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Derivative Instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING
Types of Derivative Instruments and Derivative Strategies
Interest Rate Contracts
Interest rate swaps, options, and futures are used by the Company to reduce risks from changes in interest rates, manage interest rate exposures arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities and to hedge against changes in their values it owns or anticipates acquiring or selling.
Swaps may be attributed to specific assets or liabilities or to a portfolio of assets or liabilities. 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.
The Company also uses interest rate swaptions, caps and floors to manage interest rate risk. A swaption is an option to enter into a swap with a forward starting effective date. The Company pays a premium for purchased swaptions and receives a premium for written swaptions. In an interest rate cap, the buyer receives payments at the end of each period in which the interest rate exceeds the agreed strike price. Similarly, in an interest rate floor, the buyer receives payments at the end of each period in which the interest rate is below the agreed strike price. Swaptions, caps and floors are included in interest rate options.

In standardized exchange-traded interest rate futures transactions, the Company purchases or sells a specified number of contracts, the values of which are determined by the daily market values of underlying referenced investments. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures with regulated futures commission's merchants who are members of a trading exchange.
Equity Contracts
Equity options, total return swaps, and futures are used by the Company to manage its exposure to the equity markets which impacts the value of assets and liabilities it owns or anticipates acquiring or selling.
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 London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("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.

