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Reinsurance
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]  
Reinsurance REINSURANCE
The Company participates in reinsurance with its affiliates Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company (“PARCC”), Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company (“PAR Term”), Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company (“PAR U”), Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company ("PURC"), Prudential Term Reinsurance Company (“Term Re”), PALAC, Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company ("GUL Re"), Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company (“DART”), Lotus Reinsurance Company Ltd. ("Lotus Re") and Prudential Life Insurance Company of Taiwan Inc. ("Prudential of Taiwan"), a subsidiary of Prudential Financial that was sold to a third-party on June 30, 2021, as discussed below. As of July 1, 2021, the Company recaptured the risks related to its business that had been previously reinsured to PALAC as a result of the 2021 Variable Annuities Recapture, which is discussed below and in Note 1. The Company also participates in reinsurance with its parent company Prudential Insurance, as well as third parties. The reinsurance agreements provide risk diversification and additional capacity for future growth, limit the maximum net loss potential, manage statutory capital, and facilitate the Company's capital market hedging program. 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.

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 policy charges and fee income ceded for universal life and variable annuity 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, particularly reinsurance agreements involving living benefit guarantees. The Company has entered into reinsurance agreements to transfer the risk related to the living benefit guarantees on variable annuities to PALAC which was recaptured as part of the 2021 Variable Annuities Recapture, and the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance. These reinsurance agreements are derivatives and have been accounted for in the same manner as embedded derivatives and the changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recognized through “Realized investment gains (losses), net”. See Note 4 for additional information related to the accounting for embedded derivatives.

Reinsurance amounts included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, were as follows:
20212020
 (in thousands)
Reinsurance recoverables$38,598,767 $48,367,096 
Policy loans(156,749)(153,869)
Deferred policy acquisition costs(2,575,232)(6,574,020)
Deferred sales inducements(37,905)(445,493)
Other assets(1)353,669 233,364 
Policyholders’ account balances12,005,839 4,773,439 
Future policy benefits(2)5,286,252 5,069,353 
Other liabilities(3)1,224,399 1,099,318 
(1)Includes $0.0 million of unaffiliated activity as of both December 31, 2021 and 2020.
(2)Includes $0.0 million of unaffiliated activity as of both December 31, 2021 and 2020.
(3)Includes $49.2 million and $42.6 million of unaffiliated activity as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Reinsurance recoverables by counterparty are broken out below:
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
 (in thousands)
PAR U$13,523,832 $13,352,845 
PALAC 7,198,504 15,941,123 
PURC5,830,441 5,368,831 
PARCC2,371,491 2,572,428 
GUL Re2,710,926 2,573,609 
PAR Term1,972,339 1,913,265 
Prudential Insurance2,082,551 2,421,226 
Prudential of Taiwan0 1,649,998 
Term Re1,953,063 1,766,978 
DART644,101 502,770 
Lotus Re32,039 0 
Unaffiliated279,480 304,023 
Total reinsurance recoverables$38,598,767 $48,367,096 
Reinsurance amounts, included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, were as follows:
202120202019
 (in thousands)
Premiums:
Direct$1,909,878 $1,923,708 $1,882,584 
Assumed(1)162 184 206 
Ceded(2)(1,706,364)(1,831,716)(1,854,246)
Net premiums203,676 92,176 28,544 
Policy charges and fee income:
Direct3,647,883 3,491,735 3,725,113 
Assumed582,003 587,466 519,265 
Ceded(3)(2,700,129)(3,454,881)(3,700,222)
Net policy charges and fee income1,529,757 624,320 544,156 
Net investment income:
Direct555,404 372,822 398,762 
Assumed1,049 1,579 1,631 
Ceded(6,218)(7,051)(6,596)
Net investment income550,235 367,350 393,797 
Asset administration fees:
Direct403,359 360,438 355,118 
Assumed0 0 0 
Ceded(201,182)(341,300)(339,062)
Net asset administration fees202,177 19,138 16,056 
Other income:
Direct227,035 78,445 83,891 
Assumed(4)(66)(1)(293)
Ceded35,790 165 (59)
Amortization of reinsurance income 4,449 4,647 21 
Net other income267,208 83,256 83,560 
Realized investment gains (losses), net:
Direct7,656,388 (3,593,799)(1,912,241)
Assumed18,171 0 0 
Ceded(5)(12,969,965)3,530,823 1,795,492 
Realized investment gains (losses), net(5,295,406)(62,976)(116,749)
Policyholders’ benefits (including change in reserves):
Direct3,611,402 3,584,011 3,352,159 
Assumed(6)849,599 1,055,277 885,542 
Ceded(7)(3,805,091)(4,341,139)(4,084,627)
Net policyholders’ benefits (including change in reserves)655,910 298,149 153,074 
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:
Direct563,821 536,886 470,551 
Assumed138,202 136,153 135,355 
Ceded(816,608)(439,664)(418,677)
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances(114,585)233,375 187,229 
