10-Q 1 prucoform10q-1q2016.htm 10-Q - 1Q 2016 SEC Document
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 March 31, 2016
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 033-37587        
_____________________________________ 
Pruco Life Insurance
Company
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Arizona
 
22-1944557
(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 May 12, 2016, 250,000 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock (par value $10), were outstanding. As of such date, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, a New Jersey corporation, owned all of the Registrant’s Common Stock.
Pruco Life Insurance Company 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
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
 

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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 and its subsidiaries. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Pruco Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries 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; (5) reestimates of our reserves for future policy benefits and claims; (6) differences between actual experience regarding mortality, morbidity, persistency, utilization, interest rates or market returns and the assumptions we use in pricing our products, establishing liabilities and reserves or for other purposes; (7) changes in our assumptions related to deferred policy acquisition costs; (8) changes in our financial strength or credit ratings; (9) statutory reserve requirements associated with term and universal life insurance policies under Regulation XXX and Guideline AXXX; (10) investment losses, defaults and counterparty non-performance; (11) competition in our product lines and for personnel; (12) difficulties in marketing and distributing products through current or future distribution channels; (13) changes in tax law; (14) regulatory or legislative changes, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the U.S. Department of Labor's fiduciary rules; (15) inability to protect our intellectual property rights or claims of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; (16) adverse determinations in litigation or regulatory matters, and our exposure to contingent liabilities, including related to the remediation of certain securities lending activities administered by Prudential Financial, Inc.; (17) 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; (18) ineffectiveness of risk management policies and procedures in identifying, monitoring and managing risks; (19) interruption in telecommunication, information technology or other operational systems or failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data on such systems; (20) possible difficulties in executing, integrating and realizing projected results of acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings; and (21) changes in statutory or U.S. GAAP accounting principles, practices or policies. Pruco Life Insurance Company does not intend, and is under no obligation, to update any particular forward-looking statement included in this document. See “Risk Factors” included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 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
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands, except share amounts)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2016 – $7,120,844; 2015 – $6,775,806)
$
7,412,357

 
$
6,840,932

Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost: 2016 – $59,599; 2015 – $54,609)
57,578

 
51,973

Trading account assets, at fair value
67,862

 
64,612

Policy loans
1,141,331

 
1,143,303

Short-term investments
46,614

 
54,806

Commercial mortgage and other loans
1,641,942

 
1,658,235

Other long-term investments
334,380

 
379,237

Total investments
10,702,064

 
10,193,098

Cash and cash equivalents
495,840

 
370,286

Deferred policy acquisition costs
4,565,346

 
5,111,373

Accrued investment income
104,075

 
100,031

Reinsurance recoverables
24,780,544

 
22,546,361

Receivables from parent and affiliates
229,974

 
228,253

Deferred sales inducements
550,121

 
684,844

Other assets
93,860

 
59,578

Separate account assets
110,336,987

 
109,350,121

TOTAL ASSETS
$
151,858,811

 
$
148,643,945

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
LIABILITIES
 
 
 
Policyholders’ account balances
$
17,244,845

 
$
17,164,705

Future policy benefits
17,551,419

 
15,031,390

Cash collateral for loaned securities
5,317

 
40,416

Income taxes
90,576

 
154,043

Short-term debt to affiliates
180,500

 
180,000

Long-term debt to affiliates
1,204,000

 
1,204,000

Payables to parent and affiliates
70,195

 
72,791

Other liabilities
870,019

 
935,662

Separate account liabilities
110,336,987

 
109,350,121

TOTAL LIABILITIES
147,553,858

 
144,133,128

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (See Note 6)

 

EQUITY
 
 
 
Common stock ($10 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 250,000 shares issued and outstanding)
2,500

 
2,500

Additional paid-in capital
784,913

 
779,973

Retained earnings
3,337,408

 
3,663,539

Accumulated other comprehensive income
180,132

 
64,805

TOTAL EQUITY
4,304,953

 
4,510,817

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$
151,858,811

 
$
148,643,945


See Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

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Table of Contents                                        

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
REVENUES
 
 
 
Premiums
$
17,915

 
$
15,637

Policy charges and fee income
527,407

 
540,765

Net investment income
105,452

 
103,420

Asset administration fees
72,791

 
98,687

Other income
13,522

 
17,217

Realized investment gains (losses), net:
 
 
 
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities
(16,349
)
 
(33
)
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities transferred to other comprehensive income
199

 
22

Other realized investment gains (losses), net
71,301

 
59,036

Total realized investment gains (losses), net
55,151

 
59,025

  TOTAL REVENUES
792,238

 
834,751

BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
 
 
 
Policyholders’ benefits
98,528

 
58,401

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances
186,431

 
117,477

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
640,552

 
302,751

General, administrative and other expenses
236,953

 
258,546

  TOTAL BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
1,162,464

 
737,175

INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
(370,226
)
 
97,576

Income tax expense (benefit)
(44,095
)
 
13,346

NET INCOME (LOSS)
$
(326,131
)
 
$
84,230

Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
219

 
(520
)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):
 
 
 
Unrealized investment gains (losses) for the period
162,282

 
81,731

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)
14,924

 
(2,114
)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)
177,206

 
79,617

Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax
177,425

 
79,097

Less: Income tax expense (benefit) related to:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
76

 
(182
)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)
62,022

 
27,866

Total
62,098

 
27,684

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
115,327

 
51,413

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
$
(210,804
)
 
$
135,643




See Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements


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Table of Contents                                        

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Equity
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands)
 
 
  Common  
Stock
 
 Additional  
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained Earnings  
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive  
Income
(Loss)
 
Total Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2015
$
2,500

 
$
779,973

 
$
3,663,539

 
$
64,805

 
$
4,510,817

Contributed capital
0

 
5,000

 
0

 
0

 
5,000

Contributed (distributed) capital-parent/child asset transfers
0

 
(60
)
 
0

 
0

 
(60
)
Comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
0

 
0

 
(326,131
)
 
0

 
(326,131
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
0

 
0

 
0

 
115,327

 
115,327

Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(210,804
)
Balance, March 31, 2016
$
2,500

 
$
784,913

 
$
3,337,408

 
$
180,132

 
$
4,304,953


 
Common  
Stock
 
Additional  
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings  
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive  
Income
(Loss)
 
Total Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2014
$
2,500

 
$
792,153

 
$
3,580,641

 
$
178,691

 
$
4,553,985

Contributed (distributed) capital-parent/child asset transfers
0

 
(11,780
)
 
0

 
0

 
(11,780
)
Comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
0

 
0

 
84,230

 
0

 
84,230

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
0

 
0

 
0

 
51,413

 
51,413

Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
135,643

Balance, March 31, 2015
$
2,500

 
$
780,373

 
$
3,664,871

 
$
230,104

 
$
4,677,848













See Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements


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Table of Contents                                        

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands)

 
2016
 
2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(326,131
)
 
$
84,230

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Policy charges and fee income
(5,850
)
 
(10,057
)
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances
186,431

 
117,477

Realized investment (gains) losses, net
(55,151
)
 
(59,025
)
Amortization and other non-cash items
(9,102
)
 
(19,863
)
Change in:
 
 
 
Future policy benefits
416,396

 
401,279

Reinsurance recoverables
(353,572
)
 
(411,861
)
Accrued investment income
(4,044
)
 
(2,374
)
Net payable to/receivable from parent and affiliates
(7,099
)
 
(35,906
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs
489,279

 
156,424

Income taxes
(125,565
)
 
(25,420
)
Deferred sales inducements
(932
)
 
(2,002
)
Derivatives, net
202,678

 
151,514

Other, net
(73,914
)
 
(21,814
)
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
$
333,424

 
$
322,602

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Proceeds from the sale/maturity/prepayment of:
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
$
459,445

 
$
229,453

Short-term investments
192,422

 
145,309

Policy loans
38,255

 
31,243

Ceded policy loans
(1,976
)
 
(1,868
)
Commercial mortgage and other loans
83,528

 
8,346

Other long-term investments
1,261

 
1,697

Equity securities, available-for-sale
10

 
11

Trading account assets
626

 
1,500

Payments for the purchase/origination of:
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
(818,934
)
 
(366,407
)
Short-term investments
(184,142
)
 
(239,688
)
Policy loans
(26,081
)
 
(24,773
)
Ceded policy loans
3,509

 
2,909

Commercial mortgage and other loans
(64,988
)
 
(54,315
)
Other long-term investments
(14,085
)
 
(10,234
)
Equity securities, available-for-sale
(5,644
)
 
(5,010
)
Trading account assets
0

 
(12,001
)
Notes receivable from parent and affiliates, net
1,917

 
11,784

Derivatives, net
466

 
(4,150
)
Other, net
(4,389
)
 
2,827

Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
$
(338,800
)
 
$
(283,367
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Policyholders’ account deposits
$
1,023,782

 
$
829,044

Ceded policyholders’ account deposits
(276,350
)
 
(258,767
)
Policyholders’ account withdrawals
(586,669
)
 
(455,336
)
Ceded policyholders’ account withdrawals
16,445

 
10,218

Net change in cash collateral for loaned securities
(35,098
)
 
25,596

Contributed capital
5,000

 
0

Contributed (distributed) capital - parent/child asset transfers
(60
)
 
(18,123
)
Net change in financing arrangements (maturities 90 days or less)
500

 
6,804

Drafts outstanding
(16,620
)
 
14,698

Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
$
130,930

 
$
154,134

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
125,554

 
193,369

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR
370,286

 
214,952

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
$
495,840

 
$
408,321


























See Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements


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Table of Contents                                        

PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
 
1.    BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Pruco Life Insurance Company (“Pruco Life”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential Insurance”), which in turn is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential Financial”). Pruco Life is a stock life insurance company organized in 1971 under the laws of the State of Arizona. It is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in the District of Columbia, Guam and in all States except New York, and sells such products primarily through affiliated and unaffiliated distributors.

Pruco Life has two subsidiaries, including one wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey (“PLNJ”) and one indirect subsidiary formed in 2009 for the purpose of holding certain commercial loan investments. Pruco Life and its subsidiaries are together referred to as the “Company”, "we" or "our" and all financial information is shown on a consolidated basis.

PLNJ 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 in New Jersey and New York only.

Effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit riders that were previously reinsured to Pruco Reinsurance, Ltd. ("Pruco Re"). In addition, the Company reinsured the variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit riders, to Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation ("PALAC"), excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance. This reinsurance agreement covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally. The product risks related to the business reinsured to PALAC are being managed in PALAC and the product risks related to the business reinsured to Prudential Insurance are being managed in Prudential Insurance. In addition, the living benefit hedging program related to the reinsured living benefit riders will be managed within PALAC or Prudential Insurance, as applicable.

Basis of Presentation

The Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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”). Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations have been made. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. 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 Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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 ("DSI"); valuation of investments including derivatives and the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”); future policy benefits including guarantees; reinsurance recoverables; provision for income taxes and valuation of deferred tax assets; and accruals for contingent liabilities, including estimates for losses in connection with unresolved legal matters.

Reclassifications

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


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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


2.    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRONOUNCEMENTS

This section supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance (Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)) to remove the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The new guidance became effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods that began after December 15, 2015, and was applied retrospectively. Adoption of the guidance did not have a significant effect on the Company’s financial statement disclosures. See Note 4.

In February 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance (ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to Consolidation Analysis) that modifies the rules regarding consolidation. The pronouncement eliminates specialized guidance for limited partnerships and similar legal entities, and removes the indefinite deferral for certain investment funds. The new guidance is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the updated guidance effective January 1, 2016 and applied the modified retrospective method of adoption. This guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or financial statement disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance (ASU 2014-14, Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure) requiring that mortgage loans be derecognized and that a separate other receivable be recognized upon foreclosure if certain conditions are met. Upon foreclosure, the separate other receivable should be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor. The new guidance became effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods that began after December 15, 2014, and was applied prospectively. Adoption of the guidance did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance (ASU 2014-13, Consolidation (Topic 810): Measuring the Financial Assets and the Financial Liabilities of a Consolidated Collateralized Financing Entity) for measuring the financial assets and the financial liabilities of a consolidated collateralized financing entity. Under the guidance, an entity within scope is permitted to measure both the financial assets and financial liabilities of a consolidated collateralized financing entity based on either the fair value of the financial assets or the financial liabilities, whichever is more observable. If adopted, the guidance eliminates the measurement difference that exists when both are measured at fair value. The Company adopted the updated guidance effective January 1, 2016, and applied the modified retrospective method of adoption. This guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or financial statement disclosures.

In June 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance (ASU 2014-11, Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures) that requires repurchase-to-maturity transactions to be accounted for as secured borrowings and eliminates existing guidance for repurchase financings. The guidance also requires new disclosures for certain transactions accounted for as secured borrowings and for transfers accounted for as sales when the transferor also retains substantially all of the exposure to the economic return on the transferred financial assets. Accounting changes and new disclosures for transfers accounted for as sales under the new guidance were effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2014 and did not have a significant effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures. Disclosures for certain transactions accounted for as secured borrowings were effective for interim periods beginning after March 15, 2015 and are included in Note 3.

In January 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance (ASU 2014-04, Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructuring by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure) for troubled debt restructurings clarifying when an in-substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and when a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan. The new guidance became effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods that began after December 15, 2014 and was applied prospectively. Adoption of the guidance did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.


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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


In January 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance (ASU 2014-01, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects) regarding investments in flow-through limited liability entities that manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit. Under the guidance, an entity is permitted to make an accounting policy election to amortize the initial cost of its investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognize the net investment performance in the statement of operations as a component of income tax expense (benefit) if certain conditions are met. The new guidance became effective for annual periods and interim reporting periods within those annual periods that began after December 15, 2014. The Company did not elect the proportional amortization method under this guidance.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance (ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)) on accounting for revenue recognition. The guidance is based on the core principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The guidance also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. Revenue recognition for insurance contracts is explicitly scoped out of the guidance.
In August 2015, the FASB issued an update to defer the original effective date of this guidance. As a result of the deferral, the new guidance is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017 and must be applied using one of two retrospective application methods. Early adoption is permitted for only annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and financial statement disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance (ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities) on the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The guidance revises an entity’s accounting related to the classification and measurement of certain equity investments and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The guidance also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The new guidance is effective for annual periods and interim reporting periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is not permitted except for the provisions related to the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and financial statement disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance (ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842)) that ensures assets and liabilities from all outstanding lease contracts are recognized on balance sheet (with limited exception). The guidance substantially changes a Lessee’s accounting for leases and requires the recording on balance sheet of a “right-of-use” asset and liability to make lease payments for most leases. A Lessee will continue to recognize expense in its income statement in a manner similar to the requirements under the current lease accounting guidance. For Lessors, the guidance modifies classification criteria and accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases and requires a Lessor to derecognize the carrying value of the leased asset that is considered to have been transferred to a Lessee and record a lease receivable and residual asset (“receivable and residual” approach). The guidance also eliminates the real estate specific provisions of the current guidance (i.e., sale-leaseback). The amendments are effective for financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and financial statement disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance (ASU 2016-07, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting) to simplify the transition to equity method when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The amendments are effective for financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and financial statement disclosures.