In standardized exchange-traded equity futures transactions, the Company purchases or sells a specified number of contracts, the values of which are determined by the daily market values underlying referenced equity indices. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures with regulated futures commission's merchants who are members of a trading exchange.
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.
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.
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.
Credit Contracts
The Company writes credit protection to gain exposure similar to investment in public fixed maturity cash instruments. With these credit derivatives the Company sells credit protection on a single name reference, or certain index reference, and in return receives a quarterly premium. This premium or credit spread generally corresponds to the difference between the yield on the referenced name (or an index’s referenced names) 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 or one of the referenced names in the index, as defined by the agreement, then the Company is obligated to pay the referenced amount of the contract to the counterparty and receive in return the referenced defaulted security or similar security or (in the case of a credit default index) pay the referenced amount less the auction recovery rate.
In addition to selling credit protection, the Company purchases credit protection using credit derivatives in order to hedge specific credit exposures in the Company’s investment portfolio.
Embedded Derivatives
The Company offers certain products (for example, variable annuities, indexed annuities, and index-linked universal life) which may include features that are accounted for as embedded derivatives; related to certain of these derivatives, the Company has entered into reinsurance agreements with both affiliated and unaffiliated parties. Effective April 1, 2016, the Company entered into reinsurance agreements with affiliates, PALAC and Prudential Insurance. The reinsurance agreement with PALAC was recaptured on July 1, 2021. Additionally, the Company has entered into a reinsurance agreement with an external counterparty, Union Hamilton Reinsurance, Ltd. ("Union Hamilton") effective April 1, 2015. See Note 9 for additional information on the reinsurance agreements.
Effective December 1, 2021, the Company entered into a reinsurance arrangement with PALAC, which includes features that are accounted for as embedded derivatives. See Note 1 for additional information on the reinsurance arrangement.
These embedded derivatives and reinsurance agreements, also accounted for as derivatives, are carried at fair value and 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 5.
Primary Risks Managed by Derivatives
The table below provides a summary of the gross notional amount and fair value of derivative contracts by the primary underlying risks, excluding embedded derivatives and associated reinsurance recoverables. Many derivative instruments contain multiple underlying risks. The fair value amounts below represent the value of derivative contracts prior to taking into account the netting effects of master netting agreements and cash collateral.
 December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Primary Underlying Risk/Instrument TypeGross
Notional
Fair ValueGross
Notional
Fair Value
AssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilities
 (in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Currency/Interest Rate
Interest Rate Swaps$3,344 $55 $$3,486 $203 $
Foreign Currency Swaps886,552 37,259 (6,900)861,074 27,336 (49,316)
Total Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments$889,896 $37,314 $(6,900)$864,560 $27,539 $(49,316)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate
Interest Rate Swaps$130,358,860 $5,698,740 $(10,348,130)$663,050 $57,024 $(11,117)
Interest Rate Futures4,109,300 2,876 (2,709)57,700 198 
Interest Rate Swaptions9,883,000 280,323 (173,863)
Interest Rate Forwards195,000 3,760 (991)
Foreign Currency
Foreign Currency Forwards119,653 842 (1,063)55,292 (1,322)
Credit
Credit Default Swaps306,900 24,789 2,313 (18)
Currency/Interest Rate
Foreign Currency Swaps2,139,523 68,477 (23,251)143,011 6,584 (7,286)
Equity
Total Return Swaps15,129,666 66,627 (475,209)
Equity Options19,461,881 902,050 (1,535,272)3,244,900 306,196 (196,767)
Futures5,015,002 736 (6,595)
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments$186,718,785 $7,049,220 $(12,567,083)$4,166,266 $370,007 $(216,510)
Total Derivatives(1)(2)$187,608,681 $7,086,534 $(12,573,983)$5,030,826 $397,546 $(265,826)
(1)Excludes embedded derivatives and associated reinsurance recoverables which contain multiple underlying risks. The fair value of these embedded derivatives was a net liability of $9,048 million and $13,228 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively included in "Future policy benefits" and $3,246 million and $1,155 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively included in "Policyholders' account balances". Other assets included $73 million and $0 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Other liabilities included $13 million and $0 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The fair value of the related reinsurance, included in "Reinsurance recoverables" and/or "Reinsurance payables" was an asset of $931 million and $13,240 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(2)Recorded in “Other invested assets” and “Payables to parent and affiliates” on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
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 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 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
 December 31, 2021
 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$7,086,534 $(6,818,009)$268,525 $$268,525 
Securities purchased under agreements to resell185,000 185,000 (185,000)
Total Assets$7,271,534 $(6,818,009)$453,525 $(185,000)$268,525 
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:
Derivatives$12,573,983 $(12,568,082)$5,901 $(5,901)$
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
Total Liabilities$12,573,983 $(12,568,082)$5,901 $(5,901)$
 December 31, 2020
 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$397,546 $(379,399)$18,147 $(14,572)$3,575 
Securities purchased under agreements to resell
Total Assets$397,546 $(379,399)$18,147 $(14,572)$3,575 
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:
Derivatives$265,826 $(265,826)$$$
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
Total Liabilities$265,826 $(265,826)$$$

(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 13. 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.
Cash Flow Hedges
The primary derivative instruments used by the Company in its cash flow hedge accounting relationships are currency swaps and interest rate 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, or equity derivatives in any of its cash flow hedge accounting relationships.
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.
  
Year Ended December 31, 2021
 Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
Net
Investment
Income
Other
Income
Change in AOCI
 (in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Cash flow hedges
Interest Rate$$47 $$(161)
Currency/Interest Rate1,357 15,983 11,119 48,169 
Total cash flow hedges1,359 16,030 11,119 48,008 
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate(20,596)
Currency2,006 
Currency/Interest Rate44,350 79 
Credit2,892 
Equity(944,765)
Embedded Derivatives(1)(4,376,289)
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments(5,292,402)79 
Total$(5,291,043)$16,030 $11,198 $48,008 
  
