement, then the Company is obligated to pay the counterparty the referenced amount of the contract and receive in return the referenced defaulted security or similar security or pay the referenced amount less the auction recovery rate. See credit derivatives written section for discussion of guarantees related to credit derivatives written. In addition to selling credit protection, the Company has purchased credit protection using credit derivatives in order to hedge specific credit exposures in the Company’s investment portfolio.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Embedded Derivatives

The Company sells variable annuity products, which may include guaranteed benefit features that are accounted for as embedded derivatives. The Company has reinsurance agreements to transfer the risk related to certain of these benefit features to an affiliate, Pruco Re. The embedded derivatives related to the living benefit features and the related reinsurance agreements are carried at fair value. These embedded derivatives are marked to market through “Realized investment gains (losses), net” based on the change in value of the underlying contractual guarantees, which are determined using valuation models, as described in Note 4.

The fair value of the living benefit feature embedded derivatives included in “Future policy benefits” was a liability of $42 million and $117 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The fair value of the embedded derivatives related to the reinsurance of certain of these benefits to Pruco Re included in “Reinsurance recoverables” was an asset of $23 million and $85 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

The Company invests in fixed maturities that, in addition to a stated coupon, provide a return based upon the results of an underlying portfolio of fixed income investments and related investment activity. The Company accounts for these investments as available-for-sale fixed maturities containing embedded derivatives. Such embedded derivatives are marked to market through “Realized investment gains (losses), net,” based upon the change in value of the underlying portfolio.

The table below provides a summary of the gross notional amount and fair value of derivatives contracts used in a non-broker-dealer capacity, excluding embedded derivatives which are recorded with the associated host, by the primary underlying. Many derivative instruments contain multiple underlyings.

 

          September 30, 2013           December 31, 2012  
          Notional
Amount
     Gross Fair Value           Notional
Amount
     Gross Fair Value  
Primary Underlying            Assets      Liabilities               Assets      Liabilities  
          (in thousands)  

Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting

Instruments:

                       

Currency/Interest Rate

                       

Currency Swaps

      $ 36,679      $ -      $ (2,663)          $ 22,332      $ 7      $ (1,330)   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Qualifying Hedges

      $ 36,679      $ -      $ (2,663)          $ 22,332      $ 7      $ (1,330)   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting

Instruments:

                       

Interest

                       

Interest Rate Swaps

      $ 57,200      $ 4,455      $         $ 57,200      $ 9,353      $  

Credit

                       

Credit Default Swaps

        9,275        7        (331)            9,275        614        (369)   

Currency/Interest Rate

                       

Currency Swaps

        10,370        -        (701)            9,115        -        (836)   

Equity

                       

Equity Options

        1,870,001        3,617        (1,820)            1,870,001        14,354        (9,555)   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Non-Qualifying Hedges

        1,946,846        8,079        (2,852)            1,945,591        24,321        (10,760)   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Derivatives (1) 

      $ 1,983,525      $   8,079      $   (5,515)          $   1,967,923      $   24,328      $   (12,090)   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) Excludes embedded derivatives which contain multiple underlyings. The fair value of these embedded derivatives was a liability of $44 million and a liability of $119 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, included in “Future policy benefits” and “Fixed maturities, available-for-sale.”

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

The following table presents recognized derivative instruments (including bifurcated embedded derivatives), and repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, that are offset in the balance sheet, and/or are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in the balance sheet.

 

     September 30, 2013  
     Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments
     Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of
Financial
Position
    Amounts
Presented in
the Statement
of Financial
Position
     Financial
Instruments/
Collateral
    Net
Amount
 
     (in thousands)  

Offsetting of Financial Assets:

            

Derivatives

   $ 8,079      $ (5,515   $ 2,564      $ 0     $         2,564  

Securities purchased under agreement to resell

     12,844        0       12,844        (12,844     0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $         20,923      $ (5,515   $         15,408      $ (12,844   $ 2,564  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:

            

Derivatives

   $ 5,515      $ (5,515   $ 0      $ 0     $ 0  

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

     0        0       0        0       0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 5,515      $         (5,515   $ 0      $                   0     $ 0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     December 31, 2012  
     Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments
     Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of
Financial
Position
    Net Amounts
Presented in
the Statement
of Financial
Position
     Financial
Instruments/
Collateral
    Net
Amount
 
     (in thousands)  

Offsetting of Financial Assets:

            

Derivatives

   $ 24,193      $ (12,090   $ 12,103      $ 0     $         12,103  

Securities purchased under agreement to resell

     49,774        0       49,774        (49,774     0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $         73,967      $         (12,090   $         61,877      $ (49,774   $ 12,103  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:

            

Derivatives

   $ 12,090      $ (12,090   $ 0      $ 0     $ 0  

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

     0        0       0        0       0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 12,090      $ (12,090   $ 0      $                   0     $ 0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

For information regarding the rights of offset associated with the derivative assets and liabilities in the table above see “Credit Risk” below. For securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase, the Company monitors the value of the securities and maintains collateral, as appropriate, to protect against credit exposure. Where the Company has entered into repurchase and resale agreements with the same counterparty, in the event of default, the Company would generally be permitted to exercise rights of offset. For additional information on the Company’s accounting policy for securities repurchase and resale agreements, see Note 2 to the Company’s Financial Statements included in its 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Cash Flow Hedges

The primary derivative instruments used by the Company in its cash flow hedge accounting relationships are currency swaps. These instruments are only designated for hedge accounting in instances where the appropriate criteria are met. The Company does not use futures, options, credit, equity or embedded derivatives in any of its cash flow hedge accounting relationships.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

The following tables provide the financial statement classification and impact of derivatives used in qualifying and non-qualifying hedge relationships, excluding the offset of the hedged item in an effective hedge relationship:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2013  
           

Realized

Investment

Gains/(Losses)

           Net
Investment
Income
            Other
Income
           Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (1)
 
     (in thousands)  
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:                      

Cash flow hedges

                     

Currency/Interest Rate

   $                $           21      $           (209   $           (1,470
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total cash flow hedges

                  21           (209        (1,470
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:                      

Interest Rate

        261                                 

Currency

                                         

Currency/Interest Rate

        (481                   (3          

Credit

        (174                               

Equity

        (791                               

Embedded Derivatives

        (17,329                               
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total non-qualifying hedges

        (18,514                   (3          
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

   $           (18,514   $           21      $           (212   $           (1,470
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 
            Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013  
            Realized
Investment
Gains/(Losses)
           Net
Investment
Income
            Other
Income
           Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (1)
 
            (in thousands)  
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:                      
Cash flow hedges                      

Currency/Interest Rate

   $                $           52       $           (205   $           (1,159
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total cash flow hedges

                  52            (205        (1,159
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:                      

Interest Rate

        (3,190                               

Currency

                                         

Currency/Interest Rate

        (206                              

Credit

        (784                               

Equity

        (3,001                               

Embedded Derivatives

        13,900                                 
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total non-qualifying hedges

        6,719                                
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

   $           6,719     $           52       $           (197   $           (1,159
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

            Three Months Ended September 30, 2012  
            Realized
Investment
Gains/(Losses)
          

Net

Investment

Income

            Other
Income
          

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (1)

 
            (in thousands)  
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:                      
Cash flow hedges                      

Currency/Interest Rate

   $                $           11      $                $           (465
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total cash flow hedges

                  11                     (465
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:                      

Interest Rate

        782                                 

Currency

        2                                 

Currency/Interest Rate

        (282                   (5          

Credit

        2                                 

Equity

                                         

Embedded Derivatives

        (13,964                               
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total non-qualifying hedges

        (13,460                   (5          
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

   $           (13,460   $           11      $           (5   $           (465
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 
            Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012  
            Realized
Investment
Gains/(Losses)
           Net
Investment
Income
            Other
Income
           Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (1)
 
            (in thousands)  
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:                      
Cash flow hedges                      

Currency/Interest Rate

   $                $           10      $           14     $           144  
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total cash flow hedges

                  10           14          144  
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:                      

Interest Rate

        2,912                                 

Currency

        2                                 

Currency/Interest Rate

        (171                   (3          

Credit

        (220                               

Equity

                                         

Embedded Derivatives

        (11,511                               
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total non-qualifying hedges

        (8,988                   (3          
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

   $           (8,988   $           10      $           11     $           144  
     

 

 

      

 

 

       

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (1) Amounts deferred in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).”

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the ineffective portion of derivatives accounted for using hedge accounting was not material to the Company’s results of operations and there were no material amounts reclassified into earnings relating to instances in which the Company discontinued cash flow hedge accounting because the forecasted transaction did not occur by the anticipated date or within the additional time period permitted by the authoritative guidance for the accounting for derivatives and hedging.

Presented below is a roll forward of current period cash flow hedges in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” before taxes:

 

    

    (in thousands)    

 

Balance, December 31, 2012

   $ (1,327

Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to September 30, 2013

     (1,312

Amount reclassified into current period earnings

     153  
  

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2013

   $ (2,486
  

 

 

 

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

As of September 30, 2013 the Company did not have any qualifying cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions other than those related to the variability of the payment or receipt of interest or foreign currency amounts on existing financial instruments. The maximum length of time for which these variable cash flows are hedged is 15 years. Income amounts deferred in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” as a result of cash flow hedges are included in “Net unrealized investment gains (losses)” in the Unaudited Interim Statements of Equity.

Credit Derivatives

The Company no longer has exposure from credit derivatives where it has written credit protection as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

The Company has purchased credit protection using credit derivatives in order to hedge specific credit exposures in the Company’s investment portfolio. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had $9 million of outstanding notional amounts, reported at fair value as a liability of less than $1 million for both periods.