Reinsurance expense allowances and general and administrative expenses, net of capitalization and amortization(2,265,350)(1,589,113)(1,772,111)
(1)Includes $0.2 million of unaffiliated activity for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $0.2 million for both years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
(2)Includes $(19.8) million, $(10.5) million and $(0.6) million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(3)Includes $(65) million, $(54) million and $(34) million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(4)Includes $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $(0.3) million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(5)Includes $(48) million, $73 million and $44 million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(6)Includes $0.4 million, $0.9 million and $1.9 million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(7)Includes $(201) million, $(70) million and $(30) million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The gross and net amounts of life insurance face amount in force as of December 31, were as follows:
202120202019
 (in thousands)
Direct gross life insurance face amount in force$1,079,382,740 $1,045,775,819 $993,850,732 
Assumed gross life insurance face amount in force37,822,851 38,818,752 39,877,183 
Reinsurance ceded(992,635,327)(986,701,914)(963,444,461)
Net life insurance face amount in force$124,570,264 $97,892,657 $70,283,454 

Information regarding significant affiliated reinsurance agreements is described below.
PAR U
Pruco Life reinsures an amount equal to 70% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees as well as certain of its universal policies, with effective dates prior to January 1, 2011.
Effective July 1, 2012, PLNJ reinsures an amount equal to 95% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees as well as certain of its universal policies, with effective dates through December 31, 2019, excluding those policies that are subject to principle-based reserving.
On January 2, 2013, Pruco Life 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.
PALAC
Effective April 1, 2016, the Company entered into a reinsurance agreement to reinsure its variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees 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. As of December 31, 2020, the Company discontinued the sales of traditional variable annuities with guaranteed living benefit riders. This discontinuation had no impact on the reinsurance agreement between PALAC, Prudential Insurance, and the Company.
Effective July 1, 2021, the Company recaptured the risks related to its business, as discussed above, that had previously been reinsured to PALAC from April 1, 2016 through June 30, 2021. The recapture does not impact PLNJ, which will continue to reinsure its new and in force business to Prudential Insurance. The product risks related to the previously reinsured business that were being managed in PALAC, were transferred to the Company. In addition, the living benefit hedging program related to the previously reinsured living benefit riders are being managed within the Company. See Note 1 for additional information.
Effective December 1, 2021, the Company entered into a reinsurance agreement with PALAC under which the Company assumed all of its variable indexed annuities. The reinsurance of the variable indexed annuities transfers all significant risks, including mortality risk, embedded in the reinsured contracts. As a result of the agreement, Reinsurance recoverables includes the assumed modified coinsurance arrangement, which reflects the value of the invested assets retained by PALAC and the associated asset returns.
PURC
Pruco Life reinsures an amount equal to 70% of all the risks associated with its Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees as well as certain of its universal policies, with effective dates from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013 with PURC and 95% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees, as well as certain of its universal policies, with effective dates from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016.
PARCC
Prior to July 1, 2019, the Company reinsured 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. Effective July 1, 2019, the Company amended the coinsurance agreement to increase the percentage from 90% to 100% of the policy risk amount reinsured, which resulted in an initial transfer of $476 million in premiums and $409 million in expenses ceded with the difference being deferred and subsequently amortized through income.
GUL Re
Effective January 1, 2017, Pruco Life entered into an automatic coinsurance agreement with GUL Re to reinsure an amount equal to 95% of all the risks associated with Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees, as well as certain of its universal policies, with effective dates on or after January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019, excluding those policies that are subject to principle-based reserving.
Effective July 1, 2017, Pruco Life amended this agreement to include 30% of Universal Protector policies having no-lapse guarantees as well as certain of its universal policies with effective dates prior to January 1, 2014.