10                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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:
 
March 31, 2016
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
OTTI
in AOCI(3)
 
(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies
$
165,404

 
$
11,764

 
$
1

 
$
177,167

 
$
0

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
631,330

 
39,057

 
184

 
670,203

 
0

Foreign government bonds
95,589

 
4,019

 
640

 
98,968

 
0

Public utilities
839,673

 
57,342

 
4,932

 
892,083

 
0

Redeemable preferred stock
17,345

 
2,079

 
156

 
19,268

 
0

All other U.S. public corporate securities
2,280,085

 
139,206

 
24,873

 
2,394,418

 
(191
)
All other U.S. private corporate securities
1,121,831

 
38,499

 
8,461

 
1,151,869

 
(224
)
All other foreign public corporate securities
268,944

 
12,143

 
3,353

 
277,734

 
0

All other foreign private corporate securities
784,955

 
18,316

 
23,873

 
779,398

 
0

Asset-backed securities(1)
350,399

 
5,866

 
2,679

 
353,586

 
(2,903
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
455,185

 
23,655

 
62

 
478,778

 
0

Residential mortgage-backed securities(2)
110,104

 
8,818

 
37

 
118,885

 
(657
)
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale
$
7,120,844

 
$
360,764

 
$
69,251

 
$
7,412,357

 
$
(3,975
)
Equity securities, available-for-sale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Public utilities
$
66

 
$
2

 
$
25

 
$
43

 
 
Industrial, miscellaneous & other
0

 
150

 
0

 
150

 
 
Mutual funds
59,533

 
688

 
2,836

 
57,385

 
 
Non-redeemable preferred stocks
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
 
Total equity securities, available-for-sale
$
59,599

 
$
840

 
$
2,861

 
$
57,578

 
 

(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 OTTI losses in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI"), which were not included in earnings. Amount excludes $9 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.


11                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
December 31, 2015
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
OTTI
in AOCI(3)
 
(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies
$
87,107

 
$
7,170

 
$
228

 
$
94,049

 
$
0

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
602,508

 
24,219

 
1,958

 
624,769

 
0

Foreign government bonds
70,107

 
3,094

 
2,791

 
70,410

 
0

Public utilities
790,038

 
30,862

 
18,402

 
802,498

 
0

Redeemable preferred stock
5,316

 
1,530

 
145

 
6,701

 
0

All other U.S. public corporate securities
2,138,358

 
81,905

 
61,142

 
2,159,121

 
(217
)
All other U.S. private corporate securities
1,085,345

 
26,299

 
13,963

 
1,097,681

 
0

All other foreign public corporate securities
270,063

 
8,230

 
6,508

 
271,785

 
0

All other foreign private corporate securities
784,283

 
9,933

 
42,528

 
751,688

 
0

Asset-backed securities(1)
431,578

 
6,203

 
2,650

 
435,131

 
(3,056
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
396,160

 
10,614

 
2,429

 
404,345

 
0

Residential mortgage-backed securities(2)
114,943

 
7,876

 
65

 
122,754

 
(690
)
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale
$
6,775,806

 
$
217,935

 
$
152,809

 
$
6,840,932

 
$
(3,963
)
Equity securities, available-for-sale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Public utilities
$
66

 
$
2

 
$
29

 
$
39

 
 
Industrial, miscellaneous & other
0

 
165

 
0

 
165

 
 
Mutual funds
54,543

 
256

 
3,030

 
51,769

 
 
Non-redeemable preferred stocks
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
 
Total equity securities, available-for-sale
$
54,609

 
$
423

 
$
3,059

 
$
51,973

 
 

(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 OTTI losses in AOCI, which were not included in earnings. Amount excludes $9 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.

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities by contractual maturities at March 31, 2016, are as follows:
 
Available-for-Sale
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
(in thousands)
Due in one year or less
$
477,002

 
$
481,347

Due after one year through five years
1,199,786

 
1,248,874

Due after five years through ten years
1,432,613

 
1,475,328

Due after ten years
3,095,755

 
3,255,559

Asset-backed securities
350,399

 
353,586

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
455,185

 
478,778

Residential mortgage-backed securities
110,104

 
118,885

Total
$
7,120,844

 
$
7,412,357



12                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 and equity security proceeds and related investment gains (losses), as well as losses on impairments of both fixed maturities and equity securities:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales
$
279,272

 
$
88,320

Proceeds from maturities/repayments
169,867

 
151,823

Gross investment gains from sales, prepayments and maturities
2,794

 
2,517

Gross investment losses from sales and maturities
(1,568
)
 
(391
)
Equity securities, available-for-sale
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales
$
10

 
$
0

Gross investment gains from sales
0

 
0

Gross investment losses from sales
0

 
0

Fixed maturity and equity security impairments
 
 
 
Net writedowns for OTTI losses on fixed maturities recognized in earnings(1)
$
(16,150
)
 
$
(12
)
Writedowns for impairments on equity securities
0

 
0


(1)
Excludes the portion of OTTI 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 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, a portion of certain OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities is recognized in “Other comprehensive income (loss)” (“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.
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
$
7,041

 
$
8,729

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period
(907
)
 
(64
)
Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities impaired to fair value during the period(1)
(670
)
 
0

Credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired
420

 
0

Additional credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired
0

 
12

Increases due to the passage of time on previously recorded credit losses
53

 
37

Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected
(79
)
 
(86
)
Balance, end of period
$
5,858

 
$
8,628


(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.


13                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Trading Account Assets

The following table sets forth the composition of “Trading account assets” as of the dates indicated:
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
(in thousands)
Fixed maturities
$
50,585

 
$
45,663

 
$
50,565

 
$
46,364

Equity securities
15,831

 
22,199

 
14,761

 
18,248

Total trading account assets
$
66,416

 
$
67,862

 
$
65,326

 
$
64,612


The net change in unrealized gains (losses) from trading account assets still held at period end, recorded within “Other income,” was $2.2 million and $(0.6) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans

The Company’s commercial mortgage and other loans are comprised as follows, as of the dates indicated:
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Amount
(in thousands)
 
% of
Total
 
Amount
(in thousands)
 
% of
Total
Commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail
$
387,326

 
23.7
%
 
$
440,767

 
26.7
%
Apartments/Multi-Family
467,242

 
28.6

 
445,379

 
27.0

Industrial
252,402

 
15.4

 
254,884

 
15.4

Office
252,435

 
15.4

 
226,332

 
13.6

Other
102,552

 
6.3

 
92,581

 
5.6

Hospitality
70,179

 
4.3

 
85,910

 
5.2

Total commercial mortgage loans
1,532,136

 
93.7

 
1,545,853

 
93.5

Agricultural property loans
103,486

 
6.3

 
106,623

 
6.5

Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type
1,635,622

 
100.0
%
 
1,652,476

 
100.0
%
Valuation allowance
(2,090
)
 
 
 
(2,651
)
 
 
Total net commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type
1,633,532

 
 
 
1,649,825

 
 
Other Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uncollateralized loans
8,410

 
 
 
8,410

 
 
Valuation allowance
0

 
 
 
0

 
 
Total other loans
8,410

 
 
 
8,410

 
 
Total commercial mortgage and other loans
$
1,641,942

 
 
 
$
1,658,235

 
 

The commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans are geographically dispersed throughout the United States (with the largest concentrations in California (24%), Texas (12%) and New Jersey (9%)) and include loans secured by properties in Australia and Europe at March 31, 2016.


14                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Activity in the allowance for credit losses for all commercial mortgage and other loans, as of the dates indicated, is as follows:
 
March 31, 2016
 
Commercial Mortgage Loans
 
Agricultural Property Loans
 
Uncollateralized Loans
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of year
$
2,587

 
$
64

 
$
0

 
$
2,651

Addition to (release of) allowance for losses
(556
)
 
(5
)
 
0

 
(561
)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total ending balance
$
2,031

 
$
59

 
$
0

 
$
2,090

 
December 31, 2015
 
Commercial Mortgage Loans
 
Agricultural Property Loans
 
Uncollateralized Loans
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of year
$
4,071

 
$
83

 
$
0

 
$
4,154

Addition to (release of) allowance for losses
(1,484
)
 
(19
)
 
0

 
(1,503
)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total ending balance
$
2,587

 
$
64

 
$
0

 
$
2,651


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:
 
March 31, 2016
 
Commercial Mortgage Loans
 
Agricultural Property Loans
 
Uncollateralized Loans
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Allowance for Credit Losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

Collectively evaluated for impairment
2,031

 
59

 
0

 
2,090

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total ending balance
$
2,031

 
$
59

 
$
0

 
$
2,090

Recorded Investment(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross of reserves: individually evaluated for impairment
$
0

 
$
287

 
$
0

 
$
287

Gross of reserves: collectively evaluated for impairment
1,532,136

 
103,199

 
8,410

 
1,643,745

Gross of reserves: loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total ending balance, gross of reserves
$
1,532,136

 
$
103,486

 
$
8,410

 
$
1,644,032


(1)
Recorded investment reflects the carrying value gross of related allowance.


15                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
December 31, 2015
 
Commercial Mortgage Loans
 
Agricultural Property Loans
 
Uncollateralized Loans
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Allowance for Credit Losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

Collectively evaluated for impairment
2,587

 
64

 
0

 
2,651

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total ending balance
$
2,587

 
$
64

 
$
0

 
$
2,651

Recorded Investment(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross of reserves: individually evaluated for impairment
$
0

 
$
287

 
$
0

 
$
287

Gross of reserves: collectively evaluated for impairment
1,545,853

 
106,336

 
8,410

 
1,660,599

Gross of reserves: loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total ending balance, gross of reserves
$
1,545,853

 
$
106,623

 
$
8,410

 
$
1,660,886


(1)
Recorded investment reflects the 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. Impaired commercial mortgage and other loans identified in management's specific review of probable loan losses and the related allowance for losses, as of the dates indicated, are as follows:
 
March 31, 2016
 
Recorded Investment(1)
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
Related Allowance
 
Average Recorded Investment Before Allowance(2)
 
Interest Income Recognized(3)
 
(in thousands)
With no related allowance recorded
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

With an allowance recorded
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0


(1)
Recorded investment reflects the carrying value gross of related allowance.
(2)
Average recorded investment represents the average of the beginning-of-period and end-of-period balances.
(3)
The interest income recognized is for the year-to-date income regardless of when the impairments occurred.
 
December 31, 2015
 
Recorded Investment(1)
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
Related Allowance
 
Average Recorded Investment Before Allowance(2)
 
Interest Income Recognized(3)
 
(in thousands)
With no related allowance recorded
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

With an allowance recorded
0

 
0

 
0

 
12,700

 
769

Total
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
12,700

 
$
769


(1)
Recorded investment reflects the carrying value gross of related allowance.
(2)
Average recorded investment represents the average of the beginning-of-period and all subsequent quarterly end-of-period balances.
(3)
The interest income recognized is for the year-to-date income regardless of when the impairments occurred.

The following tables set forth certain key credit quality indicators based upon the recorded investment gross of allowance for credit losses as of the dates indicated:

16                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
Debt Service Coverage Ratio - March 31, 2016
 
Greater than 1.2X
 
1.0X to <1.2X
 
Less than 1.0X
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Loan-to-Value Ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0%-59.99%
$
978,771

 
$
22,821

 
$
287

 
$
1,001,879

60%-69.99%
396,369

 
16,769

 
0

 
413,138

70%-79.99%
204,064

 
13,617

 
0

 
217,681

Greater than 80%
0

 
2,924

 
0

 
2,924

Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans
$
1,579,204

 
$
56,131

 
$
287

 
$
1,635,622

 
Debt Service Coverage Ratio - December 31, 2015
 
Greater than 1.2X
 
1.0X to <1.2X
 
Less than 1.0X
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Loan-to-Value Ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0%-59.99%
$
1,004,751

 
$
35,579

 
$
6,762

 
$
1,047,092

60%-69.99%
378,799

 
4,969

 
4,016

 
387,784

70%-79.99%
197,208

 
12,471

 
0

 
209,679

Greater than 80%
0

 
2,938

 
4,983

 
7,921

Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans
$
1,580,758

 
$
55,957

 
$
15,761

 
$
1,652,476


The following tables provide an aging of past due commercial mortgage and other loans as of the dates indicated, based upon the recorded investment gross of allowance for credit losses, as well as the amount of commercial mortgage loans on non-accrual status as of the dates indicated.
 
March 31, 2016
 
Current
 
30-59 Days Past Due
 
60-89 Days Past Due
 
Greater than 90 Days
 
Total Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans
 
Non-Accrual Status
 
(in thousands)
Commercial mortgage loans
$
1,532,136

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
1,532,136

 
$
0

Agricultural property loans
103,199

 
0

 
0

 
287

 
103,486

 
287

Uncollateralized loans
8,410

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
8,410

 
0

Total
$
1,643,745

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
287

 
$
1,644,032

 
$
287


 
December 31, 2015
 
Current
 
30-59 Days Past Due
 
60-89 Days Past Due
 
Greater than 90 Days
 
Total Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans
 
Non-Accrual Status
 
(in thousands)
Commercial mortgage loans
$
1,545,853

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
1,545,853

 
$
0

Agricultural property loans
106,336

 
287

 
0

 
0

 
106,623

 
0

Uncollateralized loans
8,410

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
8,410

 
0

Total
$
1,660,599

 
$
287

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1,660,886

 
$
0


See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for further discussion regarding non-accrual status loans.


17                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, there were no commercial mortgage and other loans acquired, other than those through direct origination, nor were there any commercial mortgage and other loans sold.

The Company’s commercial mortgage and other loans may occasionally be involved in a troubled debt restructuring. As of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had no significant commitments to borrowers that have been involved in a troubled debt restructuring. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, there were no new troubled debt restructurings related to commercial mortgage and other loans and no payment defaults on commercial mortgage and other loans that were modified as a troubled debt restructuring within the twelve months preceding. For additional information relating to the accounting for troubled debt restructurings, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

As of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any foreclosed residential real estate property.