The Company holds certain externally managed investments in the European market which contain embedded derivatives whose fair values are primarily driven by changes in credit spreads. These investments are medium term notes that are collateralized by investment portfolios primarily consisting of investment grade European fixed income securities, including corporate bonds and asset-backed securities, and derivatives, as well as varying degrees of leverage. The notes have a stated coupon and provide a return based on the performance of the underlying portfolios and the level of leverage. The Company invests in these notes to earn a coupon through maturity, consistent with its investment purpose for other debt securities. The notes are accounted for under U.S. GAAP as available-for-sale fixed maturity securities with bifurcated embedded derivatives (total return swaps). Changes in the value of the fixed maturity securities are reported in Equity under the heading “Accumulated other comprehensive income” and changes in the market value of the embedded total return swaps are included in current period earnings in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from these investments was $7 million at both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The fair value of the embedded derivatives included in “Fixed maturities, available-for-sale” was a liability of $2 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

Credit Risk

The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by our counterparty to financial derivative transactions.

The Company has credit risk exposure to an affiliate, Prudential Global Funding, LLC (“PGF”), related to its OTC derivative transactions. PGF manages credit risk with external counterparties by entering into derivative transactions with highly rated major international financial institutions and other creditworthy counterparties, and by obtaining collateral where appropriate, see Note 8. Additionally, limits are set on single party credit exposures which are subject to periodic management review.

Under fair value measurements, the Company incorporates the market’s perception of its own and the counterparty’s non-performance risk in determining the fair value of the portion of its OTC derivative assets and liabilities that are uncollateralized. Credit spreads are applied to the derivative fair values on a net basis by counterparty. To reflect the Company’s own credit spread a proxy based on relevant debt spreads is applied to OTC derivative net liability positions. Similarly, the Company’s counterparty’s credit spread is applied to OTC derivative net asset positions.

6.    COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LITIGATION AND REGULATORY MATTERS

Commitments

The Company has made commitments to fund $24 million of commercial loans as of September 30, 2013. The Company also made commitments to purchase or fund investments, mostly private fixed maturities, of $11 million as of September 30, 2013.

Contingent Liabilities

On an ongoing basis, the Company’s internal supervisory and control functions review the quality of sales, marketing and other customer interface procedures and practices and may recommend modifications or enhancements. From time to time, this review process results in the discovery of product administration, servicing or other errors, including errors relating to the timing or amount of payments or contract values due to customers. In certain cases, if appropriate, the Company may offer customers remediation and may incur charges, including the costs of such remediation, administrative costs and regulatory fines.

The Company is subject to the laws and regulations of states and other jurisdictions concerning the identification, reporting and escheatment of unclaimed or abandoned funds, and is subject to audit and examination for compliance with these requirements. For additional discussion of these matters, see “Litigation and Regulatory Matters” below.

It is possible that the results of operations or the cash flow of the Company in a particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected as a result of payments in connection with the matters discussed above or other matters depending, in part, upon the results of operations or cash flow for such period. Management believes, however, that ultimate payments in connection with these matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification, should not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Litigation and Regulatory Matters

The Company is subject to legal and regulatory actions in the ordinary course of its business. Pending legal and regulatory actions include proceedings specific to the Company and proceedings generally applicable to business practices in the industry in which it operates. The Company is subject to class action lawsuits and other litigation involving a variety of issues and allegations involving sales practices, claims payments and procedures, premium charges, policy servicing and breach of fiduciary duty to customers. The Company is also subject to litigation arising out of its general business activities, such as its investments, contracts, leases and labor and employment relationships, including claims of discrimination and harassment, and could be exposed to claims or litigation concerning certain business or process patents. In some of the pending legal and regulatory actions, plaintiffs are seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages. In addition, the Company, along with other participants in the businesses in which it engages, may be subject from time to time to investigations, examinations and inquiries, in some cases industry-wide, concerning issues or matters upon which such regulators have determined to focus. In some of the Company’s pending legal and regulatory actions, parties are seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages. The outcome of litigation or a regulatory matter, and the amount or range of potential loss at any particular time, is often inherently uncertain. The following is a summary of certain pending proceedings.

The Company establishes accruals for litigation and regulatory matters when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of that loss can be reasonably estimated. For litigation and regulatory matters where a loss may be reasonably possible, but not probable, or is probable but not reasonably estimable, no accrual is established, but the matter, if material, is disclosed, including matters discussed below. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accruals established is not currently estimable. The Company reviews relevant information with respect to its litigation and regulatory matters on a quarterly and annual basis and updates its accruals, disclosures and estimates of reasonably possible loss based on such reviews.

In January 2013, a qui tam action on behalf of the State of Florida, Total Asset Recovery Services v. Met Life Inc., et al., Manulife Financial Corporation, et. al., Prudential Financial, Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Prudential Insurance Agency, LLC., filed in the Circuit Court of Leon County, Florida, was served on Prudential Insurance. The complaint alleges that Prudential Insurance failed to escheat life insurance proceeds to the State of Florida in violation of the Florida False Claims Act and seeks injunctive relief, compensatory damages, civil penalties, treble damages, prejudgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. In March 2013, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. In August 2013, the court dismissed the complaint with prejudice. In September 2013, plaintiff filed an appeal in Florida’s Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County.

In January 2012, a Global Resolution Agreement entered into by the Company and a third party auditor became effective upon its acceptance by the unclaimed property departments of 20 states and jurisdictions. Under the terms of the Global Resolution Agreement, the third party auditor acting on behalf of the signatory states will compare expanded matching criteria to the Social Security Master Death File (“SSMDF”) to identify deceased insureds and contractholders where a valid claim has not been made. In February 2012, a Regulatory Settlement Agreement entered into by the Company to resolve a multi-state market conduct examination regarding its adherence to state claim settlement practices became effective upon its acceptance by the insurance departments of 20 states and jurisdictions. The Regulatory Settlement Agreement applies prospectively and requires the Company to adopt and implement additional procedures comparing its records to the SSMDF to identify unclaimed death benefits and prescribes procedures for identifying and locating beneficiaries once deaths are identified. Other jurisdictions that are not signatories to the Regulatory Settlement Agreement are considering proposals that would apply prospectively and require life insurance companies to take additional steps to identify unreported deceased policy and contract holders. These prospective changes and any escheatable property identified as a result of the audits and inquiries could result in: (1) additional payments of previously unclaimed death benefits; (2) the payment of abandoned funds to U.S. jurisdictions; and (3) changes in the Company’s practices and procedures for the identification of escheatable funds and beneficiaries, which would impact claim payments and reserves, among other consequences.

The Company is one of several companies subpoenaed by the New York Attorney General regarding its unclaimed property procedures. Additionally, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) has requested that 172 life insurers (including the Company) provide data to the NYDFS regarding use of the SSMDF. The New York Office of Unclaimed Funds is conducting an audit of the Company’s compliance with New York’s unclaimed property laws. In February 2012, the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General requested information regarding the Company’s unclaimed property procedures. In May 2013, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Insurance Division, which requires the Company to take additional steps to identify deceased insureds and contract holders where a valid claim has not been made.

In July 2010, the Company, along with other life insurance industry participants, received a formal request for information from the State of New York Attorney General’s Office in connection with its investigation into industry practices relating to the use of retained asset accounts. In August 2010, the Company received a similar request for information from the State of Connecticut Attorney General’s Office. The Company is cooperating with these investigations. The Company has also been contacted by state insurance regulators and other governmental entities, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Congressional committees regarding retained asset accounts. These matters may result in additional investigations, information requests, claims, hearings, litigation, adverse publicity and potential changes to business practices.

The Company’s litigation and regulatory matters are subject to many uncertainties, and given their complexity and scope, their outcome cannot be predicted. It is possible that the Company’s results of operations or cash flow in a particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by an ultimate unfavorable resolution of pending litigation and regulatory matters depending, in part, upon the results of operations or cash flow for such period. In light of the unpredictability of the Company’s litigation and regulatory matters, it is also possible that in certain cases an ultimate

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or regulatory matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position. Management believes, however, that, based on information currently known to it, the ultimate outcome of all pending litigation and regulatory matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification, is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.

7.    REINSURANCE

The Company participates in reinsurance with its affiliates PARCC, Pruco Re, PAR U, and PAR TERM, and its parent companies, Pruco Life and Prudential Insurance, in order to provide risk diversification, additional capacity for future growth and limit the maximum net loss potential. Life reinsurance is accomplished through various plans of reinsurance, primarily yearly renewable term and coinsurance. Reinsurance ceded arrangements do not discharge the Company as the primary insurer. Ceded balances would represent a liability of the Company in the event the reinsurers were unable to meet their obligations to the Company under the terms of the reinsurance agreements. The Company believes a material reinsurance liability resulting from such inability of reinsurers to meet their obligations is unlikely.

The Company has entered into various reinsurance agreements with an affiliate, Pruco Re, to reinsure its living benefit features sold on certain of its annuities as part of its risk management and capital management strategies. For additional details on these agreements, see Note 8.

Reinsurance premiums, commissions, expense reimbursements, benefits and reserves related to reinsured long-duration contracts are accounted for using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying contracts. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers, for long duration reinsurance arrangements, are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liabilities and policy benefits associated with the reinsured policies. The affiliated reinsurance agreements are described further in Note 8.

Effective April 1, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement to reinsure certain variable Corporate Owned Life Insurance “COLI” policies with Pruco Life.