PAR Term
Prior to July 1, 2019, 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. Effective July 1, 2019, the Company amended the coinsurance agreement to increase the percentage from 95% to 100% of the policy risk amount reinsured, which resulted in an initial transfer of $150 million in premiums and $115 million in expenses ceded with the difference being deferred and subsequently amortized through income.
Prudential of Taiwan
On January 31, 2001, Pruco Life transferred all of its assets and liabilities associated with its Taiwanese branch, including its Taiwanese insurance book of business, to Prudential of Taiwan. The mechanism used to transfer this block of business in Taiwan is referred to as a “full acquisition and assumption” transaction. Under this mechanism, Pruco Life 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 is also contractually liable, under indemnification provisions of the transaction, for any liabilities that may be asserted against Pruco Life.
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 Pruco Life and an offsetting reinsurance recoverable is established. These assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars.
On August 11, 2020, Prudential International Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (“PIIH”), a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Taishin Financial Holding Co., Ltd. (the “Buyer”) pursuant to which PIIH has agreed to sell to the Buyer all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Prudential of Taiwan. The Share Purchase Agreement contains customary warranties and covenants of PIIH and the Buyer. On June 30, 2021, PIIH completed the sale of Prudential of Taiwan to the Buyer. This resulted in the removal of the insurance related liabilities and offsetting reinsurance recoverables previously on the books of Pruco Life. The Buyer provided Pruco Life a backstop indemnification and Pruco Life provided a guarantee to stand ready to perform in the event of default by both Prudential of Taiwan and the Buyer. Refer to Note 14 for details on the guarantee.
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 December 31, 2017, 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. Effective July 1, 2017, this agreement has been terminated for certain new business, primarily Universal Life insurance policies. As of January 1, 2020, the remaining portions of new business (specifically Term policies) ceased being reinsured by the Company to Prudential Insurance. Effective July 1, 2017, the Company reinsures a portion of the mortality risk directly to third-party reinsurers and retains all of the non-reinsured portion of the mortality risk. Effective July 1, 2019, this agreement has been recaptured for certain term life insurance policies which are now reinsured to PARCC and PAR Term as noted above.
On January 2, 2013, Pruco Life began to assume GUL business from Prudential Insurance in connection with the acquisition of the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. ("Hartford Financial"). The GUL business assumed from Prudential Insurance was subsequently retroceded to PAR U. In May 2018, Hartford Financial sold a group of operating subsidiaries, which includes two of Prudential Insurance's counterparties to these reinsurance arrangements. There was no impact to the terms, rights or obligations of Prudential Insurance, or operation of these reinsurance arrangements, as a result of this change in control of such counterparties. Similarly, there was no impact to the Company's reinsurance arrangements with respect to such GUL business as a result of this change in control. In January 2021, there was a definitive agreement announced to subsequently sell the two counterparties mentioned above. We anticipate there will be no impact to the terms, rights or obligations of the Company, or operation of these reinsurance arrangements, as a result of this change in control of such counterparties.
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.
Effective April 1, 2016, PLNJ entered into a reinsurance agreement to reinsure its variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees to Prudential Insurance. This reinsurance agreement covers new and in-force business.
DART
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company entered into an automatic coinsurance agreement with DART to reinsure an amount equal to 95% of the risks associated with its term life insurance policies with effective dates on or after January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019, excluding those policies that are subject to principle-based reserving.
Lotus Re
Effective October 1, 2021, the Company entered into an automatic coinsurance agreement with Lotus Re to reinsure the risks associated with a portion of its Variable Life policies in the extended term policy status.
During the first quarter of 2022, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, the Company will enter into a reinsurance agreement to cede a closed block of Variable Life business to Lotus Re.
Information regarding significant third-party reinsurance arrangements is described below.
Union Hamilton
Between April 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016, the Company, excluding its subsidiary, reinsured approximately 50% of the new business related to “highest daily” living benefits rider guarantees on HDI v.3.0 product, available with Prudential Premier® Retirement Variable Annuity, to Union Hamilton. This reinsurance remains in force for the duration of the underlying annuity contracts. New sales of HDI v.3.0 subsequent to December 31, 2016 are not covered by this external reinsurance agreement. As of December 31, 2021, $3.3 billion of HDI v.3.0 account values are reinsured to Union Hamilton.