Net Investment Income

Net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, was from the following sources:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
$
75,710

 
$
63,938

Equity securities, available-for-sale
0

 
1

Trading account assets
759

 
512

Commercial mortgage and other loans
19,773

 
20,897

Policy loans
15,498

 
15,115

Short-term investments and cash equivalents
737

 
275

Other long-term investments
(880
)
 
8,070

Gross investment income
111,597

 
108,808

Less: investment expenses
(6,145
)
 
(5,388
)
Net investment income
$
105,452

 
$
103,420


Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Net 

Realized investment gains (losses), net, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, were from the following sources:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Fixed maturities
$
(14,924
)
 
$
2,114

Equity securities
0

 
0

Commercial mortgage and other loans
562

 
151

Joint ventures and limited partnerships
(148
)
 
38

Derivatives
69,647

 
56,720

Other
14

 
2

Realized investment gains (losses), net
$
55,151

 
$
59,025



18                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The balance of and changes in each component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, 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, 2015
$
(397
)
 
$
65,202

 
$
64,805

Change in OCI before reclassifications
219

 
162,282

 
162,501

Amounts reclassified from AOCI
0

 
14,924

 
14,924

Income tax benefit (expense)
(76
)
 
(62,022
)
 
(62,098
)
Balance, March 31, 2016
$
(254
)
 
$
180,386

 
$
180,132

 
 
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, 2014
$
(67
)
 
$
178,758

 
$
178,691

Change in OCI before reclassifications
(520
)
 
81,731

 
81,211

Amounts reclassified from AOCI
0

 
(2,114
)
 
(2,114
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
182

 
(27,866
)
 
(27,684
)
Balance, March 31, 2015
$
(405
)
 
$
230,509

 
$
230,104


(1)
Includes cash flow hedges of $31 million and $48 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and $36 million and $12 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2016
 
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI (1)(2):
 
 
 
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges - Currency/Interest rate(3)
$
(827
)
 
$
1,801

Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities(4)
(14,097
)
 
313

Total net unrealized investment gains (losses)
(14,924
)
 
2,114

Total reclassifications for the period
$
(14,924
)
 
$
2,114


(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.
(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 costs 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 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as a component of AOCI. Changes in these amounts include reclassification adjustments to exclude from OCI those items that are included as part of “Net income” for a period that had been part of OCI in earlier periods. The amounts for the periods indicated below, split between

19                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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
 
DAC and
Other Costs
 
Future Policy
Benefits and
Policyholders’
Account
Balances(2)
 
Deferred
Income Tax
(Liability)
Benefit
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Related To Net
Unrealized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 
(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2015
$
5,196

 
$
(1,350
)
 
$
1,114

 
$
(1,767
)
 
$
3,193

Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period
96

 
0

 
0

 
(34
)
 
62

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income
(111
)
 
0

 
0

 
39

 
(72
)
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income(1)
(485
)
 
0

 
0

 
170

 
(315
)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on DAC and other costs
0

 
118

 
0

 
(41
)
 
77

Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and policyholders’ account balances
0

 
0

 
(147
)
 
51

 
(96
)
Balance, March 31, 2016
$
4,696

 
$
(1,232
)
 
$
967

 
$
(1,582
)
 
$
2,849


(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.
(2)
Balances are net of reinsurance.

All Other Net Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses in AOCI
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investments(2)
 
DAC and
Other Costs
 
Future Policy
Benefits and
Policyholders’
Account
Balances(3)
 
Deferred
Income Tax
(Liability)
Benefit
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Related To Net
Unrealized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 
(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2015
$
111,837

 
$
(19,252
)
 
$
2,647

 
$
(33,223
)
 
$
62,009

Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period
196,014

 
0

 
0

 
(68,604
)
 
127,410

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income
15,035

 
0

 
0

 
(5,262
)
 
9,773

Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income(1)
485

 
0

 
0

 
(170
)
 
315

Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on DAC and other costs
0

 
(59,669
)
 
0

 
20,884

 
(38,785
)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and policyholders’ account balances
0

 
0

 
25,870

 
(9,055
)
 
16,815

Balance, March 31, 2016
$
323,371

 
$
(78,921
)
 
$
28,517

 
$
(95,430
)
 
$
177,537


(1)
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.
(2)
Includes cash flow hedges. See Note 5 for information on cash flow hedges.
(3)
Balances are net of reinsurance.
 

20                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments by Asset Class

The table below presents net unrealized gains (losses) on investments by asset class as of the dates indicated:
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
Fixed maturity securities on which an OTTI loss has been recognized
$
4,696

 
$
5,196

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale - all other
286,817

 
59,930

Equity securities, available-for-sale
(2,021
)
 
(2,636
)
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges(1)
31,172

 
48,271

Other investments
7,403

 
6,272

Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
$
328,067

 
$
117,033


(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:
 
March 31, 2016
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies
$
24,999

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
24,999

 
$
1

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
2,912

 
10

 
12,747

 
174

 
15,659

 
184

Foreign government bonds
8,708

 
85

 
4,708

 
555

 
13,416

 
640

Public utilities
61,981

 
1,272

 
51,984

 
3,660

 
113,965

 
4,932

Redeemable preferred stock
0

 
156

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
156

All other U.S. public corporate securities
241,672

 
11,310

 
158,461

 
13,563

 
400,133

 
24,873

All other U.S. private corporate securities
162,658

 
7,223

 
16,168

 
1,238

 
178,826

 
8,461

All other foreign public corporate securities
29,403

 
2,424

 
6,827

 
929

 
36,230

 
3,353

All other foreign private corporate securities
112,218

 
4,206

 
179,934

 
19,667

 
292,152

 
23,873

Asset-backed securities
118,032

 
1,962

 
43,545

 
717

 
161,577

 
2,679

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
522

 
0

 
3,828

 
62

 
4,350

 
62

Residential mortgage-backed securities
888

 
27

 
1,406

 
10

 
2,294

 
37

Total
$
763,993

 
$
28,676

 
$
479,608

 
$
40,575

 
$
1,243,601

 
$
69,251

Equity securities, available-for-sale
$
32,679

 
$
2,471

 
$
4,611

 
$
390

 
$
37,290

 
$
2,861



21                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
December 31, 2015
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
U.S. government authorities and agencies
$
5,985

 
$
228

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
5,985

 
$
228

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
77,756

 
1,958

 
0

 
0

 
77,756

 
1,958

Foreign government bonds
44,854

 
1,940

 
1,813

 
851

 
46,667

 
2,791

Public utilities
323,086

 
13,151

 
26,094

 
5,251

 
349,180

 
18,402

All other U.S. public corporate securities
802,158

 
49,343

 
61,110

 
11,799

 
863,268

 
61,142

All other U.S. private corporate securities
323,218

 
12,476

 
17,103

 
1,487

 
340,321

 
13,963

All other foreign public corporate securities
121,662

 
5,098

 
6,079

 
1,410

 
127,741

 
6,508

All other foreign private corporate securities
284,191

 
14,234

 
154,791

 
28,439

 
438,982

 
42,673

Asset-backed securities
249,084

 
1,565

 
93,675

 
1,085

 
342,759

 
2,650

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
129,765

 
2,350

 
4,221

 
79

 
133,986

 
2,429

Residential mortgage-backed securities
18,435

 
59

 
1,519

 
6

 
19,954

 
65

Total
$
2,380,194

 
$
102,402

 
$
366,405

 
$
50,407

 
$
2,746,599

 
$
152,809

Equity securities, available-for-sale
$
35,869

 
$
2,339

 
$
9,281

 
$
720

 
$
45,150

 
$
3,059

  
The gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, were composed of $53.3 million and $133.6 million, respectively, related to high or highest quality securities based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) or equivalent rating and $15.9 million and $19.2 million, respectively, related to other than high or highest quality securities based on NAIC or equivalent rating. As of March 31, 2016, the $40.6 million of gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more were concentrated in the energy, consumer non-cyclical, utility and basic industry sectors of the Company's corporate securities. As of December 31, 2015, the $50.4 million of gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more were concentrated in the energy, consumer non-cyclical, utility and finance sectors of the Company's corporate securities. In accordance with its policy described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company concluded that an adjustment to earnings for OTTI for these securities was not warranted at March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015. 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 a decrease in interest rates, general credit spread tightening and foreign currency exchange rate movements. As of March 31, 2016, the Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities before the anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis.

As of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, none of the gross unrealized losses related to equity securities represented declines in value of greater than 20%. In accordance with its policy described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company concluded that an adjustment for OTTI for these equity securities was not warranted at March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

Securities Lending and Repurchase Agreements

In the normal course of business, the Company sells securities under agreements to repurchase and enters into securities lending transactions. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had $5 million of securities lending transactions recorded as "Cash collateral for loaned securities," comprised of $2 million in corporate securities, and $3 million in foreign government bonds. All of the $5 million of securities lending transactions have a remaining contractual maturity that is overnight and continuous. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $40 million of securities lending transactions recorded as "Cash collateral for loaned securities," comprised of $33 million in corporate securities and $7 million in foreign government bonds. Of the $40 million of securities lending transactions, $38 million had a remaining contractual maturity that was overnight and continuous, while the other $2 million had a remaining contractual maturity of up to thirty days. As of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had no repurchase transactions.

22                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



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 trade in active markets because they are not publicly available), certain short-term investments and certain cash equivalents, and certain over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives.

Level 3 Fair value is based on at least one significant unobservable input 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 OTC derivative contracts, certain real estate funds for which the Company is the general partner and embedded derivatives resulting from reinsurance or certain products with guaranteed benefits.


23                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Assets and Liabilities by Hierarchy Level The tables below present the balances of assets and liabilities reported at fair value on a recurring basis, as of the dates indicated.
 
March 31, 2016
 
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
$
0

 
$
177,167

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
177,167

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
0

 
670,203

 
0

 
0

 
670,203

Foreign government bonds
0

 
98,968

 
0

 
0

 
98,968

U.S. corporate public securities
0

 
2,961,999

 
55,003

 
0

 
3,017,002

U.S. corporate private securities
0

 
1,354,510

 
29,248

 
0

 
1,383,758

Foreign corporate public securities
0

 
293,841

 
0

 
0

 
293,841

Foreign corporate private securities
0

 
805,971

 
14,198

 
0

 
820,169

Asset-backed securities
0

 
229,195

 
124,391

 
0

 
353,586

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
0

 
478,778

 
0

 
0

 
478,778

Residential mortgage-backed securities
0

 
118,885

 
0

 
0

 
118,885

Sub-total
0

 
7,189,517

 
222,840

 
0

 
7,412,357

Trading account assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities
0

 
43,668

 
0

 
0

 
43,668

Asset-backed securities
0

 
1,995

 
0

 
0

 
1,995

Equity securities
0

 
0

 
22,199

 
0

 
22,199

Sub-total
0

 
45,663

 
22,199

 
0

 
67,862

Equity securities, available-for-sale
43

 
57,385

 
150

 
0

 
57,578

Short-term investments
7

 
46,607

 
0

 
0

 
46,614

Cash equivalents
5,317

 
200,964

 
0

 
0

 
206,281

Other long-term investments
0

 
458,035

 
2,444

 
(444,724
)
 
15,755

Reinsurance recoverables
0

 
0

 
6,741,737

 
0

 
6,741,737

Receivables from parent and affiliates
0

 
161,396

 
569

 
0

 
161,965

Sub-total excluding separate account assets
5,367

 
8,159,567

 
6,989,939

 
(444,724
)
 
14,710,149

Separate account assets(2)
0

 
109,912,778

 
0

 
0

 
109,912,778

Total assets
$
5,367

 
$
118,072,345

 
$
6,989,939

 
$
(444,724
)
 
$
124,622,927

Future policy benefits(3)
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
7,098,647

 
$
0

 
$
7,098,647

Payables to parent and affiliates
0

 
45,035

 
0

 
(45,035
)
 
0

Total liabilities
$
0

 
$
45,035

 
$
7,098,647

 
$
(45,035
)
 
$
7,098,647


 
 
 

24                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
December 31, 2015
 
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
$
0

 
$
94,049

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
94,049

Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions
0

 
624,769

 
0

 
0

 
624,769

Foreign government bonds
0

 
70,410

 
0

 
0

 
70,410

U.S. corporate public securities
0

 
2,635,551

 
55,003

 
0

 
2,690,554

U.S. corporate private securities
0

 
1,322,213

 
22,716

 
0

 
1,344,929

Foreign corporate public securities
0

 
275,349

 
0

 
0

 
275,349

Foreign corporate private securities
0

 
760,869

 
17,773

 
0

 
778,642

Asset-backed securities
0

 
261,784

 
173,347

 
0

 
435,131

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
0

 
404,345

 
0

 
0

 
404,345

Residential mortgage-backed securities
0

 
122,754

 
0

 
0

 
122,754

Sub-total
0

 
6,572,093

 
268,839

 
0

 
6,840,932

Trading account assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities
0

 
44,374

 
0

 
0

 
44,374

Asset-backed securities
0

 
1,990

 
0

 
0

 
1,990

Equity securities
0

 
0

 
18,248

 
0

 
18,248

Sub-total
0

 
46,364

 
18,248

 
0

 
64,612

Equity securities, available-for-sale
39

 
51,769

 
165

 
0

 
51,973

Short-term investments
18,713

 
36,093

 
0

 
0

 
54,806

Cash equivalents
50,998

 
143,927

 
0

 
0

 
194,925

Other long-term investments(4)
0

 
297,394

 
5,704

 
(230,554
)
 
72,544

Reinsurance recoverables
0

 
0

 
4,940,011

 
0

 
4,940,011

Receivables from parent and affiliates
0

 
157,625

 
5,000

 
0

 
162,625

Sub-total excluding separate account assets
69,750

 
7,305,265

 
5,237,967

 
(230,554
)
 
12,382,428

Separate account assets(2)(4)
0

 
108,967,162

 
0

 
0

 
108,967,162

Total assets
$
69,750

 
$
116,272,427

 
$
5,237,967

 
$
(230,554
)
 
$
121,349,590

Future policy benefits(3)
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
5,205,434

 
$
0

 
$
5,205,434

Payables to parent and affiliates
0

 
32,849

 
0

 
(32,849
)
 
0

Total liabilities
$
0

 
$
32,849

 
$
5,205,434

 
$
(32,849
)
 
$
5,205,434


(1)
“Netting” amounts represent cash collateral of $400 million and $198 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and the impact of offsetting asset and liability positions held with the same counterparty, subject to master netting arrangements.
(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 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 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(3)
As of March 31, 2016, the net embedded derivative liability position of $7,099 million includes $653 million of embedded derivatives in an asset position and $7,752 million of embedded derivatives in a liability position. As of December 31, 2015, the net embedded derivative liability position of $5,205 million includes $655 million of embedded derivatives in an asset position and $5,860 million of embedded derivatives in a liability position.
(4)
Prior period amounts are presented on a basis consistent with the current period presentation, reflecting the adoption of ASU 2015-07.