Reinsurance amounts included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in thousands)  

Direct premiums

   $ 45,849     $ 42,889     $ 138,236     $ 129,700  

Premiums ceded

     (42,639                 (39,559                 (128,532                 (119,619
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Premiums

   $ 3,210     $ 3,330     $ 9,704     $ 10,081  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Direct policy charges and fees

   $ 57,494     $ 59,701     $ 175,039     $ 151,062  

Policy charges and fees ceded

                 (25,713     (25,589     (62,997     (44,984
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Policy charges and fees

   $ 31,781     $ 34,112     $ 112,042     $ 106,077  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Direct policyholders’ benefits

   $ 45,376     $ 55,224     $ 148,706     $ 159,892  

Policyholders’ benefits ceded

     (47,807     (47,023     (134,811     (129,444
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Policyholders’ benefits

   $ (2,431   $ 8,201     $ 13,895     $ 30,449  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realized capital gains (losses) net, associated with derivatives

   $ 46,943     $ 22,154     $ (97,843)      $ 20,877  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realized investment gains and losses include the reinsurance of certain of the Company’s embedded derivatives. Changes in the fair value of the embedded derivatives are recognized through “Realized investment gains (losses).” The Company has entered into reinsurance agreements to transfer the risk related to certain living benefit options to Pruco Re. The reinsurance agreements contain derivatives and have been accounted for in the same manner as an embedded derivative. See Note 5 for additional information related to the accounting for embedded derivatives.

Reinsurance premiums ceded for interest-sensitive products is accounted for as a reduction of policy charges and fee income. Reinsurance ceded for term insurance products is accounted for as a reduction of premiums.

Reinsurance recoverables included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

          September 30,
2013
          December 31,
2012
 
          (in thousands)  

Domestic life insurance-affiliated

      $ 936,647         $ 783,374  

Domestic individual annuities-affiliated

        22,811           85,203  

Domestic life insurance-unaffiliated

        2,753           1,545  
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
      $             962,211         $             870,122  
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Substantially all reinsurance contracts are with affiliates as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. These contracts are described further in Note 8.

The gross and net amounts of life insurance face amount in force as of September 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

 

          September 30,
2013
         September 30,
2012
 
          (in thousands)  

Gross life insurance face amount in force

      $             105,932,127        $             100,611,102  

Reinsurance ceded

        (96,152,711        (90,287,029
     

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net life insurance face amount in force

      $ 9,779,416        $ 10,324,073  
     

 

 

      

 

 

 

8.    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company has extensive transactions and relationships with Prudential Insurance and other affiliates. Although we seek to ensure that these transactions and relationships are fair and reasonable, it is possible that the terms of these transactions are not the same as those that would result from transactions among unrelated parties.

Expense Charges and Allocations

Many of the Company’s expenses are allocations or charges from Prudential Insurance or other affiliates. These expenses can be grouped into general and administrative expenses and agency distribution expenses.

The Company’s general and administrative expenses are charged to the Company using allocation methodologies based on business production processes. Management believes that the methodology is reasonable and reflects costs incurred by Prudential Insurance to process transactions on behalf of the Company. The Company operates under service and lease agreements whereby services of officers and employees, supplies, use of equipment and office space are provided by Prudential Insurance. The Company reviews its allocation methodology periodically which it may adjust accordingly. General and administrative expenses include allocations of stock compensation expenses related to a stock option program and a deferred compensation program issued by Prudential Financial. The expense charged to the Company for the stock option program was less than $1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012; and less than $1 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. The expense charged to the Company for the deferred compensation program was less than $1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012; and less than $1 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

The Company is charged for its share of employee benefits expenses. These expenses include costs for funded and non-funded contributory and non-contributory defined benefit pension plans. Some of these benefits are based on final group earnings and length of service while others are based on an account balance, which takes into consideration age, service and earnings during career. The Company’s share of net expense for the pension plans was $1 million and less than $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively; and $2 million and $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Prudential Insurance sponsors voluntary savings plans for its employee’s 401(k) plans. The plans provide for salary reduction contributions by employees and matching contributions by the Company of up to 4% of annual salary. The Company’s expense for its share of the voluntary savings plan was less than $1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012; and $1 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

The Company is charged distribution expenses from Prudential Insurance’s agency network for both its domestic life and annuity products through a transfer pricing agreement, which is intended to reflect a market based pricing arrangement.

The Company pays commissions and certain other fees to Prudential Annuities Distributors, Incorporated (“PAD”) in consideration for PAD’s marketing and underwriting of the Company’s products. Commissions and fees are paid by PAD to broker-dealers who sell the Company’s products. Commissions and fees paid by the Company to PAD were $17 million and $32 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively; and $57 million and $85 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Corporate Owned Life Insurance

The Company has sold two Corporate Owned Life Insurance, or “COLI”, policies to Prudential Insurance and one to Prudential Financial. The cash surrender value included in separate accounts for these COLI contracts was $1,218 million and $1,195 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Fees related to these COLI policies were $5 million and $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively: and $13 million and $12 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Derivative Trades

In its ordinary course of business, the Company enters into OTC derivative contracts with an affiliate, PGF.

Reinsurance with Affiliates

The Company participates in reinsurance with its affiliates PARCC, Pruco Re, or PAR TERM and PAR U, and its parent companies, Pruco Life and Prudential Insurance, in order to provide risk diversification, additional capacity for future growth and limit the maximum net loss potential. The Company is not relieved of its primary obligation to the policyholder as a result of these agreements.

Reinsurance amounts included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

          September 30,
2013
         December 31,
2012
 
          (in thousands)  

Reinsurance recoverables

      $             962,211        $             870,122  

Policy loans

        (11,879        (13,368

Deferred policy acquisition costs

        (198,393        (150,019

Other liabilities (reinsurance payables)

        33,377          36,704  

The reinsurance recoverables by counterparty is broken out below.

 

          Reinsurance Recoverables  
          September 30,
2013
          December 31,
2012
 
          (in thousands)  

PARCC

      $             451,196         $             442,720  

PAR TERM

        73,406           50,283  

Prudential Insurance

        26,537           23,766  

PAR U

        380,078           261,318  

Pruco Life

        5,430           5,287  

Pruco Re

        22,811           85,203  

Unaffiliated

        2,753           1,545  
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total reinsurance recoverables

      $ 962,211         $ 870,122  
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

Reinsurance amounts, included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

 

          Three Months Ended
September 30,
         Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
          2013          2012          2013          2012  
          (in thousands)  

Premiums

      $             (42,639      $             (39,559      $             (128,532      $             (119,619

Policy charges and fee income

        (25,713        (25,589        (62,997        (44,984

Net investment income

        (269        (76        (415        (76

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balance

        (2,767        (1,869        (7,697        (1,869

Policyholders’ benefits

        (47,807        (47,023        (134,811        (129,444

Reinsurance expense allowances, net of capitalization and amortization

        (2,333        (8,296        (22,109        (18,934

Realized investment gains (losses) net

        46,943          22,154          (97,843        20,877  

Pruco Life

Effective April 1, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement to reinsure certain variable COLI policies with Pruco Life.

PARCC

The Company reinsures 90% of the risks under its term life insurance policies, written prior to January 1, 2010, through an automatic coinsurance agreement with PARCC.

PAR TERM

The Company reinsures 95% of the risks under its term life insurance policies issued on or after January 1, 2010, through an automatic coinsurance agreement with PAR TERM.

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Prudential Insurance

The Company has a yearly renewable term reinsurance agreement with Prudential Insurance and reinsures the majority of all mortality risks not otherwise reinsured. Effective July 1, 2012 the Company recaptured a portion of this agreement related to its universal life policies and now reinsures these risks with PAR U as discussed below.

PAR U

Effective July 1, 2012, the Company, entered into an automatic coinsurance agreement with PAR U, an affiliated company, to reinsure an amount equal to 95% of all the risks associated with its universal life policies. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the agreement between the Company and PAR U was amended to revise language relating to the consideration due to PAR U.

Pruco Re

The Company uses reinsurance as part of its risk management and capital management strategies for certain of its optional living benefit features. Starting from 2005, the Company has entered into various automatic coinsurance agreements with Pruco Re, an affiliated company, to reinsure its living benefit features sold on certain of its annuities.

Affiliated Asset Administration Fee Income

The Company participates in a revenue sharing agreement with AST Investment Services, Inc, formerly known as American Skandia Investment Services, Inc, whereby the Company receives fee income calculated on contractholder separate account balances invested in the Advanced Series Trust, formerly known as American Skandia Trust. Income received from AST Investment Services, Inc. related to this agreement was $7 million and $5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $19 million and $14 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These revenues are recorded as “Asset administration fees” in the Unaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The Company participates in a revenue sharing agreement with Prudential Investments LLC, whereby the Company receives fee income from policyholders’ account balances invested in The Prudential Series Fund (“PSF”). Income received from Prudential Investments LLC, related to this agreement was $2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, and $5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. These revenues are recorded as “Asset administration fees” in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Affiliated Investment Management Expenses

In accordance with an agreement with Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (“PIMI”), the Company pays investment management expenses to PIMI who acts as investment manager to certain Company general account and separate account assets. Investment management expenses paid to PIMI related to this agreement was less than $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, and $2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. These expenses are recorded as “Net Investment Income” in the Unaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Affiliated Asset Transfers

From time to time, the Company participates in affiliated asset trades with parent and sister companies. Book and market value differences for trades with a parent and sister are recognized within Additional paid-in-capital (“APIC”) and Realized investment gain(loss), respectively.