Year Ended December 31, 2020
 Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
Net
Investment
Income
Other
Income
Change in AOCI
 (in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Cash flow hedges
Interest Rate$(44)$21 $$284 
Currency/Interest Rate(314)10,660 (10,161)(34,522)
Total cash flow hedges(358)10,681 (10,161)(34,238)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate17,000 
Currency(2,560)
Currency/Interest Rate(4,130)(109)
Credit(284)
Equity37,480 
Embedded Derivatives(102,151)
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments(54,645)(109)
Total$(55,003)$10,681 $(10,270)$(34,238)
 Year Ended December 31, 2019
 Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
Net
Investment
Income
Other
Income
Change in AOCI
 (in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Cash flow hedges
Interest Rate$$$$(50)
Currency/Interest Rate425 9,007 (1,698)4,081 
Total cash flow hedges425 9,007 (1,698)4,031 
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate18,609 
Currency20 
Currency/Interest Rate3,485 (5)
Credit(1)
Equity74,068 
Embedded Derivatives(256,974)
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments(160,793)(5)
Total$(160,368)$9,007 $(1,703)$4,031 

(1)Includes the impact from 2021 Variable Annuities Recapture, see Note 1 for further details.
Presented below is a rollforward of current period cash flow hedges in AOCI before taxes:
(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2018$22,122 
Cumulative-effect adjustment from the adoption of ASU 2017-12(27)
Amount recorded in AOCI
Interest Rate(50)
Currency/Interest Rate11,815 
Total amount recorded in AOCI11,765 
Amount reclassified from AOCI to income
Currency/Interest Rate(7,734)
Total amount reclassified from AOCI to income(7,734)
Balance, December 31, 2019$26,126 
Amount recorded in AOCI
Interest Rate261 
Currency/Interest Rate(34,337)
Total amount recorded in AOCI(34,076)
Amount reclassified from AOCI to income
Interest Rate23 
Currency/Interest Rate(185)
Total amount reclassified from AOCI to income(162)
Balance, December 31, 2020$(8,112)
Amount recorded in AOCI
Interest Rate(112)
Currency/Interest Rate76,628 
Total amount recorded in AOCI76,516 
Amount reclassified from AOCI to income
Interest Rate(49)
Currency/Interest Rate(28,459)
Total amount reclassified from AOCI to income(28,508)
Balance, December 31, 2021$39,896 

The changes in fair value of cash flow hedges are deferred in AOCI and are included in "Net unrealized investment gains (losses)" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss); these amounts are then reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Using December 31, 2021 values, it is estimated that a pre-tax gain of $11 million is expected to be reclassified from AOCI to earnings during the subsequent twelve months ending December 31, 2022.

The exposures the Company is hedging with these qualifying cash flow hedges include the variability of the payment or receipt of interest or foreign currency amounts on existing financial instruments.

There were no material amounts reclassified from AOCI into earnings relating to instances in which the Company discontinued cash flow hedge accounting because the forecasted transaction did not occur by the anticipated date or within the additional time period permitted by the authoritative guidance for the accounting for derivatives and hedging.
Credit Derivatives
Credit Derivatives, where the Company has written credit protection on certain index references, has outstanding notional amounts of $157 million and $0 million as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. These credit derivatives are reported at fair value as an asset of $11 million and $0 million as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 the notional amount of these credit derivatives had the following NAIC Rating: $57 million in NAIC 3 and $100 million in NAIC 6.
The Company has purchased credit protection using credit derivatives in order to hedge specific credit exposures in the Company’s investment portfolio. The Company has outstanding notional amounts of $150 million and $2 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These credit derivatives are reported at fair value as an asset of $14 million and $0 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Credit Risk
The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to financial derivative transactions with a positive fair value. The Company manages credit risk by entering into derivative transactions with its affiliate, Prudential Global Funding LLC (“PGF”), related to its OTC derivatives. PGF, in turn, manages its credit risk by: (i) entering into derivative transactions with highly rated major international financial institutions and other creditworthy counterparties governed by master netting agreement, as applicable; (ii) trading through central clearing and OTC parties; (iii) obtaining collateral, such as cash and securities, when appropriate; and (iv) setting limits on single party credit exposures which are subject to periodic management review.
Substantially all of the Company’s derivative agreements have zero thresholds which require daily full collateralization by the party in a liability position.