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

25                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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. The pricing hierarchy is updated for new financial products and recent pricing experience with various vendors. 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. Typical inputs used by these pricing services include but are not limited to, reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids, offers, and/or estimated cash flow, prepayment speeds, and default rates. If the pricing information received from third-party pricing services is deemed 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 or classify the securities as Level 3. If the pricing service updates the price to be more consistent with the presented market observations, the security remains within Level 2.

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 independent pricing services 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 override the information with an internally-developed valuation. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, overrides on a net basis were not material. Pricing service overrides, internally-developed valuations and indicative broker quotes are generally included in Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

The Company conducts several specific price monitoring activities. Daily analyses identify price changes over predetermined thresholds defined at the financial instrument level. Various pricing integrity reports are reviewed on a daily and monthly basis to determine if pricing is reflective of market activity or if it would warrant any adjustments. Other procedures performed include, but are not limited to, reviews of third-party pricing services methodologies, reviews of pricing trends, and back testing.

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 discounted cash flow models. These models primarily use observable inputs that include Treasury or similar base rates plus estimated credit spreads to value each security. The credit spreads are obtained through a survey of private market intermediaries who are active in both primary and secondary transactions, and consider, among other factors, the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer and the reduced liquidity associated with private placements. Since most private placements are valued using standard market observable inputs and inputs derived from, or corroborated by, market observable data including observed prices and spreads for similar publicly-traded or privately-traded issues, they have been reflected within Level 2. For certain private fixed maturities, the discounted cash flow model may incorporate significant unobservable inputs, which reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset. To the extent management determines that such unobservable inputs are significant to the price of a security, a Level 3 classification is made.

Trading Account Assets Trading account assets consist primarily of corporate and equity securities, asset-backed securities and perpetual preferred stock whose fair values are determined consistent with similar instruments described above under “Fixed Maturity Securities” and 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 “Payables to parent and affiliates”, 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 (“NPR”), liquidity and other factors. For derivative positions included within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, 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.


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Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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, NPR, 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, including Overnight Indexed Swap discount rates, 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 NPR, the Company incorporates additional spreads over London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("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 discussed in Note 2, the Company adopted ASU 2015-07, effective January 1, 2016, which resulted in the exclusion of certain "Other long-term investments" from the fair value hierarchy. The guidance was required to be applied retrospectively, and therefore, prior period amounts have been revised to conform to the current period presentation. At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair values of these investments, which include certain hedge funds, private equity funds and other funds were $1 million, which had been previously classified in Level 3 at December 31, 2015.

Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments – Cash equivalents and short-term investments include money market instruments, 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 mutual funds for which values are determined consistent with similar instruments described above under “Fixed Maturity Securities” and “Equity Securities”.

As discussed in Note 2, the Company adopted ASU 2015-07, effective January 1, 2016, which resulted in the exclusion of certain separate account investments from the fair value hierarchy. The guidance was required to be applied retrospectively, and therefore, prior period amounts have been revised to conform to the current period presentation. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair values of separate account assets excluded from the fair value hierarchy, which include investments in real estate and other invested assets, were $424 million and $383 million, respectively, which had been previously classified in Level 3 at December 31, 2015.

Receivables from Parent and Affiliates Receivables from parent and affiliates carried at fair value include affiliated bonds within the Company’s legal entity whose fair values 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 the Company’s living benefit guarantees on certain variable annuity contracts. 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 assumptions 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.

The Company also has an agreement with Universal Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Company (“UPARC”), an affiliated captive reinsurance company, to reinsure risks associated with the no-lapse guarantee provision available on a portion of certain universal life products (see Note 7). Under this agreement, the Company pays a premium to UPARC to reinsure the risk of uncollectible

27                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


policy charges and fees associated with the no-lapse guarantee provision. Reinsurance of this risk is accounted for as an embedded derivative which is included in “Reinsurance recoverables”. The fair value of this embedded derivative is the present value of expected reimbursement from UPARC for cost of insurance charges the Company is unable to collect from policyholders, less the present value of reinsurance premiums that is attributable to the embedded derivative feature. This methodology could result in either an asset or liability, given changes in capital market conditions and various policyholder behavior assumptions. Significant inputs to the valuation model for this embedded derivative include capital market assumptions, such as interest rates, estimated NPR of the counterparty, and various assumptions that are actuarially determined, including lapse rates, premium payment patterns and mortality rates.

Future Policy Benefits The liability for future policy benefits is related to guarantees primarily associated with the living benefit features of certain 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 these liabilities are calculated as the present value of future expected benefit payments to contractholders less the present value of future expected 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 actuarial 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’s judgment.

The significant inputs to the valuation models for these embedded derivatives include capital market assumptions, such as interest rate levels and volatility assumptions, the Company’s market-perceived 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 volatility. In the risk neutral valuation, the initial swap curve drives the total return used to grow the contractholders’ account values. The Company’s discount rate assumption is based on the LIBOR swap curve adjusted for an additional spread relative to 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. These assumptions are generally updated annually 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 – Transfers between levels are made to reflect changes in observability of inputs and market activity. Transfers into or out of any level are generally reported as the value as of the beginning of the quarter in which the transfers occur for any such assets still held at the end of the quarter. Periodically there are transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for assets held in the Company’s separate account. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, there were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2.


28                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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.
 
March 31, 2016
 
Internal(1)
 
External(2)    
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Corporate securities(3)
$
43,449

 
$
55,000

 
$
98,449

Asset-backed securities(4)
136

 
124,255

 
124,391

Equity securities
4,589

 
17,760

 
22,349

Other long-term investments
0

 
2,444

 
2,444

Reinsurance recoverables
6,741,737

 
0

 
6,741,737

Receivables from parent and affiliates
0

 
569

 
569

Total assets
$
6,789,911

 
$
200,028

 
$
6,989,939

Future policy benefits
$
7,098,647

 
$
0

 
$
7,098,647

Total liabilities
$
7,098,647

 
$
0

 
$
7,098,647


 
December 31, 2015
 
Internal(1)
 
External(2)    
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Corporate securities(3)
$
40,492

 
$
55,000

 
$
95,492

Asset-backed securities(4)
158

 
173,189

 
173,347

Equity securities
165

 
18,248

 
18,413

Other long-term investments(5)
3,260

 
2,444

 
5,704

Reinsurance recoverables
4,940,011

 
0

 
4,940,011

Receivables from parent and affiliates
0

 
5,000

 
5,000

Total assets
$
4,984,086

 
$
253,881

 
$
5,237,967

Future policy benefits
$
5,205,434

 
$
0

 
$
5,205,434

Total liabilities
$
5,205,434

 
$
0

 
$
5,205,434


(1)
Represents valuations reflecting both internally-derived and market inputs, as well as third-party pricing information or quotes. 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 indicative broker quotes where pricing inputs are not readily available.
(3)
Includes assets classified as fixed maturities available-for-sale.
(4)
Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, education loans and other asset types.
(5)
Prior period amounts are presented on a basis consistent with the current period presentation, reflecting the adoption of ASU 2015-07.

29                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



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 (see narrative below for quantitative information for separate account assets).
 
March 31, 2016
 
Fair Value  
  Valuation  
Techniques
 
Unobservable Inputs  
 
Minimum  
 
Maximum  
 
  Weighted  
Average
 
  Impact of 
Increase in 
Input on 
Fair Value(1)
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities(12)
$
43,449

Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
5.29
%
 
 
20.38
%
 
 
9.90
%
 
 
Decrease
 
 
Market comparables
 
EBITDA multiples(2)
 
5.0

X
 
5.0

X
 
5.0

X
 
Increase
Reinsurance recoverables - Living Benefits
$
6,348,158

Fair values are determined in the same manner as future policy benefits
Reinsurance recoverables - No Lapse Guarantee
$
393,579

Discounted cash flow
 
Lapse rate(3)
 
0
%
 
 
12
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
NPR spread(4)
 
0.44
%
 
 
2.07
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
Mortality rate(5)
 
0
%
 
 
20
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
Premium payment(6)
 
1.00

X
 
3.75

X
 
 
 
 
Decrease
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future policy benefits(7)
$
7,098,647

Discounted cash flow
 
Lapse rate(8)
 
0
%
 
 
14
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
NPR spread(4)
 
0.44
%
 
 
2.07
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
Utilization rate(9)
 
56
%
 
 
96
%
 
 
 
 
 
Increase
 
 
 
 
Withdrawal rate(10)
 
74
%
 
 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
Increase
 
 
 
 
Mortality rate(11)
 
0
%
 
 
14
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
Equity volatility curve
 
16
%
 
 
28
%
 
 
 
 
 
Increase
 
 



30                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
December 31, 2015
 
Fair Value  
  Valuation  
Techniques
 
  Unobservable
Inputs  
 
Minimum  
 
Maximum  
 
  Weighted  
Average
 
  Impact of 
Increase in 
Input on 
Fair Value(1)
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities(12)
$
40,492

Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
5.76
%
 
 
17.95
%
 
 
8.35
%
 
 
Decrease
 
 
Market comparables
 
EBITDA multiples(2)
 
5.0

X
 
5.0

X
 
5.0

X
 
Increase
Reinsurance recoverables - Living Benefits
$
4,600,193

Fair values are determined in the same manner as future policy benefits
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance recoverables - No Lapse Guarantee
$
339,818

Discounted cash flow
 
Lapse rate(3)
 
0
%
 
 
12
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
NPR spread(4)
 
0.06
%
 
 
1.76
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
Mortality rate(5)
 
0
%
 
 
20
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
Premium payment(6)
 
1.00

X
 
3.75

X
 
 
 
 
Decrease
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future policy benefits(7)
$
5,205,434

Discounted cash flow
 
Lapse rate(8)
 
0
%
 
 
14
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
NPR spread(4)
 
0.06
%
 
 
1.76
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
Utilization rate(9)
 
56
%
 
 
96
%
 
 
 
 
 
Increase
 
 
 
 
Withdrawal rate(10)
 
74
%
 
 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
Increase
 
 
 
 
Mortality rate(11)
 
0
%
 
 
14
%
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease
 
 
 
 
Equity volatility curve
 
17
%
 
 
28
%
 
 
 
 
 
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)
For universal life, lapse rates vary based on funding level and other factors. Rates are set to zero when the no lapse guarantee is fully funded and the cash value is zero.
(4)
To reflect NPR, the Company incorporates an additional spread over LIBOR into the discount rate used in the valuation of contracts in a liability position and generally not to those in a contra-liability position. The NPR spread 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.
(5)
Universal life mortality rates are adjusted based on underwriting information. A mortality improvement assumption is also incorporated into the projection.
(6)
For universal life, premium payment assumptions vary by funding level. Some policies are assumed to pay the minimum premium required to maintain the no lapse guarantee. Other policies are assumed to pay a multiple of commissionable target premium levels (shown above and indicated as “X”). Policyholders are assumed to stop premium payments once the no lapse guarantee is fully funded.
(7)
Future policy benefits primarily represent general account liabilities for the 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.
(8)
Lapse rates are adjusted at the contract level based on the in-the-moneyness of the living benefit and reflect other factors, such as the applicability of any surrender charges. Lapse rates are reduced when contracts are more in-the-money. Lapse rates are also generally assumed to be lower for the period where surrender charges apply.
(9)
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. Utilization assumptions may vary by product type, tax status and age. The impact of changes in these assumptions is highly dependent on the product type, the age of the contractholder at the time of the sale, and the timing of the first lifetime income withdrawal. Range reflects the utilization rate for the vast majority of business with living benefits.
(10)
The withdrawal rate assumption estimates the magnitude of annual contractholder withdrawals relative to the maximum allowable amount under the contract. These assumptions may vary based on the product type, contractholder age, tax status and withdrawal timing. The fair value of the liability will generally increase the closer the withdrawal rate is to 100%.
(11)
Range reflects the mortality rate for the vast majority of business with living benefits, with policyholders 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.
(12)
Includes assets classified as fixed maturities available-for-sale and other trading account assets.

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Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



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 Company expects efficient benefit utilization and withdrawal rates to generally be correlated with lapse rates. However, 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. To the extent more efficient contractholder behavior results in greater in-the-moneyness at the contract level, lapse rates may decline for those contracts. Similarly, to the extent that increases in equity volatility are correlated with overall declines in the capital markets, lapse rates may decline as contracts become more in-the-money.

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 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, analysis of portfolio returns to corresponding benchmark returns, back-testing, review of bid/ask spreads to assess activity, approval of price source changes, price overrides, methodology changes and classification of fair value hierarchy levels. For living benefit features of the Company’s variable annuity products, the actuarial valuation unit periodically tests contract input data and actuarial assumptions are reviewed at least annually and updated based upon emerging experience, future expectations and other data, including any observable market data. 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 living benefit features, the actuarial valuation unit validates input logic and new product features and agrees new input data directly to source documents.
 