 

Affiliate

   Date      Transaction    Security Type    FV      BV      Additional Paid-in Capital,
Net of Tax

Increase/(Decrease)
     Realized
Investment
Gain/(Loss)
     Derivative
Gain/(Loss)
 
                                    (in millions)                

PAR U

     Sep-12       Sale    Fixed Maturities and
Commercial
Mortgages
   $     156      $     142      $                                                -       $                 14      $ (5

Prudential Financial

     Sep-12       Transfer Out    Fixed Maturities      46        41        3                

Prudential Insurance

     Sep-13       Sale    Commercial
Mortgages
     2        2        1                               -   

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

Debt Agreements

The Company is authorized to borrow funds up to $200 million from affiliates to meet its capital and other funding needs.

The following table provides the breakout of the Company’s short-term and long-term debt:

 

     Date
Issued
     Amount of Notes -
September 30,
2013
     Amount of Notes -
December 31,
2012
     Interest Rate      Date of Maturity  
            (in thousands)                

PFI

     12/16/2011         44,000        44,000        2.65% - 3.61%         12/2013 - 12/2016   

Washington Street Investment

     12/17/2012         65,000        65,000        0.95% - 1.87%         12/2013 - 12/2017   
     

 

 

    

 

 

       

Total Loans Payable to Affiliate

      $             109,000      $             109,000        
     

 

 

    

 

 

       

The total interest expense to the Company related to loans payable to affiliates was $0.6 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1.7 million and $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Contributed Capital and Dividends

In June 2013, the Company paid a dividend in the amount of $155 million to Pruco Life.

 

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Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A,”) addresses the financial condition of Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, or the “Company,” as of September 30, 2013, compared with December 31, 2012, and its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. You should read the following analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the MD&A, the “Risk Factors” section, and the audited Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2012, as well as the statements under “Forward-Looking Statements” and the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Overview

The Company sells variable and fixed annuities, universal life insurance, variable life insurance and term life insurance primarily through affiliated and unaffiliated distributors in New Jersey and New York.

Regulatory Developments

On September 19, 2013, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (the “Council”) made a final determination that Prudential Financial should be subject to stricter prudential regulatory standards and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (as a “Covered Company”) pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. On October 18, 2013, Prudential Financial confirmed that it would not seek to rescind the final determination of the Council. As a Covered Company under the Dodd-Frank Act, Prudential Financial is now subject to supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and to stricter prudential regulatory standards, which include or will include requirements (some of which are subject to future rulemaking) regarding risk-based capital and leverage, liquidity, stress-testing, overall risk management, resolution plans, early remediation, and credit concentration; and may also include additional standards regarding capital, public disclosure, short-term debt limits, and other related subjects as appropriate. Prudential Financial must also seek pre-approval from the Federal Reserve for the acquisition of certain companies engaged in financial activities. See “Business—Regulation” and “Risk Factors” included in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding the potential impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on the Company, including as a result of these stricter prudential standards.

On July 18, 2013, the Financial Stability Board (the “FSB”), consisting of representatives of national financial authorities of the G20 nations, identified Prudential Financial as a global systemically important insurer (“G-SII”). U.S. financial regulators are thereby expected to enhance their regulation of Prudential Financial to achieve a number of regulatory objectives, including enhanced group-wide supervision, enhanced capital standards (including backstop capital and higher loss absorption capacity requirements), and development of a risk management plan (expected to be completed within 12 months of G-SII designation) and recovery and resolution plans (“RRP plans”; expected to be developed and agreed by the end of 2014). Higher loss absorption capacity requirements are expected to begin to be implemented in 2019.

At the direction of the FSB, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (the “IAIS”) is developing a model framework (“ComFrame”) for the supervision of internationally active insurance groups (“IAIGs”) that contemplates “group wide supervision” across national boundaries. Prudential Financial qualifies as an IAIG. In October 2013, the IAIS announced that it expects to develop a risk-based global insurance capital standard by 2016 applicable to IAIGs, with full implementation scheduled to begin in 2019. In addition, the IAIS seeks to promote the financial stability of IAIGs by endorsing: uniform standards for insurer corporate governance and enterprise risk management; group-wide supervision of IAIGs; a framework for group capital adequacy assessment that accounts for group-wide risks; additional regulatory and disclosure requirements for insurance groups; and the establishment of ongoing supervisory colleges. In October 2013 several of Prudential Financial’s domestic and foreign insurance regulators convened a supervisory college. The purpose of the supervisory college is to promote ongoing supervisory coordination, facilitate the sharing of information among regulators and to enhance each regulator’s understanding of Prudential Financial’s risk profile.

ComFrame also requires each IAIG to conduct its own risk and solvency assessment (“ORSA”) to monitor and manage its overall solvency. In addition, state insurance regulators have focused attention on U.S. insurance solvency regulation pursuant to the NAIC’s “Solvency Modernization Initiative.” This initiative has resulted in the recent adoption of the NAIC Risk Management and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment model act which, following enactment at the state level, will require a large insurer beginning in 2015 to at least annually assess the adequacy of its and its group’s risk management and current and future solvency position.

At this time we cannot predict the final outcome of the above regulatory developments, including what additional capital requirements, compliance and regulatory costs, or other burdens may be imposed on the Company.

In addition, the NAIC, the New York State Department of Financial Services and other regulators have increased their focus on life insurers’ use of captive reinsurance companies. We cannot predict what, if any, changes may result from these reviews. If applicable insurance laws are changed in a way that impairs the use of captive reinsurance companies, our ability to write certain products and efficiently manage their associated risks could be adversely affected and we may need to increase prices on certain products, modify certain products or find alternate financing sources, any of which could adversely affect our competitiveness, capital and financial position and results of operations.

Revenues and Expenses

The Company earns revenues principally from insurance premiums; mortality, expense, and asset administration fees from insurance and investment products; and investment of general account and other funds. The Company earns premiums primarily from the sale of individual life insurance. The Company earns mortality, expense fees, and asset administration fees on the servicing of separate account products including universal and variable

 

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life insurance and variable annuities. The Company’s operating expenses principally consist of insurance benefits provided and reserves established for anticipated future insurance benefits, general business expenses, commissions and other costs of selling and servicing the various products we sell and interest credited on general account liabilities.

Effective February 25, 2013, the Advanced Series Trust (“AST”) adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan under the Investment Company Act of 1940 with respect to most of the AST portfolios that are primarily offered through the Company’s variable annuity investment options. Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, AST pays an affiliate of the Company for distribution and administrative services. Prior to the adoption of the 12b-1 Plan, the Company received an administrative service fee from AST and incurred expenses associated with administration services provided. While we expect the level of revenue and expenses of the Company in 2013 to decline relative to 2012 due to the elimination of the administrative services fee and related expenses, we do not expect a material impact to net income related to AST’s adoption of the Rule 12b-1 Plan.

Profitability

The Company’s profitability depends principally on its ability to price our insurance and annuity products at a level that enables us to earn a margin over the costs associated with providing benefits and administering those products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, our actuarial and policyholder behavior experience on insurance and annuity products, our ability to attract and retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, and manage expenses.

See “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 for a discussion of risks that have materially affected and may affect in the future the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition, or cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expected or those expressed in any forward looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

Products

Individual Annuities

The Company offers a wide array of annuities, including (1) variable annuities that are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including fixed interest rate allocation options, subject to a market value adjustment, and (2) fixed-rate allocation options not subject to a market value adjustment and not registered with the SEC. The Company also offers fixed annuitization options during the payout phase of its variable annuities.

We offer variable annuities that provide our contractholders with tax-deferred asset accumulation together with a base death benefit and a suite of optional guaranteed death and living benefits. The benefit features contractually guarantee the contractholder a return of no less than (1) total deposits made to the contract less any partial withdrawals (“return of net deposits”), (2) total deposits made to the contract less any partial withdrawals plus a minimum return (“minimum return”), and/or (3) the highest contract value on a specified date minus any withdrawals (“contract value”). We currently offer guarantees that are payable in the event of death, and withdrawal and income living benefits payable during specified periods. The majority of our current optional living benefits guarantees include, among other features, the ability to make withdrawals based on the highest daily contract value plus a minimum return, credited for a period of time. This guaranteed contract value is a notional amount that forms the basis for determination of periodic withdrawals for the life of the contractholder, and cannot be accessed as a lump-sum surrender value. The majority of our current optional living benefits can also be purchased with a companion optional death benefit, also based on a highest daily contract value. Certain inforce contracts include guaranteed benefits which are not currently offered, such as annuitization benefits and benefits payable at specified dates during the accumulation period. Late in the first quarter of 2013, we launched Prudential Defined Income Variable Annuity, or PDI, to complement the variable annuity products we offer with the highest daily benefit. PDI also provides for guaranteed lifetime withdrawal payments, but restricts contractholder asset allocation to a single bond sub-account within the separate accounts.

Excluding our new PDI product, the majority of our variable annuities generally provide our contractholders with the opportunity to allocate purchase payments to sub-accounts that invest in underlying proprietary and non-proprietary mutual funds, frequently under asset allocation programs, and fixed-rate accounts. The fixed-rate accounts are credited with interest at rates we determine, subject to certain minimums. We also offer fixed annuities that provide a guarantee of principal and interest credited at rates we determine, subject to certain contractual minimums. Certain investments made in the fixed-rate accounts of our variable annuities and certain fixed annuities impose a market value adjustment if the invested amount is not held to maturity.

The primary risk exposures of our variable annuity contracts relate to actual deviations from, or changes to, the assumptions used in the original pricing of these products, including equity market returns, interest rates, market volatility, contractholder longevity/mortality, timing and amount of annuitization and withdrawals, withdrawal efficiency and contract lapses. The return we realize from our variable annuity contracts will vary based on the extent of the differences between our actual experience and the assumptions used in the original pricing of these products. Our returns can also vary due to the impact and effectiveness of our hedging programs for any capital markets movements that we may hedge, the impact of affiliated reinsurance, the impact of that portion of our variable annuity contracts with an asset transfer feature, the impact of risks we have retained and the impact of risks that are not able to be hedged.

Our risk management strategy helps to limit our exposure to certain of these risks primarily through a combination of product design elements, our living benefits hedging program and affiliated reinsurance arrangements. The product design elements we utilize for certain products include, among others, asset allocation restrictions, minimum issuance age requirements, certain limitations on the amount of subsequent contractholder deposits and an asset transfer feature. The objective of the asset transfer feature, included in the majority of our variable annuity contracts with optional living benefits features and all new contracts sold with our highest daily living benefits feature, is to help mitigate our exposure to equity market risk and market volatility by transferring assets between certain variable investment sub-accounts selected by the annuity contractholder and investments that

 

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are expected to be more stable (e.g., a separate account bond fund sub-account portfolio or a fixed-rate account in the general account). The transfers are based on the static mathematical formula used with the particular optional benefit which considers a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the impact of investment performance on the contractholder’s total account value. This occurs at the contractholder level, rather than at the fund level, which we believe enhances our risk mitigation. As of September 30, 2013 approximately $6.5 billion or 90% of total variable annuity account values contain a living benefit feature, compared to approximately $5.5 billion or 90% as of December 31, 2012. As of September 30, 2013 approximately $6.2 billion or 95% of variable annuity account values with living benefit features included an asset transfer feature in the product design, compared to approximately $5.5 billion or 94% as of December 31, 2012.

As mentioned above, in addition to our asset transfer feature, we also manage certain risks associated with our variable annuity products through our living benefits hedging programs and affiliated reinsurance agreements. We reinsure the majority of our variable annuity living benefit guarantees to an affiliated reinsurance company, Pruco Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Pruco Re”). The living benefits hedging program is primarily executed within Pruco Re to manage capital markets risk associated with the reinsured optional living benefit guarantees. The program is also executed within the Company related to certain non-reinsured optional living benefit guarantees. This program represents a balance among three objectives that seek to: 1) provide severe scenario protection, 2) minimize net income volatility associated with an internally-defined hedge target, and 3) maintain capital efficiency. Through the hedge program, derivatives are purchased that seek to replicate the net change in an internally-defined hedge target. In addition to mitigating capital markets risk and income statement volatility, the hedging program is also focused on a long-term goal of accumulating assets that could be used to pay claims under these benefits irrespective of market path, recognizing that, under the terms of the contracts, we do not expect to begin substantial payment of such claims until at least five years in the future.

Term Life Insurance

The Company offers a variety of term life insurance products which represent 71% of our net individual life insurance in force at September 30, 2013, that provide coverage for a specified time period. Most term products include a conversion feature that allows the policyholder to convert the policy into permanent life insurance coverage. The Company also offers term life insurance that provides for a return of premium if the insured is alive at the end of the level premium period. There continues to be significant demand for term life insurance protection.

The Company’s profits from term insurance are not expected to directly correlate, from a timing perspective, with the increase in term insurance in force. This results from uneven product profitability patterns, as well as varying costs of our ongoing capital management activities related to a portion of the statutory reserves associated with these products, which may vary with each year of business issued.

Variable Life Insurance

The Company offers a number of individual variable life insurance products which represent 22% of our net individual life insurance in force at September 30, 2013. Variable products provide a return linked to an underlying investment portfolio selected by the policyholder while providing the policyholder with the flexibility to change both the death benefit and premium payments. The policyholder generally has the option of investing premiums in a fixed rate option that is part of our general account and/or investing in separate account investment options consisting of equity and fixed income funds. Funds invested in the fixed rate option will accrue interest at rates we determine that vary periodically based on our portfolio rate, subject to certain contractual minimums. In the separate accounts, the policyholder bears the fund performance risk. Each product provides for the deduction of charges and expenses from the customer’s contract fund. The Company also offers a variable product that has the same basic features as our variable universal life product but also allows for a more flexible guarantee against lapse where policyholders can select the guarantee period. While variable life insurance continues to be an important product, marketplace demand continues to favor term and universal life insurance.

A significant portion of the Company’s insurance profits are associated with our large in force block of variable policies. Profit patterns on these policies are not level and as the policies age, insureds generally begin paying reduced policy charges. This reduction in policy charges, coupled with net policy count and insurance in force runoff over time, reduces our expected future profits from this product line. Asset management fees and mortality and expense fees are a key component of variable life product profitability and vary based on the average daily net asset value. Due to policyholder options under some of the variable life contracts, lapses driven by periods of unfavorable equity market performance may occur on a lag with the market risk during this period being borne by the Company.

Universal Life Insurance

The Company offers universal life insurance products which represent 7% of our net individual life insurance in force at September 30, 2013. Universal life insurance products feature a fixed crediting rate that we determine and that may vary periodically based on portfolio returns, subject to certain minimums, flexible premiums and a choice of guarantees against lapse. Universal life policies provide for the deduction of charges and expenses from the policyholders’ contract fund.

The Company’s profits from universal life insurance are impacted by mortality and expense margins, interest spread on policyholder funds as well as the net interest spread on capital management activities related to a portion of the statutory reserves associated with these products.

Across our life insurance products, we offer two distinct living benefits options. Living Needs Benefit Rider allows the policy owner to receive a portion of the life insurance benefit if the insured is diagnosed with a terminal illness, or permanently confined to a nursing home, in advance of death of the insured, to use as needed. The remaining death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary upon the death of the insured. Benefit Access Rider provides the ability to accelerate up to the full amount of the policy’s death benefit in the event the insured becomes chronically ill or terminally ill. Receiving accelerated benefits under the rider will reduce, and in some cases, eliminate the policy’s death benefit payable to the beneficiary. Any remaining death benefit is paid to the beneficiary at time of the insured’s death.

 

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Application of Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP, requires the application of accounting policies that often involve a significant degree of judgment. Management, on an ongoing basis, reviews estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of financial statements. If management determines that modifications in assumptions and estimates are appropriate given current facts and circumstances, results of operations and financial position as reported in the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements could change significantly.

Management believes the accounting policies relating to the following areas are most dependent on the application of estimates and assumptions and require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments:

 

·   

Deferred policy acquisition (“DAC”) and other costs; including deferred sales inducements and value of business acquired;

·   

Valuation of investments, including derivatives, and the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments;

·   

Policyholder liabilities;

·   

Taxes on income; and

·   

Reserves for contingencies, including reserves for losses in connection with unresolved legal matters.

DAC and Other Costs

We amortize DAC and other costs over the expected lives of the respective contracts, based on our estimates of the level and timing of gross margins, gross profits, or gross premiums, depending on the type of contract. Variability in the level of amortization expense has historically been driven by our variable annuities and variable life insurance contracts, for which costs are amortized in proportion to total gross profits. In calculating gross profits for these contracts, we consider mortality, persistency, and other elements as well as rates of return on investments and the costs related to our guaranteed minimum death and guaranteed minimum income benefits. We estimate the amounts of gross profits that will be included in our U.S. GAAP results and utilize these estimates to calculate amortization rates and expense amounts.

We regularly evaluate and adjust the balances for DAC and other costs for the impact of actual gross profits and changes in our assumptions regarding estimated future gross profits on amortization rates. Additionally, in the third quarter of each year, we perform an annual comprehensive review and update of the assumptions used in evaluating these balances. For the review performed during the third quarter of 2013, our variable annuities and variable life insurance businesses assume an 8.0% long-term equity expected rate of return and a 5.9% near-term mean reversion equity rate of return as of September 30, 2013. The use of a mean reversion approach is a common industry practice. Under this approach, we consider historical equity returns over a period of time and initially adjust future projected equity returns over the next four years (the “near-term”) so that the assets are projected to grow at the long-term expected rate of return for the entire period. If the near-term projected future rate of return is greater than our near-term maximum future rate of return of 13%, we use our maximum future rate of return.

The weighted average rate of return assumptions for these businesses consider many factors specific to each business, including asset durations, asset allocations and other factors. We update the near term equity rates of return and our estimate of total gross profits each quarter to reflect the result of the reversion to the mean approach, which assumes a convergence to the long-term equity expected rates of return. These market performance related adjustments to our estimate of total gross profits result in cumulative adjustments to prior amortization, reflecting the application of the new required rate of amortization to all prior periods’ gross profits. The new required rate of amortization is also applied prospectively to future gross profits in calculating amortization in future periods. For additional information on our policies for DAC and other costs and for the remaining critical accounting estimates listed above, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Accounting Policies & Pronouncements—Application of Critical Accounting Estimates.”

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to our Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for a discussion of newly adopted accounting pronouncements.

Changes in Financial Position

September 30, 2013 versus December 31, 2012

Total assets increased $1,261 million, from $11,288 million at December 31, 2012 to $12,549 million at September 30, 2013.

Separate account assets increased $1,166 million, from $8,374 million at December 31, 2012 to $9,540 million at September 30, 2013, primarily driven by market appreciation and positive net flows from variable annuity new business sales.

Deferred policy acquisition costs increased by $98 million from $328 million at December 31, 2012, to $426 million at September 30, 2013. The increase is primarily driven by write-ups primarily associated with the impact of the mark-to-market of the reinsurance liability for living benefits and related hedge positions and the capitalization of commissions related to variable annuity new business sales.