32                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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 March 31, 2016
 
Fixed Maturities Available-for-Sale
 
 
U.S. Corporate Public Securities
 
U.S. Corporate Private Securities
 
Foreign Corporate Private Securities
 
Asset-Backed Securities
 
Trading Account 
Assets- Equity Securities
 
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period
$
55,003

 
$
22,716

 
$
17,773

 
$
173,347

 
$
18,248

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net
0

 
(508
)
 
(194
)
 
9

 
0

Asset management fees and other income
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
691

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)
0

 
(976
)
 
(215
)
 
(902
)
 
0

Net investment income
0

 
4

 
5

 
98

 
0

Purchases
0

 
209

 
65

 
0

 
0

Sales
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Issuances
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Settlements
0

 
(950
)
 
(4,823
)
 
(343
)
 
0

Transfers into Level 3(1)
0

 
8,753

 
1,587

 
10,916

 
0

Transfers out of Level 3(1)
0

 
0

 
0

 
(58,734
)
 
0

Other(5)
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
3,260

Fair value, end of period
$
55,003

 
$
29,248

 
$
14,198

 
$
124,391

 
$
22,199

Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net
$
0

 
$
(508
)
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

Asset management fees and other income
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
691

 

33                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
Equity Securities,
Available-for-Sale
 
Other 
Long-term
Investments
 
Reinsurance
Recoverables
 
Receivables 
from Parent and
Affiliates
 
Future Policy
Benefits
 
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period
$
165

 
$
5,704

 
$
4,940,011

 
$
5,000

 
$
(5,205,434
)
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net
0

 
0

 
1,625,887

 
(13
)
 
(1,700,231
)
Asset management fees and other income
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)
(15
)
 
0

 
0

 
34

 
0

Net investment income
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Purchases
0

 
0

 
175,839

 
0

 
0

Sales
0

 
0

 
0

 
(1,988
)
 
0

Issuances
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(192,982
)
Settlements
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Transfers into Level 3(1)
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Transfers out of Level 3(1)
0

 
0

 
0

 
(2,464
)
 
0

Other(5)
0

 
(3,260
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Fair value, end of period
$
150

 
$
2,444

 
$
6,741,737

 
$
569

 
$
(7,098,647
)
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1,655,557

 
$
0

 
$
(1,727,547
)
Asset management fees and other income
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0


34                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015(4)
 
Fixed Maturities Available-for-Sale
 
U.S. Corporate Public Securities
 
U.S. Corporate Private Securities
 
Foreign Corporate Private Securities
 
Asset-Backed
Securities
 
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period
$
61,092

 
$
14,539

 
$
9,170

 
$
100,217

Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net
0

 
0

 
62

 
2

Asset management fees and other income
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)
(44
)
 
(277
)
 
(117
)
 
530

Net investment income
(2
)
 
(12
)
 
8

 
(8
)
Purchases
56,903

 
249

 
188

 
73,630

Sales
(55,000
)
 
(2
)
 
(31
)
 
0

Settlements
(152
)
 
(511
)
 
(678
)
 
(72
)
Transfers into Level 3(1)
704

 
826

 
0

 
44,798

Transfers out of Level 3(1)
0

 
0

 
0

 
(18,046
)
Fair value, end of period
$
63,501

 
$
14,812

 
$
8,602

 
$
201,051

Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

Asset management fees and other income
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0


35                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015(4)
 
Trading
Account Assets-
Equity
Securities
 
Equity
Securities,
Available-for-Sale
 
Other Long-
term
Investments
 
Reinsurance
Recoverables
 
Receivables from Parent and Affiliates
 
Future Policy
Benefits
 
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period
$
5,540

 
$
750

 
$
596

 
$
4,897,545

 
$
19,203

 
$
(4,993,611
)
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net
0

 
0

 
51

 
759,357

 
0

 
(776,607
)
Asset management fees and other income
2,328

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)
0

 
(3
)
 
0

 
0

 
(20
)
 
0

Net investment income
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Purchases
0

 
0

 
0

 
165,205

 
0

 
0

Sales
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Issuances
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(174,597
)
Settlements
(1,500
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Transfers into Level 3(1)
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
1,986

 
0

Transfers out of Level 3(1)
0

 
0

 
(30
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Other(3)
12,001

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Fair value, end of period
$
18,369

 
$
747

 
$
617

 
$
5,822,107

 
$
21,169

 
$
(5,944,815
)
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains (losses), net
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
52

 
$
788,607

 
$
0

 
$
(809,087
)
Asset management fees and other income
$
2,283

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0


(1)
Transfers into or out of any level are generally reported as the value as of the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurs for any such assets still held at the end of the quarter.
(2)
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.
(3)
Other primarily represents reclassifications of certain assets between reporting categories.
(4)
Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation, including the adoption of ASU 2015-07.
(5)
Primarily related to private warrants reclassified from derivatives to trading securities.
 
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 availability of pricing service information for certain assets that the Company is able to validate.


36                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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. The financial instruments presented below are reported at carrying value on the Company’s Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position; however, in some cases, as described below, the carrying amount equals or approximates fair value.
 
March 31, 2016(1)
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount(2)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgage and other loans
$
0

 
$
8,394

 
$
1,720,581

 
$
1,728,975

 
$
1,641,942

Policy loans
0

 
0

 
1,141,331

 
1,141,331

 
1,141,331

Cash and cash equivalents
26,937

 
262,622

 
0

 
289,559

 
289,559

Accrued investment income
0

 
104,075

 
0

 
104,075

 
104,075

Receivables from parent and affiliates
0

 
68,009

 
0

 
68,009

 
68,009

Other assets
0

 
36,060

 
0

 
36,060

 
36,060

Total assets
$
26,937

 
$
479,160

 
$
2,861,912

 
$
3,368,009

 
$
3,280,976

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policyholders’ account balances - investment contracts
$
0

 
$
994,880

 
$
240,957

 
$
1,235,837

 
$
1,240,597

Cash collateral for loaned securities
0

 
5,317

 
0

 
5,317

 
5,317

Short-term debt
0

 
180,335

 
0

 
180,335

 
180,500

Long-term debt
0

 
1,237,111

 
0

 
1,237,111

 
1,204,000

Payables to parent and affiliates
0

 
70,195

 
0

 
70,195

 
70,195

Other liabilities
0

 
291,029

 
0

 
291,029

 
291,029

Total liabilities
$
0

 
$
2,778,867

 
$
240,957

 
$
3,019,824

 
$
2,991,638



37                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
December 31, 2015(1)
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount(2)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgage and other loans
$
0

 
$
8,540

 
$
1,701,951

 
$
1,710,491

 
$
1,658,235

Policy loans
0

 
0

 
1,143,303

 
1,143,303

 
1,143,303

Cash and cash equivalents
19,297

 
156,064

 
0

 
175,361

 
175,361

Accrued investment income
0

 
100,031

 
0

 
100,031

 
100,031

Receivables from parent and affiliates
0

 
65,628

 
0

 
65,628

 
65,628

Other assets
0

 
6,162

 
0

 
6,162

 
6,162

Total assets
$
19,297

 
$
336,425

 
$
2,845,254

 
$
3,200,976

 
$
3,148,720

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policyholders’ account balances - investment contracts
$
0

 
$
947,853

 
$
236,891

 
$
1,184,744

 
$
1,190,596

Cash collateral for loaned securities
0

 
40,416

 
0

 
40,416

 
40,416

Short-term debt
0

 
180,105

 
0

 
180,105

 
180,000

Long-term debt
0

 
1,227,110

 
0

 
1,227,110

 
1,204,000

Payables to parent and affiliates
0

 
72,791

 
0

 
72,791

 
72,791

Other liabilities
0

 
343,089

 
0

 
343,089

 
343,089

Total liabilities
$
0

 
$
2,811,364

 
$
236,891

 
$
3,048,255

 
$
3,030,892


(1)
As discussed in Note 2, the Company adopted ASU 2015-07, effective January 1, 2016, which resulted in the exclusion of certain other long-term investments from the fair value hierarchy. The guidance was required to be applied retrospectively, and therefore, prior period amounts have been revised to conform to the current period presentation. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair values of these cost method investments were $31 million and $27 million, respectively, which had been previously classified in Level 3 at December 31, 2015. The carrying values of these investments were $29 million and $26 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
(2)
Carrying values presented herein differ from those in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 Company’s valuation technique for policy loans is to discount cash flows at the current policy loan coupon rate. Policy loans are fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of underlying insurance policies. As a result, the carrying value of the policy loans approximates the fair value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, 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 and cash equivalent instruments, 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 parent and affiliates are affiliated notes whose fair value is determined in the same manner as the underlying debt described below under “Short-Term and Long-Term Debt”.

38                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



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, fair values are generally 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 NPR. 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.

Cash Collateral for Loaned Securities

Cash collateral for loaned securities represents the collateral received or paid in connection with loaning or borrowing securities. For these transactions, the carrying value of the related asset/liability approximates fair value as they equal the amount of cash collateral received or 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 NPR. 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 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 counterparties 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.

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.

Total return swaps are contracts whereby the Company agrees with counterparties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between the return on an asset (or market index) and LIBOR plus an associated funding spread based on a notional amount. The Company generally uses total return swaps to hedge the effect of adverse changes in equity indices.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Currency derivatives, including currency swaps and forwards, 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.

39                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



Under currency forwards, the Company agrees with counterparties to deliver a specified amount of an identified currency at a specified future date. Typically, the price is agreed upon at the time of the contract and payment for such a contract is made at the specified future date. The Company executes forward sales of the hedged currency in exchange for U.S. dollars at a specified exchange rate. The maturities of these forwards correspond with the future periods in which the non-U.S. dollar-denominated earnings are expected to be generated. These earnings hedges do not qualify for hedge accounting.

Under currency swaps, the Company agrees with counterparties 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 sells credit protection on a single name reference, or certain index reference, and in return receives 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 section below 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.

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. See Note 1 for the subsequent change effective April 1, 2016.

Some of the Company’s universal life products contain a no-lapse guarantee provision that is reinsured with an affiliate, UPARC, which contains an embedded derivative primarily related to the interest rate risk of the reinsurance contract. In addition, the Company has entered into a reinsurance agreement with Union Hamilton Reinsurance, Ltd., an external counterparty, which is also accounted for in the same manner as an embedded derivative.

The embedded derivatives related to the living benefit features and the related reinsurance agreements are carried at fair value. These embedded derivatives and reinsurance agreements 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 table below provides a summary of the gross notional amount and fair value of derivative contracts by the primary underlying, excluding embedded derivatives and associated reinsurance recoverables which are recorded with the associated host. Many derivative instruments contain multiple underlyings. The fair value amounts below represent the gross fair value of derivative contracts prior to taking into account the netting effects of master netting agreements, cash collateral held with the same counterparty, and non-performance risk.

40                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
Gross Fair Value
 
 
 
Gross Fair Value
Primary Underlying
 
Notional
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Notional
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
 
(in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency/Interest Rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Currency Swaps
 
$
574,628

 
$
40,661

 
$
(10,626
)
 
$
529,128

 
$
50,877

 
$
(1,385
)
Total Qualifying Hedges
 
$
574,628

 
$
40,661

 
$
(10,626
)
 
$
529,128

 
$
50,877

 
$
(1,385
)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Swaps
 
$
2,797,400

 
$
381,028

 
$
(6,443
)
 
$
3,159,400

 
$
203,313

 
$
(8,605
)
Foreign Currency
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Currency Forwards
 
3,756

 
0

 
(46
)
 
3,722

 
39

 
(15
)
Credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Default Swaps
 
7,275

 
115

 
(262
)
 
7,275

 
268

 
(222
)
Currency/Interest Rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Currency Swaps
 
132,403

 
16,160

 
(336
)
 
122,425

 
17,079

 
(71
)
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Return Swaps
 
533,801

 
25

 
(20,135
)
 
542,294

 
411

 
(10,451
)
Equity Options
 
25,388,907

 
20,046

 
(7,187
)
 
25,345,369

 
28,668

 
(12,100
)
Total Non-Qualifying Hedges
 
$
28,863,542

 
$
417,374

 
$
(34,409
)
 
$
29,180,485

 
$
249,778

 
$
(31,464
)
Total Derivatives (1)
 
$
29,438,170

 
$
458,035

 
$
(45,035
)
 
$
29,709,613

 
$
300,655

 
$
(32,849
)

(1)
Excludes embedded derivatives and associated reinsurance recoverables which contain multiple underlyings. The fair value of these embedded derivatives was a net liability of $7,099 million and $5,205 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, included in “Future policy benefits.” The fair value of the embedded derivatives related to the reinsurance of certain of these benefits to Pruco Re was an asset of $6,312 million and $4,594 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, included in “Reinsurance recoverables.” The fair value of the embedded derivative related to the no-lapse guarantee with UPARC was an asset of $394 million and $340 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, included in "Reinsurance recoverables." The fair value of the reinsurance related to the living benefits guarantee with Union Hamilton Reinsurance, Ltd., an external counterparty, was an asset of $36 million and $7 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and is included in "Reinsurance recoverables." See Note 7 for additional information on the affiliated reinsurance agreements in "Reinsurance with Affiliates."  

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

The following table presents recognized derivative instruments (excluding embedded derivatives and associated reinsurance recoverables), and repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements that are offset in the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, and/or are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

41                     



Table of Contents                                        
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 
March 31, 2016
 
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments
 
Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Consolidated Statement of
Financial
Position
 
Net Amounts
Presented in
the Consolidated Statement
of Financial
Position
 
Financial
Instruments/
Collateral (1)
 
Net
Amount
 
(in thousands)
Offsetting of Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives (1)
$
458,021

 
$
(444,724
)
 
$
13,297

 
$
(13,297
)
 
$
0

Securities purchased under agreement to resell
263,000

 
0

 
263,000

 
(263,000
)
 
0

Total Assets
$
721,021

 
$
(444,724
)
 
$
276,297

 
$
(276,297
)
 
$
0

Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives (1)
$
45,035

 
$
(45,035
)
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total Liabilities
$
45,035

 
$
(45,035
)
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
December 31, 2015
 
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments
 
Gross
Amounts
Offset in the Consolidated
Statement of
Financial
Position
 
Net Amounts
Presented in
the Consolidated Statement
of Financial
Position
 
Financial
Instruments/
Collateral (1)
 
Net
Amount
 
(in thousands)
Offsetting of Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives (1)
$
297,371

 
$
(230,554
)
 
$
66,817

 
$
(15,157
)
 
$
51,660

Securities purchased under agreement to resell
156,064

 
0

 
156,064

 
(156,064
)
 
0

Total Assets
$
453,435

 
$
(230,554
)
 
$
222,881

 
$
(171,221
)
 
$
51,660

Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives (1)
$
32,849

 
$
(32,849
)
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total Liabilities
$
32,849

 
$
(32,849
)
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
(1)
Amounts exclude the excess of collateral received/pledged from/to the counterparty.

For information regarding the rights of offset associated with the derivative assets and liabilities in the table above see “Credit Risk” below and Note 7. 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 Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 March 31, 2016
 
Realized
Investment
Gains/(Losses)
 
Net
Investment
Income
 
Other
Income
 
AOCI (1)
 
(in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting
Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency/Interest Rate
$
0

 
$
1,405

 
$
(1,899
)
 
$
(17,099
)
Total cash flow hedges
0

 
1,405

 
(1,899
)
 
(17,099
)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting
Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate
189,927

 
0

 
0

 
0

Currency
(126
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Currency/Interest Rate
(1,095
)
 
0

 
(10
)
 
0

Credit
(241
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Equity
(3,314
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Embedded Derivatives
(115,504
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Total non-qualifying hedges
69,647

 
0

 
(10
)
 
0

Total
$
69,647

 
$
1,405

 
$
(1,909
)
 
$
(17,099
)

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Realized
Investment
Gains/(Losses)
 
Net
Investment
Income
 
Other
Income
 
AOCI (1)
 
(in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency/Interest Rate
$
0

 
$
537

 
$
1,264

 
$
24,696

Total cash flow hedges
0

 
537

 
1,264

 
24,696

Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate
115,132

 
0

 
0

 
0

Currency
136

 
0

 
0

 
0

Currency/Interest Rate
8,265

 
0

 
135

 
0

Credit
(75
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Equity
(15,324
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Embedded Derivatives
(51,414
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

Total non-qualifying hedges
56,720

 
0

 
135

 
0

Total
$
56,720

 
$
537

 
$
1,399

 
$
24,696


(1)
Amounts deferred in AOCI.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the ineffective portion of derivatives accounted for using hedge accounting was not material to the Company’s results of operations. Also, 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

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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, 2015
$
48,271

Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to March 31, 2016
(17,926
)
Amounts reclassified into current period earnings
827

Balance, March 31, 2016
$
31,172


Using March 31, 2016 values, it is estimated that a pre-tax gain of $3 million will be reclassified from AOCI to earnings during the subsequent twelve months ending March 31, 2017, offset by amounts pertaining to the hedged items. As of March 31, 2016, 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 19 years. Income amounts deferred in AOCI as a result of cash flow hedges are included in “Net unrealized investment gains (losses)” within OCI in the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Credit Derivatives

The Company has no exposure from credit derivatives where it has written credit protection as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

The Company has purchased credit protection using credit derivatives in order to hedge specific credit exposures in the Company’s investment portfolio. As of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had $7 million of outstanding notional amounts, reported at fair value as a liability of less than $1 million as of March 31, 2016 and an asset of less than $1 million as of December 31, 2015, respectively.