Reinsurance recoverables increased $92 million from $870 million at December 31, 2012, to $962 million at September 30, 2013. The increase is primarily driven by higher term reserves and universal life policyholder account balances ceded under existing affiliated reinsurance agreements due to business growth. Partially offsetting this is a decrease related to the mark-to-market of the reinsurance recoverable related to the reinsured liability for variable annuity living benefits accounted for as embedded derivatives, primarily resulting from a decrease in the present value of future expected benefit payments driven by higher interest rates and changes in equity markets. See Note 8 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for additional information regarding affiliated reinsurance transactions.

 

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Partially offsetting the above increases was a decrease to invested assets of $51 million from $1,508 million at December 31, 2012 to $1,457 million at September 30, 2013 primarily due to unfavorable mark to market losses on investments due to rising interest rates.

Total liabilities increased by $1,315 million, from $10,619 million at December 31, 2012 to $11,934 million at September 30, 2013.

Separate account liabilities increased $1,166 million, offsetting the increase in separate account assets described above.

Policyholders’ account balances increased $121 million, from $1,222 million at December 31, 2012 to $1,343 million at September 30, 2013, primarily driven by universal life business growth.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013     2012  
     (in thousands)  

Operating results:

    

Revenues:

    

Annuity Products

   $ 22,786     $ 22,613  

Life Products and Other

     21,109       47,013  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 43,895     $ 69,626  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefits and expenses:

    

Annuity Products

   $         (22,133   $         (10,022

Life Products and Other

     6,445       25,164  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ (15,688   $ 15,142  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from Operations before Income Taxes

    

Annuity Products

   $ 44,919     $ 32,635  

Life Products and Other

     14,664       21,849  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 59,583     $ 54,484  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Annuity Products

Income (Loss) from Operations before Income Taxes

2013 to 2012 Three Month Comparison. Income from operations before income taxes increased $12 million from $33 million in the third quarter of 2012 to income of $45 million in the third quarter of 2013. Results for both periods include the impact on the amortization of DAC and DSI, and on reserves for the GMDB and GMIB features, of the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions and of changes in the estimated profitability of the business, as discussed in more detail below.

The following table reflects the impact on the amortization of DAC/DSI and on the GMDB/GMIB reserves of the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions, and of changes in the estimated profitability of the business.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2013      2012  
     (1)  
     (in millions)  

Impact of the mark-to-market of the reinsured liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions

   $ 39      $ 32  

Impacts of changes in the estimated profitability of the business

     12        2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $                         51      $                         34  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Amounts reflect (charges) or benefits for (increases) or decreases, respectively, in the amortization of DAC/DSI and for GMDB/GMIB reserve (increases) or decreases, respectively.

We amortize DAC and DSI over the expected lives of the contracts based on the level and timing of gross profits on the underlying Annuity products. In calculating gross profits, we consider mortality, persistency, and other elements as well as rates of return on investments associated with these contracts and include profits and losses related to these contracts that are reported in affiliated legal entities other than the Company as a result of, for example, reinsurance agreements with those affiliated entities. The Company is an indirect subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (an SEC registrant) and has extensive transactions and relationships with other subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. including reinsurance agreements, as discussed in Note 8 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements. Incorporating all product-related profits and losses in gross profits, including those that are reported in affiliated legal entities, produces an amortization pattern representative of the economics of the products.

The impact of the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions primarily relates to changes in the valuation of the reinsured living benefit liabilities related to NPR which we and the reinsurance affiliate believe to be non-economic, and choose not to hedge, and the change in the valuation of the liability due to annual review and update of assumptions. The favorable variance was primarily driven by a larger benefit in the current period driven by assumption updates compared to the prior year period, partially offset by a smaller benefit related to NPR losses in the current year period compared to the prior year period prior to assumption updates.

 

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The impacts of changes in the estimated profitability of the business include adjustments to the reserves for the GMDB and GMIB features of our variable annuity products and to the amortization of DAC/DSI. These adjustments resulted in a net benefit of $12 million and $2 million in the third quarter of 2013 and 2012, respectively. The net benefit in the third quarter of 2013 primarily reflected the annual review and update of assumptions, driven by reductions to our lapse and GMIB utilization rate assumptions to reflect our review of emerging experience, future expectations and other data, and other refinements. The remaining net benefit also reflected the impact of positive market performance on customer accounts relative to our assumptions. The net benefit in the third quarter of 2012 is primarily driven by the impact of positive market performance on customer accounts relative to our assumptions, partially offset by the annual review and update of assumptions performed in that period, driven by reductions to our long-term interest and equity rate of return assumptions, as well as updates to actuarial assumptions and other refinements. For weighted average rate of return assumptions as of September 30, 2013 see “—Application of Critical Accounting Estimates” above.

Revenues, Benefits and Expenses

2013 to 2012 Three Month Comparison. Revenues remained relatively flat. Net realized investment losses increased by $8 million due to an unfavorable variance in the mark-to-market related to the embedded derivatives associated with our non-reinsured living benefit features and related hedges. Partially offsetting this was an increase of $7 million in policy charges and fee income, consisting primarily of mortality and expense and other insurance charges assessed on policyholders’ fund balances, primarily driven by higher average separate account asset balances due to market appreciation and positive net flows from new business sales.

Benefits and expenses decreased $12 million. This decrease was primarily driven by a favorable variance of $6 million in DAC amortization and $3 million in interest credited to policyholders’ account balances, which includes DSI amortization. Lower DAC and DSI amortization is related to the impact of the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions and the impact of changes in the estimated profitability of the business, as discussed above. Also contributing was a decrease of $3 million in policyholders’ benefits, including changes in reserves, due to adjustments to the GMDB and GMIB reserves related to the impact of changes in the estimated profitability of the business, as discussed above.

Life Products and Other

Income (Loss) from Operations before Income Taxes

2013 to 2012 Three Month Comparison. Income from operations before income taxes decreased $7 million including a $3 million increase related to changes in our estimated profitability of the business resulting from our annual review and update of assumptions, which resulted in a $1 million net benefit in the current quarter compared to a $2 million net charge in the year ago quarter. The $1 million net benefit in the current quarter primarily reflects a favorable mortality assumption update while the $2 million net charge in the year ago quarter primarily reflected reductions to the long-term interest rate and equity return assumptions. Excluding the effect of the annual review and update of assumptions, income from operations before income taxes decreased $10 million. The decrease was primarily driven by a net $14 million realized gain in the third quarter of 2012 arising from the coinsurance agreement with PAR U including $19 million of realized gains related to asset transfers from the Company to PAR U, partially offset by a $5 million derivative loss related to the settlement of the initial premium payable to PAR U.

See Note 8 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for more information on related party transactions.

Revenues, Benefits and Expenses

2013 to 2012 Three Month Comparison. Revenues decreased $26 million. Excluding the impact of our annual review and update of assumptions, as discussed above, revenues decreased $17 million. The decrease was primarily driven by a net $14 million realized gain in the third quarter of 2012 related to the coinsurance agreement with PAR U as discussed above. Lower net investment income reflecting the impact of the third quarter 2012 coinsurance agreement also contributed to the decline.

Benefits and expenses decreased $19 million. Excluding the impact of our annual review and update of assumptions, as discussed above, benefits and expenses decreased $8 million primarily reflecting the impact of the third quarter 2012 coinsurance agreement with PAR U.

See Note 8 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for more information on related party transactions.

Results of Operations

 

      Nine Months Ended September 30,    
    2013     2012  
    (in thousands)  

Operating results:

   

Revenues:

   

Annuity Products

  $ 129,233     $ 80,734  

Life Products and Other

    81,344       127,955  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $               210,577     $               208,689  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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      Nine Months Ended September 30,    
    2013     2012  
    (in thousands)  

Benefits and expenses:

   

Annuity Products

  $ (16,886   $ 40,702  

Life Products and Other

    47,991       76,831  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 31,105     $               117,533  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from Operations before Income Taxes

   

Annuity Products

  $ 146,119     $ 40,032  

Life Products and Other

    33,353       51,124  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $               179,472     $ 91,156  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Annuity Products

Income (Loss) from Operations before Income Taxes

2013 to 2012 Nine Month Comparison. Income (loss) from operations before income taxes increased $106 million from $40 million in 2012 to $146 million in 2013. Results for both periods include the impact on the amortization of DAC and DSI, and on reserves for the GMDB and GMIB features, of the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions and of changes in the estimated profitability of the business, as discussed in more detail below.

Excluding these items, income (loss) from operations before income taxes increased $38 million, primarily driven by higher fee income, net of distribution costs, due to higher average variable annuity account values invested in separate accounts due to market appreciation and positive net flows from new business sales.

The following table reflects the impact on the amortization of DAC/DSI and on the GMDB/GMIB reserves of the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions, and of changes in the estimated profitability of the business.

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2013      2012  
     (1)  
     (in millions)  

Impact of the mark-to-market of the reinsured liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions

   $                         83      $                         25  

Impacts of changes in the estimated profitability of the business

     14        3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 97      $ 28  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Amounts reflect (charges) or benefits for (increases) or decreases, respectively, in the amortization of DAC/DSI and for GMDB/GMIB reserve (increases) or decreases, respectively.

We amortize DAC and DSI over the expected lives of the contracts based on the level and timing of gross profits on the underlying Annuity products. In calculating gross profits, we consider mortality, persistency, and other elements as well as rates of return on investments associated with these contracts and include profits and losses related to these contracts that are reported in affiliated legal entities other than the Company as a result of, for example, reinsurance agreements with those affiliated entities. The Company is an indirect subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (an SEC registrant) and has extensive transactions and relationships with other subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. including reinsurance agreements, as discussed in Note 8 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements. Incorporating all product-related profits and losses in gross profits, including those that are reported in affiliated legal entities, produces an amortization pattern representative of the economics of the products.

The impact of the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions primarily relates to changes in the valuation of the reinsured living benefit liabilities related to NPR which we and the reinsurance affiliate believe to be non-economic, and choose not to hedge, and the change in the valuation of the liability due to annual review and update of assumptions. The favorable variance was primarily driven by a larger benefit in the current period due to larger NPR losses and assumption updates compared to the prior year period.

The impacts of changes in the estimated profitability of the business include adjustments to the reserves for the GMDB and GMIB features of our variable annuity products and to the amortization of DAC/DSI. These adjustments resulted in net benefits of $14 million and $3 million in the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively. The net benefit in the first nine months of 2013 primarily reflected the annual review and update of assumptions, driven by reductions to our lapse and GMIB utilization rate assumptions to reflect our review of emerging experience, future expectations and other data, and other refinements. The remaining net benefit also reflected the impact of positive market performance on customer accounts relative to our assumptions. The net benefit in the first nine months of 2012 was primarily driven by the impact of positive market performance on customer accounts relative to our assumptions, partially offset by the annual review and update of assumptions performed in that period, driven by reductions to our long-term interest and equity rate of return assumptions, as well as updates to actuarial assumptions and other refinements. For weighted average rate of return assumptions as of September 30, 2013 see “—Application of Critical Accounting Estimates” above.

 

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Revenues, Benefits and Expenses

2013 to 2012 Nine Month Comparison. Revenues increased $48 million. This increase was primarily driven by an increase of $21 million in net realized investment gains due to a favorable variance in the mark-to-market related to the embedded derivatives associated with our non-reinsured living benefit features and related hedges. Also contributing to the increase was an increase of $25 million in policy charges and fee income, consisting primarily of mortality and expense and other insurance charges assessed on policyholders’ fund balances, primarily driven by higher average separate account asset balances due to market appreciation and positive net flows from new business sales.

Benefits and expenses decreased $58 million. This decrease was primarily driven by a favorable variance of $43 million in DAC amortization and $14 million in interest credited to policyholders’ account balances, which includes DSI amortization. Lower DAC and DSI amortization is related to the impact of the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives and related hedge positions and the impact of changes in the estimated profitability of the business, as discussed above.

Life Products and Other

Income (Loss) from Operations before Income Taxes

2013 to 2012 Nine Month Comparison. Income from operations before income taxes decreased $18 million including a $3 million increase related to changes in our estimated profitability of the business resulting from our annual review and update of assumptions, which resulted in a $1 million net benefit in the current year compared to a $2 million net charge in the prior year. The $1 million net benefit in the current year primarily reflects a favorable mortality assumption update while the $2 million net charge in the prior year primarily reflected reductions to the long-term interest rate and equity return assumptions. Excluding the effect of the annual review and update of assumptions, income from operations before income taxes decreased $21 million. The decrease includes a net $14 million realized gain in the third quarter of 2012 arising from the coinsurance agreement with PAR U including $19 million related to asset transfers from the Company to PAR U, partially offset by a $5 million derivative loss related to the settlement of the initial premium payable to PAR U. A decrease in universal life profits arising from the third quarter 2012 coinsurance agreement with PAR U also contributed to the decline.

See Note 8 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for more information on related party transactions.

Revenues, Benefits and Expenses

2013 to 2012 Nine Month Comparison. Revenues decreased $47 million. Excluding the impact of our annual review and update of assumptions, as discussed above, revenues decreased $38 million The decrease includes lower policy charges and fees and lower net investment income reflecting the impact of the third quarter 2012 coinsurance agreement with PAR U as well as a net $14 million realized gain in the third quarter of 2012 related to the coinsurance agreement with PAR U as discussed above.

Benefits and expenses decreased $29 million. Excluding the impact of our annual review and update of assumptions, as discussed above, benefits and expenses decreased $18 million primarily reflecting the impact of the third quarter 2012 automatic coinsurance agreement with PAR U and lower death benefits.

See Note 8 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for more information on related party transactions.

Income Taxes

The income tax provision amounted to an expense of $20 million and $14 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The income tax provision amounted to an expense of $55 million and $25 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increases in income tax expense were primarily driven by the increases in pre-tax income.

The Company’s liability for income taxes includes the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties which relate to tax years still subject to review by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or other taxing authorities. Audit periods remain open for review until the statute of limitations has passed. Generally, for tax years which produce net operating losses, capital losses or tax credit carryforwards (“tax attributes”), the statute of limitations does not close, to the extent of these tax attributes, until the expiration of the statute of limitations for the tax year in which they are fully utilized. The completion of review or the expiration of the statute of limitations for a given audit period could result in an adjustment to the liability for income taxes. The statute of limitations for the 2004 through 2006 tax years will expire in March 2014, unless extended. The statute of limitations for the 2007 through 2009 tax years will expire in December 2014, unless extended. Tax years 2010 through 2012 are still open for IRS examination.

The Company does not anticipate any significant changes within the next 12 months to its total unrecognized tax benefits related to tax years for which the statute of limitations has not expired.

The dividends received deduction (“DRD”) reduces the amount of dividend income subject to U.S. tax and is a significant component of the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the federal statutory tax rate of 35%. The DRD for the current period was estimated using information from 2012, current year results, and was adjusted to take into account the current year’s equity market performance. The actual current year DRD can vary from the estimate based on factors such as, but not limited to, changes in the amount of dividends received that are eligible for the DRD, changes in the amount of distributions received from mutual fund investments, changes in the account balances of variable life and annuity contracts, and the Company’s taxable income before the DRD.

 

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In August 2007, the IRS released Revenue Ruling 2007-54, which included, among other items, guidance on the methodology to be followed in calculating the DRD related to variable life insurance and annuity contracts. In September 2007, the IRS released Revenue Ruling 2007-61. Revenue Ruling 2007-61 suspended Revenue Ruling 2007-54 and informed taxpayers that the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS intend to address through new guidance the issues considered in Revenue Ruling 2007-54, including the methodology to be followed in determining the DRD related to variable life insurance and annuity contracts. In May 2010, the IRS issued an Industry Director Directive (“IDD”) confirming that the methodology for calculating the DRD set forth in Revenue Ruling 2007-54 should not be followed. The IDD also confirmed that the IRS guidance issued before Revenue Ruling 2007-54, which guidance the Company relied upon in calculating its DRD, should be used to determine the DRD. For the last several years, the revenue proposals included in the Obama Administration’s budgets included a proposal that would change the method used to determine the amount of the DRD. A change in the DRD, including the possible retroactive or prospective elimination of this deduction through guidance or legislation, could increase actual tax expense and reduce the Company’s net income. These activities had no impact on the Company’s results for 2012, or for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

For tax years 2007 through 2013, the Company is participating in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Program (“CAP”). Under CAP, the IRS assigns an examination team to review completed transactions contemporaneously during these tax years in order to reach agreement with the Company on how they should be reported in the tax returns. If disagreements arise, accelerated resolutions programs are available to resolve the disagreements in a timely manner before the tax returns are filed. It is management’s expectation this program will shorten the time period between the filing of the Company’s federal income tax returns and the IRS’s completion of its examination of the returns.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

This section supplements and should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Overview

Liquidity refers to the ability to generate sufficient cash resources to meet the payment obligations of the Company. Capital refers to the long term financial resources available to support the operations of our businesses, fund business growth, and provide a cushion to withstand adverse circumstances. The ability to generate and maintain sufficient liquidity and capital depends on the profitability of our businesses, general economic conditions and our access to the capital markets through affiliates as described herein.

Management monitors the liquidity of Prudential Financial, Prudential Insurance and the Company on a daily basis and projects borrowing and capital needs over a multi-year time horizon through our quarterly planning process. We believe that cash flows from the sources of funds available to us are sufficient to satisfy the current liquidity requirements of Prudential Financial and the Company, including reasonably foreseeable stress scenarios. We have a capital management framework in place that facilitates the allocation of capital and approval of capital uses, and we forecast capital sources and uses on a quarterly basis. We also employ a “Capital Protection Framework” to ensure the availability of capital resources in order to maintain adequate capitalization and competitive risk-based capital ratios under various stress scenarios.

In June 2013, the Company paid a dividend in the amount of $155 million to Pruco Life.

Capital

The Risk Based Capital, or RBC, ratio is a primary measure of the capital adequacy of the Company. RBC is determined by statutory guidelines and formulas that consider among other things, risks related to the type and quality of the invested assets, insurance-related risks associated with an insurer’s products and liabilities, interest rate risks and general business risks. RBC is calculated based on statutory financial statements and risk formulas consistent with NAIC practices. The RBC ratio calculations are intended to assist insurance regulators in measuring the insurer’s solvency and ability to pay future claims. The reporting of RBC measures is not intended for the purpose of ranking any insurance company or for use in connection with any marketing, advertising or promotional activities, but is available to the public. The RBC ratio is an annual calculation, however, as of September 30, 2013 we estimate that the Company’s RBC ratio exceeds the minimum level required by applicable insurance regulations.