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, such as cash and securities, when appropriate. 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 commercial loans. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance on this commitment was $128 million and $62 million, respectively. The Company also made commitments to purchase or fund investments, mostly private fixed maturities. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $95 million and $52 million, respectively, of this commitment were outstanding.


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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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 flows 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 flows 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.

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 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 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. The Company estimates that as of March 31, 2016, the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accruals established for those litigation and regulatory matters for which such an estimate currently can be made is less than $7.5 million. This estimate is not an indication of expected loss, if any, or the Company's maximum possible loss exposure on such matters. 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.

For a discussion of the Company's litigations and regulatory matters, see Note 11 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Summary

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 flows 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 flows 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 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.


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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


7.    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 March 31, 2016 and 2015. The expense charged to the Company for the deferred compensation program was $1 million and $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

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 $5 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

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 $2 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

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, Inc. (“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 $174 million and $204 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Corporate Owned Life Insurance

The Company has sold five Corporate Owned Life Insurance (“COLI”) policies to Prudential Insurance, and one to Prudential Financial. The cash surrender value included in separate accounts for these COLI policies was $3,044 million at March 31, 2016 and $2,873 million at December 31, 2015. Fees related to these COLI policies were $11 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company retains the majority of the mortality risk associated with these COLI policies. In October 2013, the Company increased the maximum amount of mortality risk on any life to $3.5 million for certain COLI policies.

Derivative Trades

In its ordinary course of business, the Company enters into OTC derivative contracts with an affiliate, PGF. For these OTC derivative contracts, PGF has a substantially equal and offsetting position with an external counterparty.

Reinsurance with Affiliates

The Company participates in reinsurance with its affiliates Prudential Life Insurance Company of Taiwan Inc. (“Prudential of Taiwan”), Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company (“PARCC”), UPARC, Pruco Re, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company (“PAR Term”), Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company (“PAR U”), Prudential Universal Reinsurance

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Company ("PURC"), and Prudential Term Reinsurance Company (“Term Re”), and its parent company, Prudential Insurance, in order to provide risk diversification and additional capacity for future growth, limit the maximum net loss potential, manage the statutory capital for its individual life business, facilitate its capital market hedging program and align accounting methodology for the assets and liabilities of living benefit riders contained in annuities contracts. 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.

On January 2, 2013, the Company began to assume Guaranteed Universal Life ("GUL") business from Prudential Insurance in connection with the acquisition of the Hartford Life Business. The GUL business assumed from Prudential Insurance was subsequently retroceded to PAR U. Collectively, reinsurance of this GUL business does not have a material impact on the equity of the Company.

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. Reinsurance premiums ceded for universal life products are accounted for as a reduction of policy charges and fee income. Reinsurance premiums ceded for term insurance products are accounted for as a reduction of premiums.

Realized investment gains and losses include the impact of reinsurance agreements that are accounted for as embedded derivatives. Changes in the fair value of the embedded derivatives are recognized through “Realized investment gains (losses), net”. The Company has entered into reinsurance agreements to transfer the risk related to certain living benefit options on variable annuities to Pruco Re. The Company has also entered into an agreement with UPARC to reinsure a portion of the no-lapse guarantee provision on certain universal life products. These reinsurance agreements are 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 amounts included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows:
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
Reinsurance recoverable
$
24,780,544

 
$
22,546,361

Policy loans
(77,784
)
 
(75,697
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs
(2,098,908
)
 
(2,122,349
)
Other assets
35,117

 
35,616

Policyholders’ account balances
4,905,603

 
5,020,230

Future policy benefits and other policyholder liabilities
2,715,376

 
2,380,215

Other liabilities (reinsurance payables)
446,846

 
494,660


The reinsurance recoverables by counterparty is broken out below.
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
UPARC
$
427,999

 
$
376,660

PAR U
10,002,215

 
9,797,733

PURC
2,351,566

 
2,251,692

PARCC
2,568,479

 
2,560,798

PAR Term
1,261,597

 
1,226,761

Term Re
376,564

 
298,002

Prudential Insurance
200,442

 
226,926

Pruco Re
6,312,862

 
4,594,412

Prudential of Taiwan
1,206,591

 
1,169,664

Unaffiliated
72,229

 
43,713

Total reinsurance recoverables
$
24,780,544

 
$
22,546,361


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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



Reinsurance amounts, excluding investment gains (losses) on affiliated asset transfers, included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Premiums:
 
 
 
 
Direct
 
$
391,180

 
$
366,243

Assumed
 
148

 
0

Ceded
 
(373,413
)
 
(350,606
)
Net premiums
 
17,915

 
15,637

Policy charges and fee income:
 
 
 
 
Direct
 
734,977

 
732,565

Assumed
 
194,313

 
168,786

Ceded
 
(401,883
)
 
(360,586
)
Net policy charges and fee income
 
527,407

 
540,765

Net investment income:
 
 
 
 
Direct
 
106,137

 
104,049

Assumed
 
345

 
329

Ceded
 
(1,030
)
 
(958
)
Net investment income
 
105,452

 
103,420

Other income:
 
 
 
 
Direct
 
11,695

 
12,527

Assumed & Ceded
 
1,827

 
4,690

Net other income
 
13,522

 
17,217

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:
 
 
 
 
Direct
 
213,482

 
142,405

Assumed
 
33,835

 
32,714

Ceded
 
(60,886
)
 
(57,642
)
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances
 
186,431

 
117,477

Policyholders’ benefits (including change in reserves):
 
 
 
 
Direct
 
609,636

 
480,655

Assumed
 
260,876

 
235,461

Ceded
 
(771,984
)
 
(657,715
)
Net policyholders’ benefits (including change in reserves)
 
98,528

 
58,401

Realized investment gains (losses), net:
 
 
 
 
Direct
 
(1,534,352
)
 
(666,435
)
Assumed
 
(39
)
 
0

Ceded
 
1,589,542

 
725,460

Realized investment gains (losses), net
 
55,151

 
59,025

Net reinsurance expense allowances, net of capitalization and amortization
 
$
(93,929
)
 
$
(69,712
)

The gross and net amounts of life insurance face amount in force as of March 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
 
March 31, 2016
 
March 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
Direct gross life insurance face amount in force
$
783,961,855

 
$
724,268,816

Assumed gross life insurance face amount in force
43,367,167

 
44,296,568

Reinsurance ceded
(765,067,750
)
 
(708,312,995
)
Net life insurance face amount in force
$
62,261,272

 
$
60,252,389



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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


UPARC

Through June 30, 2011, the Company, excluding its subsidiaries, reinsured Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees with UPARC, an affiliated company. UPARC reinsured an amount equal to 90% of the net amount at risk related to the first $1 million in face amount plus 100% of the net amount at risk related to the face amount in excess of $1 million as well as 100% of the risk of uncollectible policy charges and fees associated with the no-lapse guarantee provision of these policies.

Effective July 1, 2011, the agreement between the Company and UPARC to reinsure Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees was amended for policies with effective dates prior to January 1, 2011. Under the amended agreement, UPARC reinsures an amount equal to 27% of the net amount at risk related to the first $1 million in face amount plus 30% of the net amount at risk related to the face amount in excess of $1 million as well as 30% of the risk of uncollectible policy charges and fees associated with the no-lapse guarantee provision of these policies. During the first quarter of 2013, the agreement between the Company and UPARC was further amended to revise language relating to the consideration due to the Company.

Effective July 1, 2013 the agreement between the Company and UPARC to reinsure Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees was amended for policies with effective dates January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012. Under the amended agreement, UPARC reinsures an amount equal to 27% of the net amount at risk related to the first $1 million in face amount plus 30% of the net amount at risk related to the face amount in excess of $1 million as well as 30% of the risk of uncollectible policy charges and fees associated with the no-lapse guarantee provision of these policies.

Effective January 1, 2014, the agreement between the Company and UPARC to reinsure Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees was amended for policies with effective dates on or after January 1, 2014. Under the amended agreement, UPARC will no longer reinsure Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees.

Effective July 1, 2014, the agreement between the Company and UPARC to reinsure Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees was further amended for policies with effective dates January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. Under the amended agreement, UPARC reinsures an amount equal to 27% of the net amount at risk related to the first $1 million in face amount plus 30% of the net amount at risk related to the face amount in excess of $1 million as well as 30% of the risk of uncollectible policy charges and fees associated with the no-lapse guarantee provision of these policies.

PAR U

Effective July 1, 2011, the Company, excluding its subsidiaries, entered into an automatic coinsurance agreement with PAR U, an affiliated company, to reinsure an amount equal to 70% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no- lapse guarantees as well as Universal Plus policies, with effective dates prior to January 1, 2011. During the first quarter of 2013, the agreement between the Company, excluding its subsidiaries, and PAR U was amended to revise language relating to the consideration due to PAR U.

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

On January 2, 2013, the Company began to assume GUL business from Prudential Insurance in connection with the acquisition of the Hartford Life Business. The GUL business assumed from Prudential Insurance was subsequently retroceded to PAR U. Collectively, reinsurance of the GUL business does not have a material impact on the equity of the Company.

Effective July 1, 2013, the agreement between the Company, excluding its subsidiaries, and PAR U was amended for policies with effective dates from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012. Under the amended agreement, PAR U reinsures an amount equal to 70% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no lapse guarantees as well as Universal Plus policies, with effective dates from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012 in addition to policies covered by the initial reinsurance agreement discussed above.

Effective October 1, 2013, the Company entered into an Assumption and Novation Agreement with PAR U and PURC, an affiliated company. Under this agreement, PAR U novates, assigns, and transfers to PURC all of its rights, title, interests, duties, obligations, and liabilities under the aforementioned amendment entered into on July 1, 2013. PURC will succeed PAR U and become the counterparty to the Company with respect to the novated business pursuant to the Novated Coinsurance Agreement (the “PURC Novated Coinsurance Agreement”). There is no financial impact to the Company as a result of this transaction.

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



PURC

The Company, excluding its subsidiaries, reinsures an amount equal to 70% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no lapse guarantees as well as Universal Plus policies, with effective dates from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012 with PURC pursuant to the PURC Novated Coinsurance Agreement (as defined in “PAR U” above).
Effective January 1, 2014, the Company, excluding its subsidiaries, entered into an automatic coinsurance agreement with PURC to reinsure an amount equal to 95% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees, as well as Universal Plus policies, with effective dates on or after January 1, 2014.

Effective July 1, 2014, the agreement between the Company, excluding its subsidiaries, and PURC was amended to reinsure policies with effective dates from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. Under the amended agreement, PURC reinsures an amount equal to 70% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no lapse guarantees as well as Universal Plus policies in addition to policies initially covered by the PURC Novated Coinsurance Agreement.

PARCC

The Company reinsures 90% of the risks under its term life insurance policies, with effective dates 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 with effective dates January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2013, through an automatic coinsurance agreement with PAR Term.

Term Re

The Company reinsures 95% of the risks under its term life insurance policies with effective dates on or after January 1, 2014 through an automatic coinsurance agreement with Term Re.  

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.

On January 2, 2013, the Company began to assume GUL business from Prudential Insurance in connection with the acquisition of the Hartford Life Business. The GUL business assumed from Prudential Insurance was subsequently retroceded to PAR U. Collectively, reinsurance of this GUL business does not have a material impact on the equity of the Company.

The Company has reinsured a group annuity contract with Prudential Insurance, in consideration for a single premium payment by the Company, providing reinsurance equal to 100% of all payments due under the contract.

Pruco Re

The Company uses reinsurance as part of its risk management and capital management strategies for certain of its optional living benefit features available under certain of its annuity products. 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. See Note 1 for the subsequent change effective April 1, 2016.

Taiwan Branch Reinsurance Agreement

On January 31, 2001, the Company transferred all of its assets and liabilities associated with its Taiwan branch, including its Taiwan insurance book of business, to Prudential of Taiwan, an affiliated company.

The mechanism used to transfer this block of business in Taiwan is referred to as a “full acquisition and assumption” transaction. Under this mechanism, the Company is jointly liable with Prudential of Taiwan for two years from the giving of notice to all obligees for all matured obligations and for two years after the maturity date of not-yet-matured obligations. Prudential of Taiwan

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


is also contractually liable, under indemnification provisions of the transaction, for any liabilities that may be asserted against the Company.

The transfer of the insurance related assets and liabilities was accounted for as a long-duration coinsurance transaction under U.S. GAAP. Under this accounting treatment, the insurance related liabilities remain on the books of the Company and an offsetting reinsurance recoverable is established. These assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars.