The regulatory capital level of the Company can be materially impacted by interest rate and equity market fluctuations, changes in the values of derivatives, the level of impairments recorded, credit quality migration of the investment portfolio, and business growth, among other items. Further, the recapture of business subject to reinsurance arrangements due to defaults by, or credit quality migration affecting, the reinsurers or for other reasons could result in higher required statutory capital levels. The regulatory capital level of the Company is also affected by statutory accounting rules which are subject to change by insurance regulators.

We employ a “Capital Protection Framework” to ensure that sufficient capital resources are available to maintain adequate capitalization and a competitive risk based capital ratio, under various stress scenarios. The Capital Protection Framework incorporates the potential impacts from market related stresses, including equity markets, interest rates, and credit losses. Potential sources of capital include on-balance sheet capital, derivatives, reinsurance and contingent sources of capital. Although we continue to enhance our approach, we believe we currently have access to sufficient resources to maintain adequate capitalization and a competitive RBC ratio under a range of potential stress scenarios.

 

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Captive Reinsurance Companies

Prudential Financial uses captive reinsurance companies to more effectively manage our reserves and capital on an economic basis and to enable the aggregation and transfer of risks. The captive reinsurance companies assume business from affiliates only. To support the risks they assume, the captives are capitalized to a level we believe is consistent with our “AA” financial strength rating targets. All of the captive reinsurance companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial and are located domestically, typically in the state of domicile of the direct writing insurance subsidiary that cedes the majority of business to the captive. In addition to state insurance regulation, the captives are subject to internal policies governing their activities. Prudential Financial provides support to these captives through net worth maintenance agreements and in the normal course of business will contribute capital to the captives to support business growth and other needs. In addition, in connection with financing arrangements, Prudential Financial guarantees certain of the captives’ obligations.

Our life insurance business is subject to a regulation entitled “Valuation of Life Insurance Policies,” commonly known as “Regulation XXX,” and a supporting guideline entitled “The Application of the Valuation of Life Insurance Policies,” commonly known as “Guideline AXXX.” The regulation and supporting guideline require insurers to establish statutory reserves for term and universal life insurance policies with long-term premium guarantees that are consistent with the statutory reserves required for other individual life insurance policies with similar guarantees. Many market participants believe that these levels of reserves are non-economic. Prudential Financial uses captive reinsurance companies to implement reinsurance and capital management actions to satisfy these reserve requirements by financing the non-economic reserves through the issuance of surplus notes by the captives, which are treated as capital for statutory purposes.

Prudential Financial manages certain risks associated with living benefit guarantees on certain variable annuity and retirement products through a domestic captive reinsurance company, Pruco Re. This enables Prudential Financial to aggregate these risks within Pruco Re and manage them more efficiently through a hedging program. The Company reinsures variable annuity living benefit guarantees to Pruco Re. In order for the Company to claim statutory reserve credit for business ceded to Pruco Re, Pruco Re must collateralize its obligation under the reinsurance agreement. This requirement is satisfied by Pruco Re depositing assets into statutory reserve credit trusts.

We believe Pruco Re currently maintains an adequate level of capital and has access to liquidity to support this hedging program. However, Pruco Re’s capital and liquidity needs can vary significantly due to, among other things, changes in equity markets, interest rates, mortality and policyholder behavior. Through its Capital Protection Framework, Prudential Financial maintains access to on-balance sheet and contingent sources of capital and liquidity that are available to meet these needs as they arise. As of September 30, 2013, the statutory reserve credit trusts required collateral of $17 million, a decrease of $131 million from December 31, 2012. Pruco Re has deposited assets into statutory reserve credit trusts to satisfy this requirement. The decrease was primarily driven by favorable equity markets.

Liquidity

There have been no material changes to the liquidity position of the Company since December 31, 2012. We continue to believe that cash generated by ongoing operations and the liquidity profile of our assets provide sufficient liquidity under reasonably foreseeable stress scenarios for the Company.

The principal sources of the Company’s cash are premiums and certain annuity considerations, investment and fee income, investment maturities and sales as well as internal borrowings. The principal uses of that liquidity include benefits, claims, and payments to policyholders and contractholders in connection with surrenders, withdrawals and net policy loan activity. Other uses of liquidity include commissions, general and administrative expenses, purchases of investments, and payments in connection with financing activities. We use a projection process for cash flows from operations to ensure sufficient liquidity is available to meet projected cash outflows, including claims.

Our liquidity is managed to ensure stable, reliable and cost-effective sources of cash flows to meet all of our obligations. Liquidity is provided by a variety of sources, as described more fully below, including portfolios of liquid assets. Our investment portfolios are integral to the overall liquidity of the Company.

Liquid assets include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and fixed maturities that are not designated as held-to-maturity and public equity securities. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 the Company had liquid assets of $988 million and $1,122 million, respectively. The portion of liquid assets comprised of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments was $30.4 million and $52.8 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31 2012, respectively. As of September 30, 2013, $900 million, or 94%, of the fixed maturity investments in company general account portfolios were rated high or highest quality based on NAIC or equivalent rating. The remaining $57 million, or 6%, of these fixed maturity investments were rated other than high or highest quality.

Prudential Financial and Prudential Funding, LLC, or Prudential Funding, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Insurance, borrow funds in the capital markets primarily through the direct issuance of commercial paper. The borrowings serve as an additional source of financing to meet our working capital needs. Prudential Funding operates under a support agreement with Prudential Insurance whereby Prudential Insurance has agreed to maintain Prudential Funding positive tangible net worth at all times.

As we continue to underwrite term and universal life insurance business, including through the recently-acquired Hartford Life Business, we expect to have additional borrowing needs to finance non-economic reserves required under Regulation XXX and Guideline AXXX. We believe we have sufficient financing resources in place to meet our financing needs under Regulation XXX into 2014, and under Guideline AXXX through 2013. Based on an increased level of guaranteed universal life in force, we are pursuing a solution to address Guideline AXXX financing needs through 2014.

 

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Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

In order to ensure that the information we must disclose in our filings with the SEC, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis, the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act”, as of September 30, 2013. Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of September 30, 2013, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. No change in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f), occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See Note 6 to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements under “—Litigation and Regulatory Matters” for a description of material pending litigation and regulatory matters affecting us, and certain risks to our businesses presented by such matters, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition, or cause our actual results to differ materially from those expected or those expressed in any forward looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. These risks are not exclusive, and additional risks to which we are subject include, but are not limited to, the factors mentioned under “Forward-Looking Statements” above and the risks of our business described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The risk factor contained in our 2012 Form 10-K titled “The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act has and will subject the Company, our parent and our affiliates to substantial additional federal regulation and we cannot predict the effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition” is hereby updated to note that on September 19, 2013, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (the “Council”) made a final determination that Prudential Financial should be subject to stricter prudential regulatory standards and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (as a “Covered Company”) pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. On October 18, 2013, Prudential Financial confirmed that it would not seek to rescind the final determination of the Council. As a Covered Company under the Dodd-Frank Act, Prudential Financial is now subject to supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and to stricter prudential regulatory standards, which include or will include requirements (some of which are subject to future rulemaking) regarding risk-based capital and leverage, liquidity, stress-testing, overall risk management, resolution plans, early remediation, and credit concentration; and may also include additional standards regarding capital, public disclosure, short-term debt limits, and other related subjects as appropriate. Prudential Financial must also seek pre-approval from the Federal Reserve for the acquisition of certain companies engaged in financial activities.

The risk factor titled “Our business is heavily regulated and changes in regulation may reduce our profitability” is hereby updated to note that in October 2013, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (the “IAIS”) announced that it expects to develop a risk-based global insurance capital standard by 2016, with full implementation scheduled to begin in 2019. In addition, the IAIS seeks to promote the financial stability of IAIGs by endorsing: uniform standards for insurer corporate governance and enterprise risk management; group-wide supervision of IAIGs; a framework for group capital adequacy assessment that accounts for group-wide risks; additional regulatory and disclosure requirements for insurance groups; and the establishment of ongoing supervisory colleges. The IAIS is developing a model framework (“ComFrame”) for the supervision of IAIGs that contemplates “group wide supervision” across national boundaries. Prudential Financial qualifies as an IAIG. ComFrame requires each IAIG to conduct its own risk and solvency assessment (“ORSA”) to monitor and manage its overall solvency. Also, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has recently adopted the NAIC Risk Management and Own Risk Solvency Assessment model act which, following enactment at the state level, will require a large insurer beginning in 2015 to at least annually assess the adequacy of its and its group’s risk management and current and future solvency position. In October 2013, several of Prudential Financial’s domestic and foreign insurance regulators convened a supervisory college. The purpose of the supervisory college is to promote ongoing supervisory coordination, facilitate the sharing of information among regulators and to enhance each regulator’s understanding of the Company’s risk profile.

In addition, the NAIC, the New York State Department of Financial Services and other regulators recently increased their focus on life insurers’ use of captive reinsurance companies. We cannot predict what, if any, changes may result from these reviews. If applicable insurance laws are changed in a way that impairs the use of captive reinsurance companies, our ability to write certain products and efficiently manage their associated risks could be adversely affected and we may need to increase prices on certain products, modify certain products or find alternate financing sources, any of which could adversely affect our competitiveness, capital and financial position and results of operations.

For additional information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits

 

  31.1    Section 302 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer.
  31.2    Section 302 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer.
  32.1    Section 906 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer.
  32.2    Section 906 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer.
101.INS    -XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH    -XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL    -XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.LAB    -XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE    -XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF    -XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey
By:  

/s/ Yanela C. Frias

  Name: Yanela C. Frias
 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Authorized signatory and principal financial officer)

Date: November 13, 2013

 

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