Affiliated Asset Administration Fee Income

The Company has a revenue sharing agreement with AST Investment Services, Inc. ("ASTISI") and Prudential Investments LLC ("Prudential Investments") whereby the Company receives fee income calculated on contractholder separate account balances invested in the Advanced Series Trust. Income received from ASTISI and Prudential Investments related to this agreement was $69 million and $95 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These revenues are recorded as “Asset administration fees” in the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The Company has a revenue sharing agreement with Prudential Investments, whereby the Company receives fee income based on contractholders’ separate account balances invested in The Prudential Series Fund. Income received from Prudential Investments related to this agreement was $3 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. These revenues are recorded as “Asset administration fees” in the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Affiliated Investment Management Expenses

In accordance with an agreement with PGIM, Inc. ("PGIM"), the Company pays investment management expenses to PGIM who acts as investment manager to certain Company general account and separate account assets. Investment management expenses paid to PGIM related to this agreement were $5 million and $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These expenses are recorded as “Net investment income” in the Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 gains (losses), net", respectively. The table below shows affiliated asset trades as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
Affiliate
 
Date
 
Transaction  
 
Security Type  
 
Fair Value  
 
Book Value  
 
APIC, Net of Tax Increase/(Decrease)
 
Realized
Investment
Gain/(Loss), Net
 
Derivative
Gain/(Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Prudential Insurance
 
March-15
 
Purchase
 
Fixed Maturities & Trading Account Assets
 
$
92

 
$
74

 
$
(12
)
 
$
0

 
$
0

Prudential Insurance
 
June-15
 
Purchase
 
Fixed Maturities
 
$
11

 
$
10

 
$
(1
)
 
$
0

 
$
0

Prudential Insurance
 
March-16
 
Sale
 
Fixed Maturities & Short-Term Investments
 
$
89

 
$
89

 
$
(1
)
 
$
0

 
$
0

 

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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Debt Agreements

The Company is authorized to borrow funds up to $2.2 billion 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 with affiliates:
Affiliate
 
Date
Issued
 
Amount of Notes - March 31, 2016
 
Amount of Notes - December 31, 2015
 
Interest Rate  
 
Date of Maturity  
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prudential Financial
 
12/15/2011
 
$
11,000

 
$
11,000

 
 
 
3.61
%
 
 
 
12/15/2016
Prudential Financial
 
12/16/2011
 
11,000

 
11,000

 
 
 
3.61
%
 
 
 
12/16/2016
Prudential Financial
 
11/15/2013
 
9,000

 
9,000

 
 
 
2.24
%
 
 
 
12/15/2018
Prudential Financial
 
11/15/2013
 
23,000

 
23,000

 
 
 
3.19
%
 
 
 
12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance
 
12/6/2013
 
120,000

 
120,000

 
 
 
2.60
%
 
 
 
12/15/2018
Prudential Insurance
 
12/6/2013
 
130,000

 
130,000

 
 
 
4.39
%
 
 
 
12/15/2023
Prudential Insurance
 
12/6/2013
 
250,000

 
250,000

 
 
 
3.64
%
 
 
 
12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance
 
9/25/2014
 
30,000

 
30,000

 
 
 
1.89
%
 
 
 
6/20/2017
Prudential Insurance
 
9/25/2014
 
40,000

 
40,000

 
 
 
3.95
%
 
 
 
6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance
 
9/25/2014
 
20,000

 
20,000

 
 
 
2.80
%
 
 
 
6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance
 
9/25/2014
 
50,000

 
50,000

 
 
 
3.95
%
 
 
 
6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance
 
9/25/2014
 
50,000

 
50,000

 
 
 
2.80
%
 
 
 
6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance
 
9/25/2014
 
100,000

 
100,000

 
 
 
3.47
%
 
 
 
6/20/2021
Prudential Insurance
 
9/25/2014
 
100,000

 
100,000

 
 
 
3.95
%
 
 
 
6/20/2024
Prudential Financial
 
12/15/2014
 
5,000

 
5,000

 
 
 
2.57
%
 
 
 
12/15/2019
Prudential Financial
 
12/15/2014
 
23,000

 
23,000

 
 
 
3.14
%
 
 
 
12/15/2021
Prudential Financial
 
6/15/2015
 
66,000

 
66,000

 
 
 
3.52
%
 
 
 
6/15/2022
Prudential Financial
 
6/15/2015
 
6,000

 
6,000

 
 
 
2.86
%
 
 
 
6/15/2020
Prudential Financial
 
9/21/2015
 
158,000

 
158,000

 
1.09
%
-
1.63
%
 
6/15/2016
-
6/15/2017
Prudential Financial
 
9/21/2015
 
132,000

 
132,000

 
1.40
%
-
1.93
%
 
12/17/2016
-
12/17/2017
Prudential Financial
 
9/21/2015
 
26,000

 
26,000

 
1.40
%
-
1.93
%
 
12/17/2016
-
12/17/2017
Prudential Financial
 
12/16/2015
 
5,000

 
5,000

 
 
 
2.85
%
 
 
 
12/16/2020
Prudential Financial
 
12/16/2015
 
1,000

 
1,000

 
 
 
2.85
%
 
 
 
12/16/2020
Prudential Financial
 
12/16/2015
 
18,000

 
18,000

 
 
 
3.37
%
 
 
 
12/16/2022
Prudential Funding
 
3/31/2016
 
500

 
0

 
 
 
0.48
%
 
 
 
4/1/2016
Total Loans Payable to Affiliates
 
 
 
$
1,384,500

 
$
1,384,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The total interest expense to the Company related to loans payable to affiliates was $10.5 million and $13.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Contributed Capital and Dividends

In March 2016, the Company received a capital contribution in the amount of $5 million from Prudential Insurance. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company did not receive any capital contributions.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company did not pay any dividends. In June and December of 2015, the Company paid dividends in the amounts of $230 million and $200 million, respectively, to Prudential Insurance.


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

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) addresses the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Pruco Life Insurance Company, or the “Company,” as of March 31, 2016, compared with December 31, 2015, and its consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. You should read the following analysis of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the MD&A, the “Risk Factors” section, and the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as well as the statements under “Forward-Looking Statements” and the Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 the United States.

Regulatory Developments

In April 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final regulation accompanied by new class exemptions and amendments to long-standing exemptions from the prohibited transaction provisions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) (collectively, the “Rules”), with implementation beginning in April 2017, and compliance with certain additional provisions required by January 2018. The Rules redefine who will be considered a “fiduciary” for purposes of transactions with qualified plans, plan participants and Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), and generally provide that advice to a plan participant or IRA owner will be treated as a fiduciary activity. We are analyzing the Rules’ potential impact on our operations and preparing to implement the necessary adjustments to come into alignment with the Rules’ requirements. Overall, we believe the Rules will result in increased compliance costs and may create increased exposure to legal claims under certain circumstances, including class actions. We believe the Rules will impact our individual annuities business, as well as our Prudential Advisors distribution system which we include in the results of our individual life business. Significant aspects of the Rules and their potential impact on our businesses include the following:
Prudential Advisors: We expect compliance with a new “best interest contract exemption” will be required for investment advice concerning retirement plans and IRAs including recommendations to purchase a wide range of products sold to IRAs, which constitutes a significant part of Prudential Advisors’ non-life insurance new business revenues. The Rules state that proprietary products may be sold to IRA owners if certain conditions are met, subject to significant new requirements for this type of sale, which we continue to review. The Rules will impose compliance and contract requirements and would give customers a new private right of action for breach of contract that in some circumstances may result in damages and liability under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code for excise taxes, disgorgement of profit, and other possible remedies. We expect the Rules may also lead to changes to compensation and benefit structures as well as our product offerings.
Annuities: Sales of variable annuities will be subject to the best interest contract exemption described above, but certain fixed annuities will be subject to a separate exemption. As a result of the Rules, certain distributors may restrict the sale of annuities. In addition, we may need to alter our product design or offerings to meet the needs of distributors in complying with the Rules. We may also need to monitor or limit wholesaling and other sales support and customer service activities if we do not want to be considered a fiduciary.

For additional information on the potential impacts of regulation on the Company, see “Business-Regulation” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Revenues and Expenses

The Company earns revenues principally from insurance premiums; mortality and expense fees, 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 and annuity products. The Company earns mortality and expense fees, and asset administration fees primarily from the sale and servicing of universal life insurance and separate account products including variable 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 offered through the Company’s variable annuity and variable life

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insurance products. Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, AST pays an affiliate of the Company for distribution and administrative services. In June 2015, AST received shareholder approval to amend the Rule 12b-1 Plan. Effective July 1, 2015, there was an increase in the amount AST pays the Company's affiliate for distribution and administrative services. However, there was also a reduction in management fees. In addition, due to the revised Rule 12b-1 Plan, the asset administration fees received by the Company from AST Investment Services, Inc., and related distribution expenses of the Company, have decreased.

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” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 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 variable annuities with (1) fixed interest rate allocation options, subject to a market value adjustment, that are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) 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 certain 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 (including versions with enhanced guaranteed minimum death benefits) and annuitization options. The majority of our currently sold contracts include an optional living benefit guarantee which provides, among other features, the ability to make withdrawals based on the highest daily contract value plus a specified return, credited for a period of time. This guaranteed contract value is a notional amount that forms the basis for determining periodic withdrawals for the life of the contractholder, and cannot be accessed as a lump-sum surrender value. Certain optional living benefits can also be purchased with a companion optional death benefit, also based on a highest daily contract value.

The Prudential Premier® Retirement Variable Annuity with Highest Daily Lifetime Income (“HDI”) v. 3.0 offers lifetime income based on the highest daily account value plus a compounded deferral credit.

The Prudential Defined Income (“PDI”) Variable Annuity complements other variable annuity products that we offer with the highest daily benefit. PDI provides guaranteed lifetime withdrawal payments, but restricts contractholder investments to a single bond sub-account within the separate account. PDI includes a living benefit rider which provides for a specified lifetime income withdrawal rate applied to the initial premium paid, subject to daily roll-up increases until lifetime withdrawals commence, but does not have the highest daily feature.

We also offer annuities without guaranteed living benefits. We offer the Prudential Premier® Investment Variable Annuity, which offers tax-deferred asset accumulation, annuitization options and an optional death benefit that guarantees the contractholder’s beneficiary a return of the greater of account value or total purchase payments made to the contract, adjusted for any partial withdrawals, upon death.

Excluding our 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 mutual funds managed by our affiliates ("proprietary") or a mix of proprietary and non-proprietary mutual funds, frequently under asset allocation programs. Certain products also allow or require allocation to fixed-rate accounts that are backed by investments in the general account and 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 allocations made in the fixed-rate accounts of our variable annuities and certain fixed annuities impose a market value adjustment if the allocation in the fixed rate account or contract is not held to maturity.


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In addition, most contracts also guarantee the contractholders' beneficiary a return of the greater of account value or total purchase payments made to the contract, adjusted for any partial withdrawals, upon death. Certain in force contracts include guaranteed benefits which are not currently offered, such as annuitization benefits based on a guaranteed notional amount and benefits payable at specified dates after the accumulation period.

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. In addition, we consider external reinsurance a form of risk mitigation. Effective April 1, 2015, we entered into an agreement with Union Hamilton Reinsurance, Ltd. ("Union Hamilton"), an external counterparty, to reinsure approximately 50% of the HDI v. 3.0, the newest version of our variable annuity with a "highest daily" living benefits guarantee. This reinsurance agreement covers most new HDI v. 3.0 variable annuity business issued between April 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016 on a quota share basis, until Union Hamilton's quota share reaches $5 billion of new rider premiums through December 31, 2016.

The product design elements we utilize for certain products include, among others, asset allocation restrictions, minimum issuance age requirements, monthly rate setting, certain limitations on the amount of premiums accepted and/or subsequent contractholder deposits and an asset transfer feature, as well as required allocation to our general account for certain of our products. 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 are expected to be more stable (e.g., a bond fund sub-account within the separate account or a fixed-rate account within 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 March 31, 2016, approximately $91 billion or 91% of total variable annuity account values contain a living benefit feature, compared to approximately $90 billion or 91% as of December 31, 2015. As of March 31, 2016, approximately $82 billion or 90% of variable annuity account values with living benefit features included an asset transfer feature in the product design, compared to approximately $81 billion or 91% as of December 31, 2015. The change in account values with living benefits and the asset transfer feature reflect the impact of new business sales and equity market performance.

As mentioned above, in addition to our asset transfer feature, we manage certain risks associated with our variable annuity products through our living benefits hedging programs and affiliated and unaffiliated reinsurance agreements. Through March 31, 2016, we reinsured the majority of our variable annuity living benefit guarantees to an affiliated reinsurance company, Pruco Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Pruco Re”). The living benefits hedging program was primarily executed within Pruco Re to manage capital markets risk associated with the reinsured living benefit guarantees. Effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit riders that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re. In addition, the Company reinsured the variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit riders, to Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation (“PALAC”), excluding the Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey (“PLNJ”) business which was reinsured to The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential Insurance”). This reinsurance agreement covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally. The product risks related to the business reinsured to PALAC are being managed in PALAC and the product risks related to the business reinsured to Prudential Insurance are being managed in Prudential Insurance. In addition, the living benefit hedging program related to the reinsured living benefit riders will be managed within PALAC or Prudential Insurance, as applicable.

Term Life Insurance

The Company offers a variety of term life insurance products, which represent 65% of our net individual life insurance in force at March 31, 2016, 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

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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.

Variable Life Insurance

The Company offers a number of individual variable life insurance products, which represent 20% of our net individual life insurance in force at March 31, 2016, that give the policyholder the flexibility to change both the death benefit and premium payments, and provide the potential to earn returns linked to an underlying investment portfolio that the policyholder selects. The policyholder generally can make deposits for investments in a fixed-rate option which is part of our general account or in separate account investment options consisting of equity and fixed income funds. Funds invested in the fixed-rate option provide a guarantee of principal and are credited with interest at rates that we determine, subject to certain contractual minimums. In the separate accounts, the policyholder bears the fund performance risk. The Company also offers a variable life product that has an optional flexible guarantee against lapse where policyholders can select the guarantee period. A number of our currently offered variable life products offer a policy rider that allows death benefits to be accelerated to the policyholder during a chronic or terminal illness, under certain contractual requirements. While variable life insurance continues to be an important product, marketplace demand continues to favor term and universal life insurance. A meaningful portion of the Company's individual life insurance profits, however, is associated with our large in force block of variable life insurance policies.

Universal Life Insurance

The Company offers universal life insurance products that feature flexible premiums and a crediting rate that we determine, subject to certain contractual minimums. Guaranteed universal life products, which represent 12% of our net individual life insurance in force at March 31, 2016, provide a guarantee of death benefits to remain in force when a policy would otherwise lapse due to insufficient cash value. The Company also offers other universal life insurance products, which represent 3% of our net individual life insurance in force at March 31, 2016. These include products that allow the policyholders to allocate all or a portion of their account balance into an index account. The index account provides interest or an interest component linked to, but not an investment in, S&P 500 index performance over the following year, subject to certain participation rates and contractual minimums and maximums. Most of our universal life products now offer a policy rider that allows death benefits to be accelerated to the policyholder during a chronic or terminal illness, under certain contractual requirements. Mortality and expense margins and net interest spread impact profits from universal life insurance.

Accounting Policies & Pronouncements

Application of Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“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, the Company’s results of operations and financial position as reported in the Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 costs (“DAC”) and other costs, including deferred sales inducements (“DSI”);
Valuation of investments, including derivatives, and the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI");
Policyholder liabilities;
Reinsurance recoverables;
Taxes on income; and
Reserves for contingencies, including reserves for losses in connection with unresolved legal matters.

DAC and Other Costs

DAC and other costs associated with the variable and universal life policies and the variable and fixed annuity contracts are generally amortized over the expected life of these policies in proportion to total gross profits. Total gross profits include both actual gross profits and estimates of gross profits for future periods. In calculating gross profits, we consider mortality, persistency, and other elements as well as rates of return on investments associated with these contracts and the cost related to our guaranteed minimum death benefits ("GMDB") and guaranteed minimum income benefits ("GMIB"). For variable annuities, gross profits

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and amortization rates also include the impacts of the embedded derivatives associated with certain of the living benefit features of our variable annuity contracts and related hedging activities. In calculating amortization expense, 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. In addition, in calculating gross profits, we include the profits and losses related to contracts issued by the Company 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. ("Prudential Financial") (an SEC registrant) and has extensive transactions and relationships with other subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, including reinsurance agreements, as discussed in Note 7 to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements. Incorporating all product-related profits and losses in gross profits, including those that are reported in affiliated legal entities, produces a DAC amortization pattern representative of the total economics of the products. For a further discussion of the amortization of DAC and DSI, see “Results of Operations”.

The near-term future equity rate of return assumptions used in evaluating DAC and other costs for our domestic variable annuity and variable life insurance products are derived using a reversion to the mean approach, a common industry practice. Under this approach, we consider historical equity returns and adjust projected equity returns over an initial future period of five years (the “near-term”) so that equity returns converge to the long-term expected rate of return. If the near-term projected future rate of return is greater than our near-term maximum future rate of return of 15%, we use our maximum future rate of return. As of March 31, 2016, our variable annuities and variable life insurance businesses assume an 8% long-term equity expected rate of return and a 6.3% near-term mean reversion equity rate of return.

The weighted average rate of return assumptions consider many factors specific to each business, including asset durations, asset allocations and other factors. We generally 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. We generally update the future interest rates used to project fixed income returns annually and in any quarter when interest rates vary significantly from these estimates. 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.

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, 2015, 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 Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of newly adopted accounting pronouncements.

Changes in Financial Position

March 31, 2016 versus December 31, 2015

Total assets increased $3.2 billion, from $148.6 billion at December 31, 2015 to $151.8 billion at March 31, 2016. Significant components were:
Reinsurance recoverables increased $2.3 billion from $22.5 billion at December 31, 2015 to $24.8 billion at March 31, 2016. The increase was primarily driven by the reinsured liability for variable annuity living benefit embedded derivatives primarily resulting from an increase in the present value of future expected benefit payments driven by declining interest rates. Also, contributing to the increase was the impact of term and universal life business growth and the Hartford GUL business ceded to PAR U, which increased ceded reserves and ceded policyholders’ account balances.
Separate account assets increased $1.0 billion from $109.3 billion at December 31, 2015 to $110.3 billion at March 31, 2016, primarily driven by favorable fund performance.
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents increased $0.6 billion from $10.6 billion at December 31, 2015 to $11.2 billion at March 31, 2016, primarily driven by the mark-to-market of fixed maturity investments and assets hedging the retained living benefit liability and HDI v. 3.0, universal life, and term life premiums.

Partially offsetting these increases in total assets were the following items:

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DAC and DSI decreased $0.7 billion from $5.8 billion at December 31, 2015 to $5.1 billion at March 31, 2016, primarily driven by the impact of the embedded derivatives and related hedge positions and base amortization.

Total liabilities increased $3.4 billion, from $144.1 billion at December 31, 2015 to $147.5 billion at March 31, 2016. Significant components were:    
Future policy benefits and other policyholder liabilities increased $2.5 billion from $15.0 billion at December 31, 2015 to $17.5 billion at March 31, 2016, primarily driven by the mark-to-market of the liability for living benefit embedded derivatives, as described above, and an increase in GMDB reserves associated with universal life business and higher reserves supporting term life business growth.
Separate account liabilities increased $1.0 billion, corresponding to the increase in separate account assets described above.
Policyholders’ account balances increased $0.1 billion from $17.1 billion at December 31, 2015 to $17.2 billion at March 31, 2016, primarily driven by growth in the variable annuity products that offer HDI v. 3.0, which requires that a certain percentage of each purchase payment be allocated to the general account.

Results of Operations

Income (Loss) from Operations before Income Taxes

2016 to 2015 Three Months Comparison.

Income (loss) from operations before income taxes decreased $468 million from income of $98 million in the first quarter of 2015 to a loss of $370 million in the first quarter of 2016. Excluding the impacts of changes in the estimated profitability of the business, as discussed below, income from operations before income taxes decreased $10 million. The decrease was primarily related to realized investment gains (losses) driven by impairment losses this quarter and higher general expenses driven by higher corporate chargebacks and the timing of business initiatives, partially offset by the mark-to-market of our non-reinsured living benefit features and related hedge positions, driven by an increase in NPR due to declining rates and widening spread.

The impacts of changes in estimated profitability of the business include adjustments to the amortization of DAC and other costs and to reserves, which resulted in a net charge of $652 million in the first quarter of 2016. The net charge primarily reflects the impact of NPR gains due to declining rates and widening spread, as well as unfavorable equity market performance. The net charge of $194 million in the first quarter of 2015 primarily reflects NPR gains due to widening spread and declining rates, partially offset by a net benefit reflecting favorable equity market performance which more than offset the impact of lower expected rates of return on fixed income investments within contractholder accounts and on future expected claims relative to our assumptions.

Revenues, Benefits and Expenses

2016 to 2015 Three Months Comparison

Revenues decreased $43 million, primarily driven by an unfavorable variance in policy charges and fee income, and asset administration fees of $39 million due to the changes to the Rule 12b-1 Plan and lower average separate account assets.

Benefits and expenses increased $425 million. Excluding the $458 million impacts of the amortization of DAC and other costs and to reserves for the GMDB and GMIB features, as discussed above, benefits and expenses decreased $33 million. General, administrative and other expenses decreased $22 million primarily driven by lower distribution costs from changes to the Rule 12b-1 Plan, partially offset by higher general expenses driven by higher corporate chargebacks. Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs decreased $15 million primarily due to lower base amortization driven by lower gross profits.

Income Taxes

The income tax provision amounted to a benefit of $44 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared to an expense of $13 million in the first quarter of 2015. The change in tax provision was primarily driven by a decrease 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

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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 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.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company remains subject to examination in the U.S. for tax years 2007 through 2015.

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 2015 and current year results, and was adjusted to take into account the current year’s equity market performance and expected business results. 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.

There is a possibility that the IRS and the U.S. Treasury will address, through guidance, their issues related to the calculation of the DRD. For the last several years, revenue proposals included in the Obama Administration's budgets have included proposed changes to 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.

For tax years 2007 through 2016, the Company is participating in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Program (“CAP”). Under CAP, the IRS assigns an examination team to review completed transactions as they occur in order to reach agreement with the Company on how they should be reported in the relevant tax returns. If disagreements arise, accelerated resolution programs are available to resolve the disagreements in a timely manner before the tax returns are filed.

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, 2015.

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. Our ability to generate and maintain sufficient liquidity and capital depends on the profitability of our businesses, general economic conditions, our ability to borrow from affiliates and our access to the capital markets through affiliates as described herein.

Effective and prudent liquidity and capital management is a priority across the organization. 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 periodic 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 Insurance, Prudential Financial and the Company, including under reasonably foreseeable stress scenarios. Prudential Financial has a capital management framework in place that governs the allocation of capital and approval of capital uses. Prudential Financial and the Company also employ a “Capital Protection Framework” to ensure the availability of capital resources to maintain adequate capitalization and competitive risk-based capital ("RBC") ratios under various stress scenarios.

Prudential Financial is a non-bank financial company (a "Designated Financial Company") under Dodd-Frank. As a Designated Financial Company, Prudential Financial is subject to supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and to stricter prudential regulatory standards, which include or will include requirements and limitations (many of which are the subject of ongoing rule-making) relating to capital, leverage, liquidity, stress-testing, overall risk management, resolution and recovery plans, credit exposure reporting, early remediation, management interlocks, and credit concentration. They may also include additional standards regarding enhanced public disclosure, short-term debt limits, and other related subjects. In addition, the Financial Stability Board ("FSB") has identified Prudential Financial as a global systemically important insurer (“G-SII”). For information on these actions and their potential impact on us, see “Business-Regulation” and “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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Effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit riders that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re and reinsured the variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit riders, to PALAC, excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance.

Capital

Our capital management framework is primarily based on statutory risk based capital measures. The RBC ratio is a primary measure of the capital adequacy of the Company. RBC is calculated based on statutory financial statements and risk formulas consistent with the practices of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). RBC considers, 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 ratio calculations are intended to assist insurance regulators in measuring an 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 March 31, 2016 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. In addition, the reinsurance of business or the recapture of business subject to reinsurance arrangements could negatively impact regulatory capital levels. The Company’s regulatory capital level is also affected by statutory accounting rules, which are subject to change by each applicable insurance regulator.

Capital Protection Framework

Prudential Financial employs a “Capital Protection Framework” (the "Framework”) to ensure that sufficient capital resources are available to maintain adequate capitalization and competitive RBC ratios and solvency margins under various stress scenarios. The Framework incorporates the potential impacts from market related stresses, including equity markets, real estate, interest rates, and credit losses. The Framework addresses the potential capital consequences, under stress scenarios, of certain of these net risks and the strategies we use to mitigate them, including the following:    
Equity market exposure affecting the statutory capital of the Company and Prudential Financial as a whole, which is managed through Prudential Financial's equity hedge program and on-balance sheet and contingent sources of capital; and
Activities of Prudential Financial's business segments, including those for which specific risk mitigation strategies have been implemented, such as the living benefits hedging program that covers certain risks associated with our variable annuity products. Effective April 1, 2016, the living benefits hedging program resides within PALAC and Prudential Insurance.

The hedging strategy is periodically recalibrated in response to changing market conditions. The Framework accommodates periodic volatility within ranges that are deemed acceptable, while also providing for additional potential sources of capital, including on-balance sheet capital, derivatives, and contingent sources of capital. Although Prudential Financial continues to enhance its approach, we believe we currently have access to sufficient resources, either directly, or indirectly through Prudential Financial, to maintain adequate capitalization and a competitive RBC ratio under a range of potential stress scenarios.

Affiliated Captive Reinsurance Companies

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Capital-Affiliated Captive Reinsurance Companies” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for a discussion of our use of captive reinsurance companies.

Effective April 1, 2016, we recaptured the risks related to our variable annuity living benefit riders that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re.

Liquidity

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. We use a projection process for cash flows from operations to ensure sufficient

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liquidity to meet projected cash outflows, including claims. The impact of Prudential Funding, LLC’s financing capacity on liquidity (as described below) is considered in the internal liquidity measures of the Company.

Liquidity is measured against internally-developed benchmarks that take into account the characteristics of both the asset portfolio and the liabilities that they support. We consider attributes of the various categories of liquid assets (for example, type of asset and credit quality) in calculating internal liquidity measures to evaluate our liquidity under various stress scenarios. 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.

The principal sources of the Company’s liquidity 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, payments of dividends to the parent company, hedging activity and payments in connection with financing activities.

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 March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 the Company had liquid assets of $8,080 million and $7,383 million, respectively. The portion of liquid assets comprised of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments was $542 million and $425 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. As of March 31, 2016, $6,916 million, or 93%, of the fixed maturity investments in Company general account portfolios were rated high or highest quality based on NAIC or equivalent rating. The remaining $496 million, or 7%, 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’s positive tangible net worth at all times.

Affiliated captive reinsurance companies are used to finance the portion of the statutory reserves required to be held under Regulation XXX and Guideline AXXX that is considered non-economic. The financing arrangements involve term and universal life business we reinsure to our affiliated captive reinsurers. The surplus notes issued by those captives are treated as capital for statutory purposes. As of March 31, 2016, our affiliated captive reinsurance companies have entered into agreements with external counterparties providing for the issuance of up to $8.85 billion of surplus notes in return for the receipt of credit-linked notes. Under the agreements, the captive receives in exchange for the surplus notes one or more credit-linked notes issued by a special-purpose affiliate with an aggregate principal amount equal to the surplus notes outstanding. The captive holds the credit-linked notes as assets supporting Regulation XXX or Guideline AXXX non-economic reserves, as applicable. As of March 31, 2016, an aggregate of $6.64 billion of surplus notes was outstanding under our Credit-Linked Note Structures, reflecting an increase of $140 million from December 31, 2015.

In addition, as of March 31, 2016, our affiliated captive reinsurance companies had outstanding an aggregate of $3.4 billion of debt issued for the purpose of financing Regulation XXX and Guideline AXXX non-economic reserves, of which approximately $1.5 billion relates to Regulation XXX reserves and approximately $1.9 billion relates to Guideline AXXX reserves, and all of which was issued directly by or guaranteed by Prudential Financial. Under certain of the financing arrangements pursuant to which this debt was issued, Prudential Financial has agreed to make capital contributions to the applicable captive reinsurance company to reimburse it for investment losses or to maintain its capital above prescribed minimum levels. In addition, as of March 31, 2016, for purposes of financing Guideline AXXX reserves, our affiliated captives had outstanding approximately $4.0 billion of surplus notes that were issued to Prudential Financial in exchange for promissory notes of affiliates guaranteed by Prudential Financial.

In December 2014, the NAIC adopted a new actuarial guideline, known as “AG 48,” that governs the reinsurance of term and universal life insurance business to captives by prescribing requirements for the types of assets that may be held by captives to support the reserves. The requirements in AG 48 became effective on January 1, 2015, and apply in respect of term and universal life insurance policies written from and after January 1, 2015, or written prior to January 1, 2015 but not included in a captive reserve financing arrangement as of December 31, 2014. AG 48 requires our captive affiliates to hold cash and rated securities in greater amounts than they previously held to support economic reserves for certain of the term and universal life policies. While we continue to work with regulators and industry participants on potential long-term solutions, our affiliated captives have funded the additional requirement for 2015 using a combination of existing assets and newly purchased assets sourced from affiliated financing and believe our affiliated captives have sufficient affiliated resources to finance the additional asset requirement through 2016.


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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of fluctuations in the value of financial instruments as a result of absolute or relative changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, equity prices or commodity prices. To varying degrees, our products and services, and the investment activities supporting them, generate exposure to market risk. The market risk incurred, and our strategies for managing this risk, vary by product. As of March 31, 2016, there have been no material changes in our economic exposure to market risk from December 31, 2015, a description of which may be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” filed with the SEC. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors” included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, for a discussion of how difficult conditions in the financial markets and the economy generally may materially adversely affect our business and results of our operations. Subsequent to the quarterly period covered by this Form 10-Q, effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit riders that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re. In addition, the Company reinsured the variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit riders, to PALAC, excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance. This reinsurance agreement covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally. The product risks related to the business reinsured to PALAC are being managed in PALAC and the product risks related to the business reinsured to Prudential Insurance are being managed in Prudential Insurance. In addition, the living benefit hedging program related to the reinsured living benefit riders will be managed within PALAC or Prudential Insurance, as applicable.

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) Rule 13a-15(e), as of March 31, 2016. Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. No change in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f), occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2016, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

See Note 6 to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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, 2015. 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 businesses described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


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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
 
 
By:
 
/s/    Yanela C. Frias
Name:
 
Yanela C. Frias
 
 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Authorized Signatory and Principal Financial Officer)
Date: May 12, 2016


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